Chapter 163 Elections and Election Laws
Article 1 - Time of Primaries and Elections.
Article 2 - Time of Elections to Fill Vacancies.
- § 163-8 Filling vacancies in State executive offices
If the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor shall become vacant, the provisions of G.S. 147‑11.1 shall apply. If the office of any of the...
- § 163-9 Filling vacancies in State and district judicial offices
(a) Vacancies occurring in the offices of Justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, and judge of the superior court for...
- § 163-10 Filling vacancy in office of district attorney
Any vacancy occurring in the office of district attorney for causes other than expiration of term shall be filled by appointment of the Governor. An...
- § 163-11 Filling vacancies in the General Assembly
(a) If a vacancy shall occur in the General Assembly by death, resignation, or otherwise than by expiration of term, the Governor shall immediately appoint...
- § 163-12 Filling vacancy in United States Senate
Whenever there shall be a vacancy in the office of United States Senator from this State, whether caused by death, resignation, or otherwise than by...
- § 163-13 Filling vacancy in United States House of Representatives
(a) Special Election. If at any time after expiration of any Congress and before another election, or if at any time after an election, there...
- § 163-14 through 163-18 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 3 - State Board of Elections.
- § 163-19 State Board of Elections; appointment; term of office; vacancies; oath of office
All of the terms of office of the present members of the State Board of Elections shall expire on May 1, 1969, or when their...
- § 163-20 Meetings of Board; quorum; minutes
(a) Call of Meeting. The State Board of Elections shall meet at the call of the chairman whenever necessary to discharge the duties and functions...
- § 163-21 Compensation of Board members
The members of the State Board of Elections shall be compensated for the time they are actually engaged in the discharge of their duties and...
- § 163-22 Powers and duties of State Board of Elections
(a) The State Board of Elections shall have general supervision over the primaries and elections in the State, and it shall have authority to make...
- § 163-22.1 Repealed by Session Laws 2001-398, s. 2
- § 163-22.2 Power of State Board to promulgate temporary rules and regulations
In the event any portion of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes or any State election law or form of election of any county board...
- § 163-22.3 State Board of Elections littering notification
At the time an individual files with the State Board of Elections a notice of candidacy pursuant to G.S. 163‑106, 163‑112, 163‑291, 163‑294.2, or 163‑323,...
- § 163-23 Powers of chairman in execution of Board duties
In the performance of the duties enumerated in this Chapter, the chairman of the State Board of Elections shall have power to administer oaths, issue...
- § 163-24 Power of State Board of Elections to maintain order
The State Board of Elections shall possess full power and authority to maintain order, and to enforce obedience to its lawful commands during its sessions,...
- § 163-25 Authority of State Board to assist in litigation
The State Board of Elections shall possess authority to assist any county or municipal board of elections in any matter in which litigation is contemplated...
- § 163-26 Executive Director of State Board of Elections
There is hereby created the position of Executive Director of the State Board of Elections, who shall perform all duties imposed upon him by statute...
- § 163-27 Executive Director to be appointed by Board
The appointment of the Executive Director of the State Board of Elections is extended to May 15, 1989, unless removed for proper cause, and thereafter...
- § 163-27.1 Emergency powers
The Executive Director, as chief State elections official, may exercise emergency powers to conduct an election in a district where the normal schedule for the...
- § 163-28 State Board of Elections independent agency
The State Board of Elections shall be and remain an independent regulatory and quasi‑judicial agency and shall not be placed within any principal administrative department....
- § 163-29 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 4 - County Boards of Elections.
- § 163-30 County boards of elections; appointments; terms of office; qualifications; vacancies; oath of office; instructional meetings
In every county of the State there shall be a county board of elections, to consist of three persons of good moral character who are...
- § 163-31 Meetings of county boards of elections; quorum; minutes
In each county of the State the members of the county board of elections shall meet at the courthouse or board office at noon on...
- § 163-32 Compensation of members of county boards of elections
In full compensation of their services, members of the county board of elections (including the chairman) shall be paid by the county twenty‑five dollars ($25.00)...
- § 163-33 Powers and duties of county boards of elections
The county boards of elections within their respective jurisdictions shall exercise all powers granted to such boards in this Chapter, and they shall perform all...
- § 163-33.1 Power of chairman to administer oaths
The chairman of the county board of elections is authorized to administer to election officials specified in Articles 4, 5, and 20 of this Chapter...
- § 163-33.2 Chairman and county board to examine voting machines
Prior to each primary and general election the chairman and members of the county board of elections, in counties where voting machines are used, shall...
- § 163-33.3 County board of elections littering notification
At the time an individual files with a county board of elections a notice of candidacy pursuant to G.S. 163‑106, 163‑112, 163‑291, or 163‑294.2, is...
- § 163-34 Power of county board of elections to maintain order
Each county board of elections shall possess full power to maintain order, and to enforce obedience to its lawful commands during its sessions, and shall...
- § 163-35 Director of elections to county board of elections; appointment; compensation; duties; dismissal
(a) In the event a vacancy occurs in the office of county director of elections in any of the county boards of elections in this...
- § 163-36 Modified full-time offices
The State Board of Elections shall promulgate rules permitting counties that have fewer than 6,501 registered voters to operate a modified full‑time elections office to...
- § 163-37 Duty of county board of commissioners
The respective boards of county commissioners shall appropriate reasonable and adequate funds necessary for the legal functions of the county board of elections, including reasonable...
Article 4A - Political Activities by Board of Elections Members and Employees.
- § 163-38 Applicability of Article
This Article applies to members and employees of the State Board of Elections and of each county and municipal board of elections. With regard to...
- § 163-39 Limitation on political activities
No individual subject to this Article shall: (1) Make written or oral statements intended for general distribution or dissemination to the public at large supporting...
- § 163-40 Violation may be ground for removal
A violation of this Article may be a ground to remove a State Board of Elections member under G.S. 143B‑16, a county board of elections...
- § 163-40.1 Definitions
The provisions of Article 22A of this Chapter apply to the definition and proof of terms used in this Article. (2000‑114, s. 1.)
Article 5 - Precinct Election Officials.
Article 6 - Qualifications of Voters.
- § 163-54 Registration a prerequisite to voting
Only such persons as are legally registered shall be entitled to vote in any primary or election held under this Chapter. (1901, c. 89, s....
- § 163-55 Qualifications to vote; exclusion from electoral franchise
(a) Residence Period for State Elections. Every person born in the United States, and every person who has been naturalized, and who shall have resided...
- § 163-56 Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 793, s. 19
- § 163-57 Residence defined for registration and voting
All election officials in determining the residence of a person offering to register or vote, shall be governed by the following rules, so far as...
- § 163-58 Repealed by Session Laws 1985, c. 563, s. 3
- § 163-59 Right to participate or vote in party primary
No person shall be entitled to vote or otherwise participate in the primary election of any political party unless he: (1) Is a registered voter,...
- § 163-60 through 163-64 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 7 - Registration of Voters.
Article 7A - Registration of Voters.
- § 163-82.1 General principles of voter registration
(a) Prerequisite to Voting. No person shall be permitted to vote who has not been registered under the provisions of this Article or registered as...
- § 163-82.2 Chief State Election Official
The Executive Director of the State Board of Elections is the "Chief State Election Official" of North Carolina for purposes of P.L. 103‑31, The National...
- § 163-82.3 Voter registration application forms
(a) Form Developed by State Board of Elections. The State Board of Elections shall develop an application form for voter registration. Any person may use...
- § 163-82.4 Contents of application form
(a) Information Requested of Applicant. The form required by G.S. 163‑82.3(a) shall request the applicant's: (1) Name, (2) Date of birth, (3) Residence address, (4)...
- § 163-82.5 Distribution of application forms
The State Board of Elections shall make the forms described in G.S. 163‑82.3 available for distribution through governmental and private entities, with particular emphasis on...
- § 163-82.6 Acceptance of application forms
(a) How the Form May Be Submitted. The county board of elections shall accept any form described in G.S. 163‑82.3 if the applicant submits the...
- § 163-82.6A In-person registration and voting at one-stop sites
(a) Who May Register in Person. In accordance with the provisions in this section, an individual who is qualified to register to vote may register...
