The House elections committee took up a proposed committee substitute to House Bill 452, entitled Judicial Election Changes.
This bill would repeal the instant run-off voting in judicial elections, repeal the authority for public financing for council of state races, and allow for judicial elections to be conducted in a partisan manner. Currently in North Carolina, judicial elections are conducted in a non-partisan manner.
Democrats and Republicans differed over whether or not judicial elections should be conducted in a partisan manner or not, with the Republicans wanting partisan elections restored.
Rep. Michaux proposed an amendment that would eliminate most of the bill, leaving only the part about eliminating instant runoffs intact. This amendment failed 15-14 along party lines.
House bill 452 passed out of the committee on a 16-14 vote that was strictly along party lines.
