The state Senate voted Monday night to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a measure that would cancel all judicial primary elections in 2018. The House is expected to follow suit Tuesday, although that vote may be delayed. Senate Bill 656 would also make it easier for third-party and unaffiliated candidates to get on the ballot for statewide or municipal races, but not in legislative races. It would also lower the percentage of primary votes required to avoid a runoff. Republican House and Senate leaders say they’re canceling the judicial primaries because they intend to redraw the state’s Superior Court and District Court districts by next spring, so the primary would likely be delayed.
“It affords an opportunity for the General Assembly to have additional deliberations and receive input on” the proposed new districts, said Sen. Dan Bishop, R-Mecklenburg. “It also allows for consideration of alternative methods of selection of judges.”
Bishop didn’t deny that January’s session might include a proposed constitutional amendment to make judges appointed, rather than elected. However, that would have to go before the voters for approval, he said, noting that Cooper backed a similar proposal during his time in the Senate in the 1990s.
However, the measure goes beyond trial court primaries. It also cancels the primaries for Supreme Court and Court of Appeals seats, which are statewide races that wouldn’t be affected by judicial redistricting.
Full Article: Senate votes to override election law veto :: WRAL.com.