- § 163-82.7 Verification of qualifications and address of applicant; denial or approval of application
(a) Tentative Determination of Qualification. When a county board of elections receives an application for registration submitted pursuant to G.S. 163‑82.6, the board either: (1)...
- § 163-82.8 Voter registration cards
(a) Authority to Issue Card. With the approval of the board of county commissioners, the county board of elections may issue to each voter in...
- § 163-82.9 Cancellation of prior registration
If an applicant indicates on an application form described in G.S. 163‑82.3 a current registration to vote in any other county, municipality, or state, the...
- § 163-82.10 Official record of voter registration
(a) Official Record. The State voter registration system is the official voter registration list for the conduct of all elections in the State. A completed...
- § 163-82.10A Permanent voter registration numbers
The statewide voter registration system shall assign to each voter a unique registration number. That number shall be permanent for that voter and shall not...
- § 163-82.10B Confidentiality of date of birth
Boards of elections shall keep confidential the date of birth of every voter‑registration applicant and registered voter, except in the following situations: (1) When a...
- § 163-82.11 Establishment of statewide computerized voter registration
(a) Statewide System as Official List. The State Board of Elections shall develop and implement a statewide computerized voter registration system to facilitate voter registration...
- § 163-82.12 Promulgation of guidelines relating to computerized voter registration
The State Board of Elections shall make all guidelines necessary to administer the statewide voter registration system established by this Article. All county boards of...
- § 163-82.13 Access to statewide voter registration file
(a) Free Copy for Political Parties. Beginning January 1, 1996, the State Board of Elections shall make available free of charge, upon written request, one...
- § 163-82.14 List maintenance
(a) Uniform Program. The State Board of Elections shall adopt a uniform program that makes a reasonable effort: (1) To remove the names of ineligible...
- § 163-82.15 Change of address within the county
(a) Registrant's Duty to Report. No registered voter shall be required to re‑register upon moving from one precinct to another within the same county. Instead,...
- § 163-82.15A Administrative change of registration when county line is adjusted
When a boundary between counties is established by legislation or under G.S. 153A‑18, the Executive Director shall direct the county boards of elections involved to administratively...
- § 163-82.16 Change of name
(a) Registrant's Duty to Report. If the name of a registrant is changed in accordance with G.S. 48‑1‑104, G.S. 50‑12, or Chapter 101 of the...
- § 163-82.17 Change of party affiliation
(a) Registrant's Duty to Report. Any registrant who desires to have the record of his party affiliation or unaffiliated status changed on the registration list...
- § 163-82.18 Appeal from denial of registration
(a) Right to Appeal. Any applicant who receives notice of denial of registration pursuant to G.S. 163‑82.7 may appeal the denial within five days after...
- § 163-82.19 Voter registration at drivers license offices; coordination on data interface
(a) Voter Registration at Drivers License Offices. The Division of Motor Vehicles shall, pursuant to the rules adopted by the State Board of Elections, modify...
- § 163-82.20 Voter registration at other public agencies
(a) Voter Registration Agencies. Every office in this State which accepts: (1) Applications for a program of public assistance under Article 2 of Chapter 108A...
- § 163-82.20A Voter registration upon restoration of citizenship
The State Board of Elections, the Department of Correction, and the Administrative Office of the Courts shall jointly develop and implement educational programs and procedures...
- § 163-82.21 Voter registration at military recruitment offices
The Executive Director, jointly with the Department of Defense, shall develop and implement procedures for persons to apply to register to vote at recruitment offices...
- § 163-82.22 Voter registration at public libraries
Every library covered by G.S. 153A‑272 shall make available to the public the application forms described in G.S. 163‑82.3, and shall keep a sufficient supply...
- § 163-82.23 Voter registration at public high schools
Every public high school shall make available to its students and others who are eligible to register to vote the application forms described in G.S....
- § 163-82.24 Statewide training and certification for election officials
(a) Training. The State Board of Elections shall conduct training programs in election law and procedures. Every county elections director shall receive training conducted by...
- § 163-82.25 Mandated voter registration drive
The Governor shall proclaim as Citizens Awareness Month the month designated by the State Board of Elections during every even‑numbered year. During that month, the...
- § 163-82.26 Rule-making authority
The State Board of Elections shall promulgate rules necessary to implement the provisions of this Article. (1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 762, s. 2.)
- § 163-82.27 Help America Vote Act of 2002
As used in this Chapter, the term "Help America Vote Act of 2002" means the Help America Vote Act of 2002, Public Law 107‑252, 116...
- § 163-82.28 The HAVA Election Fund
There is established a special fund to be known as the Election Fund. All funds received for implementation of the Help America Vote Act of...
- § 163-83 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 8 - Challenges.
- § 163-84 Time for challenge other than on day of primary or election
The registration records of each county shall be open to inspection by any registered voter of the county, including any chief judge or judge of...
- § 163-85 Challenge procedure other than on day of primary or election
(a) Right to Challenge; When Challenge May Be Made. Any registered voter of the county may challenge the right of any person to register, remain...
- § 163-86 Hearing on challenge
(a) A challenge made under G.S. 163‑85 shall be heard and decided before the date of the next primary or election, except that if the...
- § 163-87 Challenges allowed on day of primary or election
On the day of a primary or election, at the time a registered voter offers to vote, any other registered voter of the precinct may...
- § 163-88 Hearing on challenge made on day of primary or election
A challenge entered on the day of a primary or election shall be heard and decided by the chief judge and judges of election of...
- § 163-88.1 Request for challenged ballot
(a) If the decision of the chief judge and judges pursuant to G.S. 163‑88 is to sustain the challenge, the challenged voter may request a...
- § 163-89 Procedures for challenging absentee ballots
(a) Time for Challenge. The absentee ballot of any voter may be challenged on the day of any statewide primary or general election or county...
- § 163-90 Challenge as felon; answer not to be used on prosecution
If any registered voter is challenged as having been convicted of any crime which excludes him from the right of suffrage, he shall be required...
- § 163-90.1 Burden of proof
(a) Challenges shall not be made indiscriminately and may only be made if the challenger knows, suspects or reasonably believes such a person not to...
- § 163-90.2 Action when challenge sustained, overruled, or dismissed
(a) When any challenge is sustained for any cause listed under G.S. 163‑85(c), the board shall cancel or correct the voter registration of the voter....
- § 163-90.3 Making false affidavit perjury
Any person who shall knowingly make any false affidavit or shall knowingly swear or affirm falsely to any matter or thing required by the terms...
Article 8A - HAVA Administrative Complaint Procedure.
Article 9 - Political Party Definition.
Article 10 - Primary Elections.
- § 163-104 Primaries governed by general election laws; authority of State Board of Elections to modify time schedule
Unless otherwise provided in this Chapter, primary elections shall be conducted as far as practicable in accordance with the general election laws of this State....
- § 163-105 Payment of expense of conducting primary elections
The expense of printing and distributing the poll and registration books, blanks, and ballots for those offices required by G.S. 163‑109(b) to be furnished by...
- § 163-106 Notices of candidacy; pledge; with whom filed; date for filing; withdrawal
(a) Notice and Pledge. No one shall be voted for in a primary election without having filed a notice of candidacy with the appropriate board...
- § 163-107 Filing fees required of candidates in primary; refunds
(a) Fee Schedule. At the time of filing a notice of candidacy, each candidate shall pay to the board of elections with which he files...
- § 163-107.1 Petition in lieu of payment of filing fee
(a) Any qualified voter who seeks nomination in the party primary of the political party with which he affiliates may, in lieu of payment of...
- § 163-108 Certification of notices of candidacy
(a) Within three days after the time for filing notices of candidacy with the State Board of Elections under the provisions of G.S. 163‑106(c) has...
- § 163-108.1 Nomination of members of House of Representatives
Chapter 826, Session Laws of 1957; Chapter 484, Session Laws of 1961; Chapter 621, Session Laws of 1959; Chapter 894, Session Laws of 1945; Chapter...
- § 163-109 Repealed by Session Laws 2002-159, s. 55.(j), effective January 1, 2003, and applicable to all primaries and elections held on or after that date
- § 163-110 Candidates declared nominees without primary
If a nominee for a single office is to be selected and only one candidate of a political party files for that office, or if...
