There is a primary runoff in February if there are more than two people running for an office that will be on the April ballot. For every election - federal, state, town, school, and most county offices - everyone in the town votes EXCEPT for the county board races. Five years ago, after the last census, the county board/county clerk decided every board member should represent the same amount of people. To do that they created new 'county districts'. (They didn't have to do that since state law provides municipalities under 1000 people can stick w/ existing municipal lines.) My town became a part of three larger 'county districts'.
All of the county board seats are up for reelection this year. There is one board seat that needs a primary and a small portion of my town is a part of that 'district'. 24 people are registered to vote in that portion of my town. Even should all 24 voters vote early in the day, we can't close the polls since the state allows for same day voter registration.
Two things. First, I don't mind holding a February primary but I don't like to have to explain to town residents why only some of them can vote this time. The January 6th insurrection wasn't that many years ago and there is still some suspicion around the election process. Second, another area of my town 'governed' by a different county board rep has no one who filed to run. In truth, there are another four 'districts' like that. Since these 'districts' exist only for county board purposes - why not open them up to anyone who wants to be on the county board? Might not need a February primary at all. (ha)
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