North Carolina
Ranked Choice Voting would be good for North Carolina • NC Newsline
Why Ranked Choice Voting (RCV)?
Let’s talk about Ranked Choice Voting (RCV). It’s a voting system that’s making elections fairer for millions of Americans—nearly 20 million, in fact! But what’s so great about it? Here are a few key benefits:
- Winners need majority support: With RCV, winners have to get over 50% of the vote. That means they can’t just squeak by with a small slice of support.
- Better campaigning: Candidates can’t just play to their base—they have to appeal to more people. This means fewer nasty attack ads and more focus on real issues.
- No more “spoiler” candidates: Ever felt like voting for your favorite candidate might “waste” your vote or hurt your second choice? RCV fixes that. You rank your choices, and if your top pick doesn’t win, that candidate is eliminated, and your vote can still count for your next choice. This enables broader discussion from a wider range of candidates.
- Saves money and increases turnout: RCV skips the need for costly runoffs, which often have low voter participation.
In North Carolina, this kind of change could make a big difference. Right now, primary winners can take office with just 33% of the vote, and Raleigh City Council races can be won with only 20%. That’s not a true majority. RCV ensures fairer outcomes without the downsides of traditional runoffs.
Success stories in 2024
RCV made some exciting progress this year! Here’s where it won big:
- Washington, D.C.: Voters said yes to RCV with a whopping 73% support. Starting in 2026, it’ll be used for federal and local elections.
- Alaska: Voters kept RCV by a hair—a 743-vote margin! Having been used for four years now, t’s already proving itself as a fair and non-partisan system.
- Oak Park and Peoria, Illinois: Both places adopted RCV for local elections, giving voters more power and better results.
- Richmond, California: Voters embraced RCV for local races, adding to the growing trend of cities making the switch.
Lessons from setbacks
Not everything went smoothly for RCV in 2024. Some states tried to combine RCV with other major changes, like open primaries or “top-four” systems, and those proposals didn’t pass.
Why? Well, bundling RCV with other reforms may have made things feel too complicated for voters and prompted strong partisan efforts against primary reforms. The good news? When RCV is presented on its own, it tends to win strong support. That’s a big takeaway for the future.
Why RCV matters in elections
RCV could completely transform elections. Take our home state of North Carolina, for example. Right now, candidates can win with as little as 33% of the vote. That leaves a lot of voters feeling left out. Here’s how RCV changes the game:
- Majority support: Candidates have to get more than 50% of the vote to win.
- No costly runoffs: RCV figures it all out in one election, saving money and avoiding low-turnout runoffs.
- No wasted votes: You can rank your choices, so even if your favorite doesn’t win, your vote still counts.
- Better engagement: When voters know their voices matter, they’re more likely to show up.
In general elections, RCV also ensures that winners truly represent the majority. Candidates are motivated to reach beyond their base and run more positive, inclusive campaigns. That’s better for everyone.
The future of RCV
The successes in 2024—from D.C. to Alaska—show that voters are ready for a better way to elect their leaders. RCV makes elections fairer, ensures majority support, and helps reduce political division.
The setbacks also taught us something important: RCV works best when it’s not bundled with other reforms. Keeping the focus on RCV’s benefits helps voters see why it’s worth adopting.
Looking ahead, the goal is simple: give every voter a stronger voice and make sure every vote counts. Whether it’s for primaries or general elections, RCV is a step toward making democracy work better.
With more communities embracing this change, we can look forward to a future where elections are fairer, more inclusive, and truly reflect the will of the people. Let’s keep the momentum going.
To learn more about Ranked Choice Voting, visit Rank the Vote and Better Ballot NC.
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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