- § 163-111 Determination of primary results; second primaries
(a) Nomination Determined by Substantial Plurality; Definition of Substantial Plurality. Except as otherwise provided in this section, nominations in primary elections shall be determined by...
- § 163-112 Death of candidate before primary; vacancy in single office
(a) Death of One of Two Candidates within 30 Days after the Filing Period Closes. If at the time the filing period closes, only two...
- § 163-113 Nominee's right to withdraw as candidate
A person who has been declared the nominee of a political party for a specified office under the provisions of G.S. 163‑182.15 or G.S. 163‑110,...
- § 163-114 Filling vacancies among party nominees occurring after nomination and before election
If any person nominated as a candidate of a political party for one of the offices listed below (either in a primary or convention or...
- § 163-115 Special provisions for obtaining nominations when vacancies occur in certain offices
(a) If a vacancy occurs in the office of the clerk of superior court, otherwise than by expiration of the term, or if the people...
- § 163-116 through 163-118 Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 793, ss. 47- 49
- § 163-119 Voting by unaffiliated voter in party primary
If a political party has, by action of its State Executive Committee reported to the State Board of Elections by resolution delivered no later than...
- § 163-120 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-121 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 11 - Nomination by Petition.
Article 11A - Resign-to-Run.
Article 11B - Challenge to a Candidacy.
- § 163-127.1 Definitions
As used in this Article, the following terms mean: (1) Board. State Board of Elections. (2) Candidate. A person having filed a notice of candidacy...
- § 163-127.2 When and how a challenge to a candidate may be made
(a) When. A challenge to a candidate may be filed under this Article with the board of elections receiving the notice of the candidacy or...
- § 163-127.3 Panel to conduct the hearing on a challenge
Upon filing of a challenge, a panel shall hear the challenge, as follows: (1) Single county. If the district for the office subject to the...
- § 163-127.4 Conduct of hearing by panel
(a) The panel conducting a hearing under this Article shall do all of the following: (1) Within five business days after the challenge is filed,...
- § 163-127.5 Burden of proof
(a) The burden of proof shall be upon the candidate, who must show by a preponderance of the evidence of the record as a whole...
- § 163-127.6 Appeals
(a) Appeals from Single or Multicounty Panel. The decision of a panel created under G.S. 163‑127.3(1) or G.S. 163‑127.3(2) may be appealed as of right...
Article 12 - Precincts and Voting Places.
Article 12A - Precinct Boundaries.
- § 163-132.1 Participation in 2000 Census Redistricting Data Program of the United States Bureau of the Census
(a) Purpose. The State of North Carolina shall participate in the 2000 Census Redistricting Data Program, conducted pursuant to P.L. 94‑171, of the United States...
- § 163-132.1A through 163-132.2 Repealed by Session Laws 1999-227, s. 1.
- § 163-132.1B Participation in 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program of the United States Bureau of the Census
(a) Purpose. The State of North Carolina shall participate in the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program, conducted pursuant to P.L. 94‑171, of the United States...
- § 163-132.3 Alterations to approved precinct boundaries
(a) No county board of elections may change any precinct boundary unless the Executive Director of the State Board of Elections determines that the county...
- § 163-132.3A Alterations to precinct names
No county board of elections shall assign to any precinct a name that has been used after January 1, 1999, for a precinct comprising different...
- § 163-132.4 Directives
The Executive Director of the State Board of Elections may promulgate directives concerning its duties and those of the county boards of elections under this...
- § 163-132.5 Cooperation of State and local agencies
The Office of State Budget and Management, the Department of Transportation and county and municipal planning departments shall cooperate and assist the Legislative Services Office,...
- § 163-132.5A Repealed by Session Laws 1991 (Regular Session, 1992), c. 927, s. 1
- § 163-132.5B Exemption from Administrative Procedure Act
The State Board of Elections is exempt from the provisions of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes while acting under the authority of this Article....
- § 163-132.5C Local acts and township lines
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any local act, a county board of elections need not have the approval of any other county board or commission...
- § 163-132.5D Retention of precinct maps
The Executive Director of the State Board of Elections shall retain the maps and written descriptions which he approves pursuant to G.S. 163‑132.3. (1991 (Reg....
- § 163-132.5E Repealed by Session Laws 1999-227, s. 1
- § 163-132.5F U.S. Census data by voting tabulation district
The State shall request the U.S. Bureau of the Census for each decennial census to provide summaries of census data by voting tabulation district and...
- § 163-132.5G Voting data maintained by voting tabulation district
Each county board of elections shall maintain voting data by voting tabulation district as provided in G.S. 163‑132.1B so that voting tabulation district returns for...
- § 163-132.6 Repealed by Session Laws 1991 (Regular Session, 1992), c. 927, s. 1
- § 116-133 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 116-134 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 13 - General Instructions.
Article 14 - Voting Systems.
Article 14A - Voting.
- § 163-165 Definitions
In addition to the definitions stated below, the definitions set forth in Article 15A of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes also apply to this...
- § 163-165.1 Scope and general rules
(a) Scope. This Article shall apply to all elections in this State. (b) Requirements of Official Ballots in Voting. In any election conducted under this...
- § 163-165.2 Sample ballots
(a) County Board to Produce and Distribute Sample Ballots. The county board of elections shall produce sample ballots, in all the necessary ballot styles of...
- § 163-165.3 Responsibilities for preparing official ballots
(a) State Board Responsibilities. The State Board of Elections shall certify the official ballots and voter instructions to be used in every election that is...
- § 163-165.4 Standards for official ballots
The State Board of Elections shall seek to ensure that official ballots throughout the State have all the following characteristics: (1) Are readily understandable by...
- § 163-165.4A Punch-card ballots and lever machines
(a) No ballot may be used in any referendum, primary, or other election as an official ballot if it requires the voter to punch out...
- § 163-165.4B Butterfly ballots
No butterfly ballot may be used as an official ballot in any referendum, primary, or other election. The term "butterfly ballot" means a ballot having...
- § 163-165.5 Contents of official ballots
Each official ballot shall contain all the following elements: (1) The heading prescribed by the State Board of Elections. The heading shall include the term...
- § 163-165.5A (Effective until January 1, 2012) Ballot instructions in English and Spanish
In every county or municipality where the Hispanic population exceeds six percent (6%), in accordance with the most recent decennial federal census, all instructions to...
- § 163-165.5B Ballots may be combined
Notwithstanding any other statute or local act, a county board of elections, with the approval of the State Board of Elections, may combine ballot items...
- § 163-165.6 Arrangement of official ballots
(a) Order of Precedence Generally. Candidate ballot items shall be arranged on the official ballot before referenda. (b) Order of Precedence for Candidate Ballot Items....
- § 163-165.7 Voting systems: powers and duties of State Board of Elections
(a) Only voting systems that have been certified by the State Board of Elections in accordance with the procedures and subject to the standards set...
- § 163-165.8 Voting systems: powers and duties of board of county commissioners
The board of county commissioners, with the approval of the county board of elections, may adopt and acquire only a voting system of a type,...
- § 163-165.9 Voting systems: powers and duties of county board of elections
(a) Before approving the adoption and acquisition of any voting system by the board of county commissioners, the county board of elections shall do all...
- § 163-165.9A Voting systems: requirements for voting systems vendors; penalties
(a) Duties of Vendor. Every vendor that has a contract to provide a voting system in North Carolina shall do all of the following: (1)...
- § 163-165.10 Adequacy of voting system for each precinct
The county board of elections shall make available for each precinct voting place an adequate quantity of official ballots or equipment. When the board of...
- § 163-166 Repealed by Session Laws 1997-443, s. 31
- § 163-166.01 Hours for voting
In every election, the voting place shall be open at 6:30 A.M. and shall be closed at 7:30 P.M. In extraordinary circumstances, the county board...
- § 163-166.1 Duties of county board of elections
The county board of elections shall: (1) Provide for the timely delivery to each voting place of the supplies, records, and equipment necessary for the...
- § 163-166.2 Arrangement of the voting enclosure
Each voting enclosure shall contain at a minimum: (1) A sufficient number of private spaces for all voters to mark their official ballots in secrecy....
