FINANCE BILL 64

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

An act TO PROVIDE funding for the purchase of preferential balloting voting software implementing instant run-off voting for use in campus elections

WHEREAS,   campaigning on this campus is often seen as a burden on campus; and,

WHEREAS,   Preferential Voting is a voting system used for single-winner elections in which voters have one vote, but can rank candidates in order of preference; and,

WHEREAS,   in an Preferential Voting election, if no candidate receives a majority of first choices, the candidate with the fewest number of votes is eliminated, and ballots cast for that candidate are redistributed to the surviving candidates according to the voters' indicated preference this process is repeated until one candidate obtains a majority; and,

WHEREAS,  the term 'Preferential Voting' is used because this process simulates a series of run-off elections; and,

WHEREAS,   Preferential Voting allows voters to rank the candidates for an office in order of preference, eliminating the need for a run-off election; and,

WHEREAS,   NC State professor Dr. Cobb conducted  a survey of the recent Cary elections of those with a preference, 72 percent of Cary voters said they preferred IRV while just 28 percent said they preferred voting for a single candidate; and,

WHEREAS,   in an effort to continue progress in elections; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED,  that the North Carolina State University Student Senate authorizes and orders the contracting with Wash Creek Software for voting software improvements including preferential balloting and instant run-off elections, for a sum amount not to exceed $1,800.00, appropriated first from line-item 505 (Revolving Technology Replacement Fund) in the amount of $1000 and second from line-item 1401 (Appropriated Projects, Initiatives, and Programming) in the
amount of $800.