CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -- The turnout for Tuesday's runoff elections could hit a record low in North Carolina.
The State Board of Elections director Gary Bartlett said by mid-morning most counties only had a handful of voters show up. He estimated the turnout could hit below 2.5-percent.
In Mecklenburg County, he said turnout was slightly higher because of the runoff between Robert Pittenger and Jim Pendergraph. The two Republicans are vying to replace Congresswoman Sue Myrick.
Bartlett said the statewide turnout indicates voters want another solution. North Carolina is one of eight runoff states. Here, candidates need to get 40-percent of the vote to win outright.
That's a challenge when the primary has several candidates in the primary. The District 9 race to replace Myrick had ten Republicans on the ballot.
Bartlett said Tuesday runoff would probably cost the state close to seven million dollars.
Other states have a "winner takes all approach" in a primary election, or the political party convenes to declare a winner.
Another system that's been tested in North Carolina and in cities nationwide is called, Instant Runoff Voting. IRV allows a voter to select their top three choices, avoiding a runoff situation.
Bartlett said it's up to lawmakers to change the current system. He says the conversation is growing and that Raleigh has requested data from the Elections Board to review.
He said if a change is made, it would take a couple years to implement. Most importantly, he said it would have to be a system approved and supported by the voters.
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