- § 163-166.3 Limited access to the voting enclosure
(a) Persons Who May Enter Voting Enclosure. During the time allowed for voting in the voting place, only the following persons may enter the voting...
- § 163-166.4 Limitation on activity in the voting place and in a buffer zone around it
(a) Buffer Zone and Adjacent Area for Election‑Related Activity. No person or group of persons shall hinder access, harass others, distribute campaign literature, place political...
- § 163-166.5 Procedures at voting place before voting begins
The State Board of Elections shall promulgate rules for precinct officials to set up the voting place before voting begins. Those rules shall emphasize: (1)...
- § 163-166.6 Designation of tasks
The State Board of Elections shall promulgate rules for the delegation of tasks among the election officials at each precinct. Those rules shall emphasize: (1)...
- § 163-166.7 Voting procedures
(a) Checking Registration. A person seeking to vote shall enter the voting enclosure through the appropriate entrance. A precinct official assigned to check registration shall...
- § 163-166.7A Voter education and information
(a) Posting the Information. For each election that involves candidates for federal or State office, each county board of elections shall post at each active...
- § 163-166.8 Assistance to voters
(a) Any registered voter qualified to vote in the election shall be entitled to assistance with entering and exiting the voting booth and in preparing...
- § 163-166.9 Curbside voting
In any election or referendum, if any qualified voter is able to travel to the voting place, but because of age or physical disability and...
- § 163-166.10 Procedures after the close of voting
The State Board of Elections shall promulgate rules for closing the voting place and delivering voting information to the county board of elections for counting,...
- § 163-166.11 Provisional voting requirements
If an individual seeking to vote claims to be a registered voter in a jurisdiction as provided in G.S. 163‑82.1 and though eligible to vote...
- § 163-166.12 Requirements for certain voters who register by mail
(a) Voting in Person. An individual who has registered to vote by mail on or after January 1, 2003, and has not previously voted in...
- § 163-167 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 15 - Counting Ballots, Canvassing Votes, and Certifying Results in Precinct and County.
Article 15A - Counting Official Ballots, Canvassing Votes, Hearing Protests, and Certifying Results.
- § 163-182 Definitions
In addition to the definitions stated below, the definitions set forth in Article 13A of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes also apply to this...
- § 163-182.1 Principles and rules for counting official ballots
(a) General Principles That Shall Apply. The following general principles shall apply in the counting of official ballots, whether the initial count or any recount:...
- § 163-182.2 Initial counting of official ballots
(a) The initial counting of official ballots shall be conducted according to the following principles: (1) Vote counting at the precinct shall occur immediately after...
- § 163-182.3 Responsibility of chief judge
The chief judge of each precinct shall be responsible for the adherence of the precinct officials to the State Board rules for counting, reporting, and...
- § 163-182.4 Jurisdiction for certain ballot items
(a) Jurisdiction of County Board of Elections. As used in this Article, the county board of elections shall have jurisdiction over the following: (1) Offices...
- § 163-182.5 Canvassing votes
(a) The Canvass. As used in this Article, the term "canvass" means the entire process of determining that the votes have been counted and tabulated...
- § 163-182.6 Abstracts
(a) Abstracts to Be Prepared by County Board of Elections. As soon as the county canvass has been completed, the county board of elections shall...
- § 163-182.7 Ordering recounts
(a) Discretionary Recounts. The county board of elections or the State Board of Elections may order a recount when necessary to complete the canvass in...
- § 163-182.7A Additional provisions for hand-to-eye recounts
(a) The rules promulgated by the State Board of Elections for recounts shall provide that if the initial recount is not hand‑to‑eye, and if the...
- § 163-182.8 Determining result in case of a tie
If the count, upon completion of canvass by the proper board of elections, shows a tie vote other than in a primary, the tie shall...
- § 163-182.9 Filing an election protest
(a) Who May File a Protest With County Board. A protest concerning the conduct of an election may be filed with the county board of...
- § 163-182.10 Consideration of protest by county board of elections
(a) Preliminary Consideration. The following principles shall apply to the initial consideration of election protests by the county board of elections: (1) The county board...
- § 163-182.11 Appeal of a protest decision by the county board to the State Board of Elections
(a) Notice and Perfection of Appeal. The decision by the county board of elections on an election protest may be appealed to the State Board...
- § 163-182.12 Authority of State Board of Elections over protests
The State Board of Elections may consider protests that were not filed in compliance with G.S. 163‑182.9, may initiate and consider complaints on its own...
- § 163-182.13 New elections
(a) When State Board May Order New Election. The State Board of Elections may order a new election, upon agreement of at least four of...
- § 163-182.13A Contested elections for Council of State offices
(a) Application of Procedures. A contested election for any elective office established by Article III of the Constitution shall be determined by joint ballot of...
- § 163-182.14 Appeal of a final decision to superior court; appeal to the General Assembly or a house thereof
(a) Final Decision. A copy of the final decision of the State Board of Elections on an election protest shall be served on the parties...
- § 163-182.15 Certificate of nomination or election, or certificate of the results of a referendum
(a) Issued by County Board of Elections. In ballot items within the jurisdiction of the county board of elections, the county board shall issue a...
- § 163-182.16 Governor to issue commissions for certain offices
The Secretary of State shall send a notice to the Governor that a certificate of election has been issued for any of the following offices,...
- § 163-182.17 Summary of officials' duties under this Article
(a) This Section a Summary. The provisions of this section provide a nonexclusive summary of the duties given to officials under this Article. The legal...
- § 116-183 through 116-186 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 16 - Canvass of Returns for Higher Offices and Preparation of State Abstracts.
Article 17 - Members of the United States House of Representatives.
Article 18 - Presidential Electors.
Article 18A - Presidential Preference Primary Act.
- § 163-213.1 Short title
This Article may be cited as the "Presidential Preference Primary Act." (1971, c. 225; 1975, c. 744.)
- § 163-213.2 Primary to be held; date; qualifications and registration of voters
On the Tuesday after the first Monday in May, 1992, and every four years thereafter, the voters of this State shall be given an opportunity...
- § 163-213.3 Conduct of election
The presidential preference primary election shall be conducted and canvassed by the same authority and in the manner provided by law for the conduct and...
- § 163-213.4 Nomination by State Board of Elections
By the first Tuesday in February of the year preceding the North Carolina presidential preference primary, the chair of each political party shall submit to...
- § 163-213.5 Nomination by petition
Any person seeking the endorsement by the national political party for the office of President of the United States, or any group organized in this...
- § 163-213.6 Notification to candidates
The State Board of Elections shall forthwith contact each person who has been nominated by the Board or by petition and notify him in writing...
- § 163-213.7 Voting in presidential preference primary; ballots
The names of all candidates in the presidential preference primary shall appear at an appropriate place on the ballot or voting machine. In addition the...
- § 163-213.8 Allocation of delegate positions to reflect division of votes in the primary
(a) Upon completion and certification of the primary results by the State Board of Elections, the Secretary of State shall certify the results to the...
- § 163-213.9 National committee to be notified of provisions under this Article
It shall be the responsibility of the State chairman of each political party, qualified under the laws of this State, to notify his party's national...
- § 163-213.10 Transferred to § 163-213.9 by Session Laws 1975, c. 744
- § 163-213.11 Repealed by Session Laws 1991, c. 689, s. 15
- § 163-214 through 163-217 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 19 - Petitions for Elections and Referenda.
Article 20 - Absentee Ballot.
- § 163-226 Who may vote an absentee ballot
(a) Who May Vote Absentee Ballot; Generally. Any qualified voter of the State may vote by absentee ballot in a statewide primary, general, or special...
- § 163-226.1 Absentee voting in primary
A qualified voter may vote by absentee ballot in a partisan primary provided the qualified voter is affiliated, at the time the qualified voter makes...
- § 163-226.2 Absentee voting in municipal elections
Absentee voting by qualified voters residing in a municipality shall be in accordance with the authorization specified in G.S. 163‑302. (1977, c. 469, s. 1.)
- § 163-226.3 Certain acts declared felonies
(a) Any person who shall, in connection with absentee voting in any election held in this State, do any of the acts or things declared...
