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Charter review grapples with primary-versus-plurality language after past elections
Summary
Committee members debated whether charter language that declares the plurality winner in the November election could conflict with county-run primaries when more than two candidates file; members agreed to seek clarification from the Supervisor of Elections or town attorney.
Committee members raised a procedural question about how the charter’s plurality language interacts with county-run primaries when more than two candidates file for a seat.
"Plurality is when you receive more votes than everybody else. It doesn't necessarily mean you have a majority of the votes," a committee member explained during the discussion of election language, and members cited an August 23, 2022 primary in which two candidates advanced to the general election. Several members said the supervisor of elections typically handles primaries and suggested the charter should either reference county practice or be clarified by counsel.
The group agreed to ask the town attorney Scott and/or the Volusia County Supervisor of Elections whether charter language should explicitly note coordination with the county for primaries or leave the current phrasing that references the general election intact. That follow-up was assigned to staff as part of the redraft process.
