McCrory Letter Clears Up Misconceptions from Reps. Butterfield and Price | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Raleigh, NC     The Office of Governor Pat McCrory released the following letter today in an effort to clear up misconceptions by Reps. David Price and G.K. Butterfield concerning the scheduling of the 12th Congressional District election in November.

    Read the letter here or see the full text below.

    Dear Representatives Butterfield and Price:

    I recently learned of your concerns through the media regarding the special election to fill the vacancy in the 12th Congressional District. Unfortunately, you decided that the best way to inform me of your concerns was via press release instead of a simple phone call. Had you called me prior, I would have gladly spoken with you and cleared up the many misconceptions in your letter about the special election.

    Numerous factors were taken into consideration when I reviewed the dates of the special election. Chief among these were reducing voter confusion, minimizing the cost to counties and the ease of election administration. Fairness to all potential candidates  -  Democratic, Republican and unaffiliated  -  was also a consideration. In the end, holding the special election on the same days as the general election was the simplest, least costly and least confusing option.

    Given Representative Watt's resignation date and state and federal election law requirements, our options were limited. According to the Board of Elections, the earliest date we could have our first special primary was March 25. The second primary would have been June 3. The general election to fill the vacancy would have been in late July or early August.

    Having the election on these dates would've had voters going to the polls six times in eight months. It would have cost more than $1 million. Staggered election dates would have forced counties to keep two different sets of poll books to determine who was eligible to vote in which election. Counties and voters would have had to deal with overlapping voter registration deadlines, multiple early voting periods and multiple canvass periods.

    With these complications, I decided that having six elections was out of the question, and that having the election on already scheduled dates was the better solution. Using the already scheduled election dates, the earliest we could have held the special election was September 16. This is only seven weeks away from the November 4 regularly scheduled election.

    You also note that six vacancies in the House of Representatives were filled on earlier timetables. But you failed to consider the dates when these vacancies occurred. Each occurred well before any overlap with the general election schedule was possible. The closer a vacancy occurs to the general election schedule, the more complicated it becomes to set special election dates. You also failed to consider the differences in state election laws. Each state fills a vacancy differently. For example, some states do not hold primaries, and instead allow political parties to nominate candidates.

    This was a complex decision with many variables to consider. A simple schedule, where the voters have ample time to evaluate the candidates, and the candidates have ample time to campaign, was the best option. Some Democratic candidates have had no objection, calling the schedule "familiar and fair" and "great timing" that "will give voters ample opportunity to look at the different candidates."

    For the future, please keep in mind that I always welcome calls from our state's U.S. Congressional Delegation. Thank you for your continued service to the State of North Carolina.


    Contact: Crystal Feldman
        govpress@nc.gov