- § 163-227 Repealed by Session Laws 1999-455, s.4
- § 163-227.1 Second primary; applications for absentee ballots for voting in second primary
A voter applying for an absentee ballot for a primary election who will be eligible to vote under this Article on the day of the...
- § 163-227.2 Alternate procedures for requesting application for absentee ballot; "one-stop" voting procedure in board office
(a) Any voter eligible to vote by absentee ballot under G.S. 163‑226 may request an application for absentee ballots, complete the application, and vote under...
- § 163-227.3 Date by which absentee ballots must be available for voting
(a) A board of elections shall provide absentee ballots of the kinds needed 50 days prior to the date on which the election shall be...
- § 163-228 Register of absentee requests, applications, and ballots issued; a public record
The State Board of Elections shall approve an official register in which the county board of elections in each county of the State shall record...
- § 163-229 Absentee ballots, applications on container-return envelopes, and instruction sheets
(a) Absentee Ballot Form. In accordance with the provisions of G.S. 163‑230.1, persons entitled to vote by absentee ballot shall be furnished with official ballots....
- § 163-230 Repealed by Session Laws 1999-455, s. 9
- § 163-230.1 Simultaneous issuance of absentee ballots with application
(a) A qualified voter who is eligible to vote by absentee ballot under G.S. 163‑226(a) or that voter's near relative or verifiable legal guardian, shall...
- § 163-230.2 Method of requesting absentee ballots
(a) Valid Types of Written Requests. A written request for an absentee ballot as required by G.S. 163‑230.1 is valid only if it is written...
- § 163-231 Voting absentee ballots and transmitting them to the county board of elections
(a) Procedure for Voting Absentee Ballots. In the presence of two other persons who are at least 18 years of age, and who are not...
- § 163-232 Certified list of executed absentee ballots; distribution of list
The county board of elections shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, a list in at least quadruplicate, of all absentee ballots returned to the...
- § 163-233 Applications for absentee ballots; how retained
The county board of elections shall retain, in a safe place, the original of all applications made for absentee ballots and shall make them available...
- § 163-233.1 Withdrawal of absentee ballots not allowed
No person shall be permitted to withdraw an absentee ballot after such ballot has been mailed to or returned to the county board of elections....
- § 163-234 Counting absentee ballots by county board of elections
All absentee ballots returned to the county board of elections in the container‑return envelopes shall be retained by the board to be counted by the...
- § 163-235 Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 536, s. 5
- § 163-236 Violations by county board of elections
The county board of elections shall be sole custodian of blank applications for absentee ballots, official ballots, and container‑return envelopes for absentee ballots. The board...
- § 163-237 Certain violations of absentee ballot law made criminal offenses
(a) False Statements under Oath Made Class 2 Misdemeanor. If any person shall willfully and falsely make any affidavit or statement, under oath, which affidavit...
- § 163-238 Reports of violations to district attorneys
It shall be the duty of the State Board of Elections to report to the district attorney of the appropriate prosecutorial district, any violation of...
- § 163-239 Article 21 relating to absentee voting by servicemen and certain civilians not applicable
Except as otherwise provided therein, Article 21 of this Chapter, relating to absentee registration and voting by servicemen and certain civilians, shall not apply to...
- § 163-240 to 163-240.5 Expired July 1, 1972
- § 163-241 through 163-244 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 21 - Military Absentee Registration and Voting in Primary and General Elections.
- § 163-245 Persons in armed forces, their spouses, certain veterans, civilians working with armed forces, and members of Peace Corps may register and vote by mail
(a) Any individual who is eligible to register and who is qualified to vote in any statewide primary or election held under the laws of...
- § 163-246 Provisions of Article 20 applicable except as otherwise provided; State Board of Elections to adopt regulations
Except as otherwise provided in this Article, registration by mail and absentee voting by individuals to whom this Article is applicable shall be governed by...
- § 163-247 Methods of applying for absentee ballots
An individual entitled to exercise the rights conferred by this Article and who is absent from the county of his residence may apply for absentee...
- § 163-248 Register, ballots, container-return envelopes, and instruction sheets
(a) Register of Military Absentee Ballot Applications and Ballots Issued. The State Board of Elections shall furnish the chairman of the board of elections in...
- § 163-249 Consideration and approval of applications and issuance of absentee ballots
The procedure to be followed in receiving applications for absentee ballots under this Article, passing upon their validity, and issuing absentee ballots shall be governed...
- § 163-250 Voting absentee ballots and transmitting them to chairman of county board of elections
(a) Procedure for Voting Absentee Ballots. In the presence of two persons who are at least 18 years of age, the voter shall: (1) Mark...
- § 163-251 Certified list of approved military absentee ballot applications; record of ballots received; disposition of list; list constitutes registration
(a) Preparation of List. The chairman of the county board of elections shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, a list in quadruplicate of all...
- § 163-252 Repealed by Session Laws 1973, c. 536, s. 5
- § 163-253 Article inapplicable to persons after change of status; reregistration not required
Upon discharge from the armed forces of the United States or termination of any other status qualifying the voter to register and vote by absentee...
- § 163-254 Registration and voting on primary or election day
Notwithstanding any other provisions of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes, an individual shall be permitted to register in person at any time the office...
- § 163-255 Absentee voting at office of board of elections
Notwithstanding any other provisions of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes, any person eligible to vote an absentee ballot pursuant to G.S. 163‑245 shall be...
- § 163-256 Regulations of State Board of Elections
(a) The State Board of Elections shall adopt rules and regulations to carry out the intent and purpose of G.S. 163‑254 and 163‑255, and to...
- § 163-257 Facsimile, electronic mail, or scanned transmission of election materials
An applicant entitled to exercise the rights conferred by this Article may apply for registration and an absentee ballot by facsimile, electronic mail, or transmission...
- § 116-258 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 22 - Corrupt Practices and Other Offenses against the Elective Franchise.
- § 163-259 through 163-268 Repealed by Session Laws 1975, c. 565, s. 8
- § 163-269 through 163-270 Repealed by Session Laws 1999-31, s. 5(b)
- § 163-271 Intimidation of voters by officers made misdemeanor
It shall be unlawful for any person holding any office, position, or employment in the State government, or under and with any department, institution, bureau,...
- § 163-272 Repealed by Session Laws 1971, c. 872, s. 3
- § 163-272.1 Penalties for violation of this Chapter
Whenever in this Chapter it is provided that a crime is a misdemeanor, the punishment shall be for a Class 2 misdemeanor. (1987, c. 565,...
- § 163-273 Offenses of voters; interference with voters; penalty
(a) Any person who shall, in connection with any primary or election in this State, do any of the acts and things declared in this...
- § 163-274 Certain acts declared misdemeanors
(a) Class 2 Misdemeanors. Any person who shall, in connection with any primary or election in this State, do any of the acts and things...
- § 163-275 Certain acts declared felonies
Any person who shall, in connection with any primary, general or special election held in this State, do any of the acts or things declared...
- § 163-276 Convicted officials; removal from office
Any public official who shall be convicted of violating any provision of Article 14A or 22 of this Chapter, in addition to the punishment provided...
- § 163-277 Compelling self-incriminating testimony; person so testifying excused from prosecution
No person shall be excused from attending or testifying or producing any books, papers or other documents before any court or magistrate upon any investigation,...
- § 163-278 Duty of investigating and prosecuting violations of this Article
It shall be the duty of the State Board of Elections and the district attorneys to investigate any violations of this Article, and the Board...
- § 116-278.1 through 116-278.4 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 22A - Regulating Contributions and Expenditures in Political Campaigns.
- § 163-278.5 Scope of Article; severability
The provisions of this Article apply to primaries and elections for North Carolina offices and to North Carolina referenda and do not apply to primaries...
- § 163-278.6 Definitions
When used in this Article: (1) The term "board" means the State Board of Elections with respect to all candidates for State, legislative, and judicial...
- § 163-278.7 Appointment of political treasurers
(a) Each candidate, political committee, and referendum committee shall appoint a treasurer and, under verification, report the name and address of the treasurer to the...
