One of the most obvious — and fixable — problems in North Carolina is its ultra-costly primary runoff procedure that fewer than 10 states use.

The situation became starkly clear on July 17, when only 3.6 percent of registered voters statewide cast ballots in runoffs that cost taxpayers about $7.5 million.

In four precincts in the state, nobody cast a vote, while several recorded only one or two votes.

In Buncombe County, only 2.9 percent of the registered voters bothered to cast ballots. Buncombe’s runoff cost will be about $150,000, elections officials said.

Under state law, runoff primaries are held when no candidate in the first primary wins 40 percent of the vote — and the second-place finisher demands a second vote.

In yet another reflection of our increasingly dumbed-down culture, turnout in North Carolina runoffs usually runs between 2.5 and 8 percent.

While runoffs used to be held four weeks after the early May primary, a federal lawsuit delayed the runoff date into mid-July, further reducing interest. 

One solution would be simply to declare the leading vote-getter in the first primary the nominee.

Better yet, we favor instant runoff voting, wherein voters choose a first and second choice. If no candidate meets the 40 percent pinnacle, the second-choice votes are counted and the winner declared. — saving maybe $7.5 million in hard times.