North Carolina counties would incur an estimated $5 million to $7 million in additional expenses if the state’s primary is delayed in 2012 due to redistricting lawsuits, according to the State Board of Elections.
The following scenario could play out: North Carolina voters go to the polls in May, as usual, to vote in the presidential primary. But the primary for state offices is delayed because the redistricting litigation has yet to be resolved. In 2002, the primary for both state and federal offices was delayed until Sept. 10. (’02 wasn’t a presidential year.)
Total cost for two primaries depends on which elections are on the ballot and how much manpower is needed to handle turnout, said Johnnie McLean, deputy director at the SBOE.
There is one example of a canceled primary in recent years. In 2004, the SBOE agreed to scuttle the presidential primary following a request from the Democratic, Republican, and Libertarian parties, according to a memo from the board.
Republicans only had one candidate, George W. Bush, and didn’t need a primary. Democrats had scheduled their national convention so close to the date of North Carolina’s primary that they considered it an ineffective means of selecting delegates. (The primary was delayed from May to July thanks to — you guessed it — redistricting lawsuits arising from the 2001 plan.) Libertarians preferred to select delegates at their state convention rather than through a primary.
Here’s some additional speculation: It’s possible that North Carolina’s presidential primary could end up canceled again. Barack Obama will be the Democrats’ nominee. Two Republicans could still be locked in a fight in for their party’s nomination May, but it’s highly unlikely, especially given the number of states that have moved their primaries to earlier dates.
So if litigation lawsuits are proving problematic, and the state primary gets delayed, it’s possible that the major parties will agree to do away with the presidential primary altogether.