- § 163-278.7A Gifts from federal political committees
It shall be permissible for a federal political committee, as defined by the Federal Election Campaign Act and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, to make contributions...
- § 163-278.8 Detailed accounts to be kept by political treasurers
(a) The treasurer of each candidate, political committee, and referendum committee shall keep detailed accounts, current within not more than seven days after the date...
- § 163-278.9 Statements filed with Board
(a) Except as provided in G.S. 163‑278.10A, the treasurer of each candidate and of each political committee shall file with the Board under certification of...
- § 163-278.9A Statements filed by referendum committees
(a) The treasurer of each referendum committee shall file under verification with the Board the following reports: (1) Organizational Report. The appointment of the treasurer...
- § 163-278.10 Procedure for inactive candidate or committee
If no contribution is received or expenditure made by or on behalf of a candidate, political committee, or referendum committee during a period described in...
- § 163-278.10A Threshold of $3,000 for Financial Reports
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, a candidate shall be exempted from the reports of contributions, loans, and expenditures required in G.S. 163‑278.9(a),...
- § 163-278.11 Contents of treasurer's statement of receipts and expenditures
(a) Statements filed pursuant to provisions of this Article shall set forth the following: (1) Contributions. Except as provided in subsection (a1) of this section,...
- § 163-278.12 Special reporting of contributions and independent expenditures
(a) Subject to G.S. 163‑278.39 and G.S. 163‑278.14, individuals and other entities not otherwise prohibited from doing so may make independent expenditures. In the event...
- § 163-278.12A Repealed by Session Laws 2004-125, s. 4, effective July 20, 2004
- § 163-278.13 Limitation on contributions
(a) No individual, political committee, or other entity shall contribute to any candidate or other political committee any money or make any other contribution in...
- § 163-278.13A Repealed by Session Laws 1997-515, s. 9
- § 163-278.13B Limitation on fund-raising during legislative session
(a) Definitions. For purposes of this section: (1) "Limited contributor" means a lobbyist registered under Chapter 120C of the General Statutes, that lobbyist's agent, that...
- § 163-278.13C Campaign contributions prohibition
(a) No lobbyist may make a contribution as defined in G.S. 163‑278.6 to a candidate or candidate campaign committee as defined in G.S. 163‑278.38Z when...
- § 163-278.14 No contributions in names of others; no anonymous contributions; contributions in excess of fifty dollars; no contribution without specific designation of contributor
(a) No individual, political committee, or other entity shall make any contribution anonymously or in the name of another. No candidate, political committee, referendum committee,...
- § 163-278.15 No acceptance of contributions made by corporations, foreign and domestic, or other prohibited sources
(a) No candidate, political committee, political party, or treasurer shall accept any contribution made by any corporation, foreign or domestic, regardless of whether such corporation...
- § 163-278.16 Regulations regarding timing of contributions and expenditures
(a) Except as provided in G.S. 163‑278.6(14) and G.S. 163‑278.12, no contribution may be received or expenditure made by or on behalf of a candidate,...
- § 163-278.16A Restriction on use of State funds by declared candidate for Council of State for advertising or public service announcements using their names, pictures, or voices
After December 31 prior to a general election in which a Council of State office will be on the ballot, no declared candidate for that...
- § 163-278.16B Use of contributions for certain purposes
(a) A candidate or candidate campaign committee may use contributions only for the following purposes: (1) Expenditures resulting from the campaign for public office by...
- § 163-278.17 Statements of media receiving campaign expenditures
(a) Repealed by Session Laws 1985, c. 183, s. 1. (b) Each media shall require written authority for each expenditure from each candidate, treasurer or...
- § 163-278.18 Normal commercial charges for political advertising
(a) No media and no supplier of materials or services shall charge or require a candidate, treasurer, political party, or individual to pay a charge...
- § 163-278.19 Violations by corporations, business entities, labor unions, professional associations and insurance companies
(a) Except as provided in subsections (a2), (b), (d), (e), (f), and (g) of this section it shall be unlawful for any corporation, business entity,...
- § 163-278.19A Contributions allowed
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, it is lawful for any person as defined in G.S. 163‑278.6(13) to contribute to a referendum committee. (1979,...
- § 163-278.19B Political party headquarters building funds
Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 163‑278.19, a person prohibited by that section from making a contribution may donate to political parties and political parties may...
- § 163-278.20 Repealed by Session Laws 2006-195, s. 2, effective January 1, 2007, and applicable to all contributions made and accepted on and after that date
- § 163-278.21 Promulgation of policy and administration through State Board of Elections
The State Board of Elections shall have responsibility, adequate staff, equipment and facilities, for promulgating all regulations necessary for the enforcement and administration of this...
- § 163-278.22 Duties of State Board
It shall be the duty and power of the State Board: (1) To prescribe forms of statements and other information required to be filed by...
- § 163-278.23 Duties of Executive Director of Board
The Executive Director of the Board shall inspect or cause to be inspected each statement filed with the Board under this Article within 30 days...
- § 163-278.24 Statements examined within four months
Within four months after the date of each election or referendum, the Executive Director shall examine or cause to be examined each statement filed with...
- § 163-278.25 Issuance of declaration of nomination or certificate of election
No declaration of nomination and no certificate of election shall be granted to any candidate until the candidate or his treasurer has filed the statements...
- § 163-278.26 Appeals from State Board of Elections; early docketing
Any candidate for nomination or election who is denied a declaration of nomination or certificate of election, pursuant to G.S. 163‑278.25, may, within five days...
- § 163-278.27 Criminal penalties; duty to report and prosecute
(a) Any individual, candidate, political committee, referendum committee, treasurer, person or media who intentionally violates the applicable provisions of G.S. 163‑278.7, 163‑278.8, 163‑278.9, 163‑278.10, 163‑278.11,...
- § 163-278.28 Issuance of injunctions; special prosecutors named
(a) The superior courts of this State shall have jurisdiction to issue injunctions or grant any other equitable relief appropriate to enforce the provisions of...
- § 163-278.29 Compelling self-incriminating testimony; individual so testifying excused from prosecution
No individual shall be excused from attending or testifying or producing any books, papers, or other documents before any court upon any proceeding or trial...
- § 163-278.30 Candidates for federal offices to file information reports
Candidates for nomination in a party primary or for election in a general or special election to the offices of United States Senator, member of...
- § 163-278.31 Repealed by Session Laws 1985, c. 183, s. 4
- § 163-278.32 Statements under oath
Any statement required to be filed under this Article shall be signed and certified as true and correct by the individual, media, candidate, treasurer or...
- § 163-278.33 Applicability of Article 22
Sections 163‑271 through 163‑278 shall be applicable to the offices covered by this Article and G.S. 163‑271 through 163‑278 shall be applicable to all elective...
- § 163-278.34 Civil penalties
(a) Civil Penalties for Late Filing. Except as provided in G.S. 163‑278.9 and G.S. 163‑278.9A, all reports, statements or other documents required by this Article...
- § 163-278.34A Presumptions
In any proceeding brought pursuant to this Article in which a presumption arises from the proof of certain facts, the defendant may offer some evidence...
- § 163-278.35 Preservation of records
All reports, records and accounts required by this Article to be made, kept, filed, or maintained by any individual, media, candidate or treasurer shall be...
- § 163-278.36 Repealed by Session Laws 2007-349, s. 4, effective January 1, 2008
- § 163-278.37 County boards of elections to preserve reports
The county boards of elections shall preserve all reports and statements filed with them pursuant to this Article for such period of time as directed...
- § 163-278.38 Effect of failure to comply
The failure to comply with the provisions of this Article shall not invalidate the results of any referendum. (1979, c. 1073, s. 11.)
- § 163-278.38Z Definitions
As used in this Part: (1) "Advertisement" means any message appearing in the print media, on television, or on radio that constitutes a contribution or...
- § 163-278.39 Basic disclosure requirements for all political campaign advertisements
(a) Basic Requirements. It shall be unlawful for any sponsor to sponsor an advertisement in the print media or on radio or television that constitutes...
- § 163-278.39A Disclosure requirements for television and radio advertisements supporting or opposing the nomination or election of one or more clearly identified candidates
(a) Expanded Disclosure Requirements. Any political campaign advertisement on radio or television shall comply with the expanded disclosure requirements set forth in this section. To...
- § 163-278.39B Recodified as G.S. 163-278.38Z by Session Laws 2004-203, s. 12(a), effective August 17, 2004
- § 163-278.39C Scope of disclosure requirements
The disclosure requirements of this Part apply to any sponsor of an advertisement in the print media or on radio or television the cost or...
- § 163-278.40 Definitions
When used in this Part, words and phrases have the same meaning as in G.S. 163‑278.6, except that: (1) The term "board" means the county...
- § 163-278.40A Organizational report
(a) Each candidate and political committee in a city election shall appoint a treasurer and, under verification, report the name and address of the treasurer...
- § 163-278.40B Campaign report; partisan election
In any city election conducted on a partisan basis in accordance with G.S. 163‑279(a)(2) and 163‑291, the following reports shall be filed in addition to...
- § 163-278.40C Campaign report; nonpartisan election and runoff
If any city election conducted under the nonpartisan election and runoff basis in accordance with G.S. 163‑279(a) (4) and 163‑293, the following reports shall be...
- § 163-278.40D Campaign report; nonpartisan primary and elections
In any city election conducted under the nonpartisan primary method in accordance with G.S. 163‑279(a)(3) and 163‑294, the following reports shall be filed in addition...
- § 163-278.40E Campaign report; nonpartisan plurality
In any city election conducted under the nonpartisan plurality method under G.S. 163‑279(a)(1) and 163‑292, the following reports shall be filed in addition to the...
- § 163-278.40F Form of report
Forms of reports under this Part shall be prescribed by the board. (1981, c. 837, s. 3.)
- § 163-278.40G Content
Except as otherwise provided in this Part, each report shall be current within seven days prior to the date the report is due and shall...
- § 163-278.40H Notice of reports due
The director of the board shall advise, or cause to be advised, no less than five days nor more than 15 days before each report...
- § 163-278.40I Part 1 to apply
(a) Except as provided in this Part or in G.S. 163‑278.9(d), the provisions of Part 1 shall apply to municipal elections covered by this Part....
Article 22B - Appropriations from the North Carolina Political Parties Financing Fund.
- § 163-278.41 Appropriations in general election years and other years
(a) Following the conclusion of the last primary or nominating convention held by a political party in a general election year in which a presidential...
- § 163-278.42 Distribution of campaign funds; legitimate expenses permitted
(a) In a general election year in which a presidential election is held, every State chairman of a political party shall disburse fifty percent (50%)...
- § 163-278.43 Annual report to State Board of Elections; suspension of disbursements; willful violations a misdemeanor; adoption of rules; reporting by candidates and political committees
(a) The State chairman of each political party receiving funds from the Political Parties Fund or the Presidential Election Year Candidates Fund or both shall...
- § 163-278.44 Crime; punishment
Any individual person, candidate, political committee, or treasurer who willfully and intentionally violates any of the provisions of this Article, shall be guilty of a...
- § 163-278.45 Definitions
The terms "candidate," "expend," "individual," "person," "political committee," and "treasurer" as used in this Article shall be as defined in G.S. 163‑278.6. (1977, 2nd Sess.,...
Article 22C - Appropriations from the North Carolina Candidates Financing Fund.
- § 163-278.46 Repealed by Session Laws 2002-158, s. 5, effective January 1, 2003
- § 163-278.47 Repealed by Session Laws 2002-158, s. 5, effective January 1, 2003
- § 163-278.48 Repealed by Session Laws 2002-158, s. 5, effective January 1, 2003
- § 163-278.49 Repealed by Session Laws 2002-158, s. 5, effective January 1, 2003
- § 163-278.50 Repealed by Session Laws 2002-158, s. 5, effective January 1, 2003
- § 163-278.51 Repealed by Session Laws 2002-158, s. 5, effective January 1, 2003
- § 163-278.52 Repealed by Session Laws 2002-158, s. 5, effective January 1, 2003
- § 163-278.53 Repealed by Session Laws 2002-158, s. 5, effective January 1, 2003
- § 163-278.54 Repealed by Session Laws 2002-158, s. 5, effective January 1, 2003
- § 163-278.55 Repealed by Session Laws 2002-158, s. 5, effective January 1, 2003
- § 163-278.56 Repealed by Session Laws 2002-158, s. 5, effective January 1, 2003
- § 163-278.57 Repealed by Session Laws 2002-158, s. 5, effective January 1, 2003
- § 163-278.58 through 163-278.60 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 22D - The North Carolina Public Campaign Financing Fund.
- § 163-278.61 Purpose of the North Carolina Public Campaign Fund
The purpose of this Article is to ensure the fairness of democratic elections in North Carolina and to protect the constitutional rights of voters and...
- § 163-278.62 Definitions
The following definitions apply in this Article: (1) Board. The State Board of Elections. (2) Candidate. An individual who becomes a candidate as described in...
- § 163-278.63 North Carolina Public Campaign Fund established; sources of funding
(a) Establishment of Fund. The North Carolina Public Campaign Fund is established to finance the election campaigns of certified candidates for office and to pay...
- § 163-278.64 Requirements for participation; certification of candidates
(a) Declaration of Intent to Participate. Any individual choosing to receive campaign funds from the Fund shall first file with the Board a declaration of...
- § 163-278.64A Special participation provisions for candidates in vacancy elections
(a) Participation Provisions Modified. Candidates involved in elections described in G.S. 163‑329 may participate in the Fund subject to the provisions of G.S. 163‑278.64 as...
- § 163-278.65 Distribution from the Fund
(a) Timing of Fund Distribution. The Board shall distribute to a certified candidate revenue from the Fund in an amount determined under subdivision (b)(4) of...
- § 163-278.66 Reporting requirements
(a) Reporting by Participating and Certified Candidates. Any noncertified candidate with a certified opponent shall report total income, expenses, and obligations to the Board by...
- § 163-278.67 Matching funds
(a) When Matching Funds Become Available. When any report or group of reports shows that "funds in opposition to a certified candidate or in support...
- § 163-278.68 Enforcement and administration
(a) Enforcement by the Board. The Board, with the advice of the Advisory Council for the Public Campaign Fund, shall administer the provisions of this...
- § 163-278.69 Voter education
(a) Judicial Voter Guide. The Board shall publish a Judicial Voter Guide that explains the functions of the appellate courts and the laws concerning the...
- § 163-278.70 Civil penalty
In addition to any other penalties that may be applicable, any individual, political committee, or other entity that violates any provision of this Article is...
- § 163-278.71 through 163-278.79 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 22E - Electioneering Communications.
Article 22F - Mass Mailings and Telephone Banks: Electioneering Communications.
Article 22J - The Voter-Owned Elections Act.
- § 163-278.95 Purpose and establishment of Voter-Owned Elections Act
The purpose of this Article is to ensure the vitality and fairness of democratic elections in North Carolina to the end that any eligible citizen...
- § 163-278.96 Definitions
The following definitions apply in this Article: (1) Board. The State Board of Elections. (2) Campaign‑related expenditure. An expenditure that benefits the candidate's current campaign...
- § 163-278.97 Voter-Owned Elections Fund established; sources of funding
(a) Establishment of Fund. The North Carolina Voter‑Owned Elections Fund is established to finance the election campaigns of certified candidates for office and to pay...
- § 163-278.98 Requirements for participation
(a) Declaration of Intent to Participate. Any individual choosing to receive campaign funds from the Fund shall first file with the Board a declaration of...
- § 163-278.99 Distribution from the Fund
(a) Timing of Fund Distribution. The Board shall distribute to a certified candidate revenue from the Fund in an amount determined under subdivision (b)(4) of...
- § 163-278.99A Reporting requirements
(a) Reporting by Noncertified Candidates and Other Entities. Any nonparticipating candidate with a certified opponent shall report total income, expenses, and obligations to the Board...
- § 163-278.99B Matching funds
(a) When Matching Funds Become Available. When any report or group of reports shows that "funds in opposition to a certified candidate or in support...
- § 163-278.99C Unaffiliated and new-party candidates
Unaffiliated candidates certified pursuant to G.S. 163‑122 and new‑party candidates certified pursuant to G.S. 163‑98 shall be eligible for revenues from the Fund in the...
- § 163-278.99D Enforcement by the Board; civil penalty
In addition to any other penalties that may be applicable, any individual, political committee, or other entity that violates any provision of this Article is...
- § 163-278.99E Voter education
(a) Voter Guide. The Board shall publish a Voter Guide that explains the functions of office as defined in G.S. 163‑278.96(12) and the laws concerning...
Article 22G - Candidate-Specific Communications.
Article 22H - Mass Mailings and Telephone Banks: Candidate Specific Communications.
- § 163-278.110 Definitions
As used in this Article, the following terms have the following definitions: (1) The term "candidate‑specific communication" means any mass mailing or telephone bank that...
- § 163-278.111 Disclosure of candidate-specific communications
(a) Statement Required. Every individual, committee, association, or any other organization or group of individuals that incurs an expense for the direct costs of producing...
- § 163-278.112 Penalties
The State Board of Elections has the same authority to compel from any individual, committee, association, or any other organization or group of individuals covered...
- § 163-278.113 through 163-278.299 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 22M - Legal Expense Funds.
- § 163-278.300 Definitions
As used in this Article, the following terms mean: (1) Board. The State Board of Elections. (2) Contribution. As defined in G.S. 163‑278.6. The term...
- § 163-278.301 Creation of legal expense funds
(a) An elected officer, or another individual or group of individuals on the elected officer's behalf, shall create a legal expense fund if given a...
- § 163-278.302 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.303 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.304 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.305 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.306 Treasurer
(a) Each legal expense fund shall appoint a treasurer and, under verification, report the name and address of the treasurer to the Board. (b) A...
- § 163-278.307 Detailed accounts to be kept by treasurer
(a) The treasurer of each legal expense fund shall keep detailed accounts, current within seven calendar days after the date of receiving a contribution or...
- § 163-278.308 Reports filed with Board
(a) The treasurer of each legal expense fund shall file with the Board the following reports: (1) Organizational report. The report required under G.S. 163‑278.309....
- § 163-278.309 Organizational report
(a) Each appointed treasurer shall file with the Board a statement of organization that includes all of the following: (1) The name, address, and purpose...
- § 163-278.310 Quarterly report
The treasurer of each legal expense fund shall be required to file a quarterly report with the Board containing all of the following: (1) Contributions....
- § 163-278.311 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.312 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.313 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.314 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.315 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.316 Limitations on contributions
(a) No entity shall make, and no treasurer shall accept, any monetary contribution in excess of fifty dollars ($50.00) unless such contribution is in the...
- § 163-278.317 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.318 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.319 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.320 Permitted uses of legal expense funds
(a) A legal expense fund may be used for reasonable expenses actually incurred by the elected officer in relation to a legal action or potential...
- § 163-278.321 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.322 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.323 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.324 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.325 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.326 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.327 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.328 Reserved for future codification purposes
- § 163-278.329 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 23 - Municipal Election Procedure.
- § 163-279 Time of municipal primaries and elections
(a) Primaries and elections for offices filled by election of the people in cities, towns, incorporated villages, and special districts shall be held in 1973...
- § 163-280 Municipal boards of elections
(a) In each city that is authorized and elects to conduct its own elections in the manner provided by G.S. 163‑285, there shall be a...
- § 163-280.1 Municipal boards of elections abolished
Municipal boards of elections in all municipalities other than the City of Morganton, the Town of Granite Falls, the Town of Old Fort, and the...
- § 163-281 Municipal precinct election officials
(a) Chief Judges and Judges. At the meeting required by G.S. 163‑280(c), the municipal board of elections shall appoint one person to act as chief...
- § 163-282 Residency defined for voting in municipal elections
The rules for determining residency within a municipality shall be the same as prescribed in G.S. 163‑57 for determining county residency. No person shall be...
- § 163-283 Right to participate or vote in party primary
No person shall be entitled to vote or otherwise participate in the primary election of any political party unless he (1) Is a registered voter,...
- § 163-284 Mandatory administration by county boards of elections
(a) No later than 30 days after January 1, 1973, every municipality which conducts its elections on a partisan basis, and every special district shall...
- § 163-284.1 Special district elections conducted by county
All elections held in and for a sanitary district, fire district or other special district, including school administrative units, shall be conducted by the county...
- § 163-285 Administration by county board of elections; optional by Morganton, Granite Falls, Old Fort, and Rhodhiss
(a) The City of Morganton, the Town of Old Fort, the Town of Granite Falls, and the Town of Rhodhiss may conduct their own elections,...
- § 163-286 Conduct of municipal and special district elections; application of Chapter 163
(a) To the extent that the laws, rules and procedures applicable to the conduct of primary, general and special elections by county boards of elections...
- § 163-287 Special elections; procedure for calling
Any city, whether its elections are conducted by the county board of elections or the municipal board of elections, or any special district shall have...
- § 163-288 Registration for city elections; county and municipal boards of elections
Regardless of whether the municipal election is conducted by the county board of elections or by a municipal board of elections, the registration record of...
- § 163-288.1 Activating voters for newly annexed or incorporated areas
(a) Whenever any new city or special district is incorporated or whenever an existing city or district annexes any territory, the city or special district...
- § 163-288.1A Activating voters when charter revised
Whenever a city has not held the most recent two elections required by its charter or this Chapter, and the General Assembly amends the charter...
- § 163-288.2 Registration in area proposed for incorporation or annexed
(a) Whenever the General Assembly incorporates a new city and provides in the act of incorporation for a referendum on the question of incorporation or...
- § 163-288.3 Payment of cost of elections on question of formation of a new municipality or special district
Whenever a referendum or election is held on the question of incorporation of a new municipality or the formation of a special district, the cost...
- § 163-289 Right to challenge; challenge procedure
(a) The rules governing challenges in municipal elections shall be the same as are now applicable to challenges made in a county election, provided however,...
- § 163-290 Alternative methods of determining the results of municipal elections
(a) Each city, town, village, and special district in this State shall operate under one of the following alternative methods of nominating candidates for and...
Article 24 - Conduct of Municipal Elections.
- § 163-291 Partisan primaries and elections
The nomination of candidates for office in cities, towns, villages, and special districts whose elections are conducted on a partisan basis shall be governed by...
- § 163-292 Determination of election results in cities using the plurality method
In conducting nonpartisan elections and using the plurality method, elections shall be determined in accordance with the following rules: (1) When more than one person...
- § 163-293 Determination of election results in cities using the election and runoff election method
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, nonpartisan municipal elections in cities using the election and runoff election method shall be determined by a...
- § 163-294 Determination of election results in cities using nonpartisan primaries
(a) In cities whose elections are nonpartisan and who use the nonpartisan primary and election method, there shall be a primary to narrow the field...
- § 163-294.1 Death of candidates or elected officers
(a) This section shall apply only to municipal and special district elections. (b) If a candidate for political party nomination for office dies, becomes disqualified,...
- § 163-294.2 Notice of candidacy and filing fee in nonpartisan municipal elections
(a) Each person offering himself as a candidate for election to any municipal office in municipalities whose elections are nonpartisan shall do so by filing...
- § 163-294.3 Sole candidates to be voted upon in nonpartisan municipal elections
Each candidate for municipal office in nonpartisan municipal elections shall be voted upon, even though only one candidate has filed or has been nominated for...
- § 163-294.4 Failure of candidates to file; death of a candidate before election
(a) If in a nonpartisan municipal election, when the filing period expires, candidates have not filed for all offices to be filled, the board of...
- § 163-295 Municipal and special district elections; application of Chapter 163
To the extent that the laws, rules and procedures applicable to the conduct of primary, general or special elections by county boards of elections under...
- § 163-296 Nomination by petition
In cities conducting partisan elections, any qualified voter who seeks to have his name printed on the regular municipal election ballot as an unaffiliated candidate...
- § 163-297 Structure at voting place; marking off limits of voting place
Precincts in which municipal primaries and elections are conducted shall conform, in all regards, to the requirements stipulated in G.S. 163‑129 and all other provisions...
- § 163-298 Municipal primaries and elections
The phrases "county board of elections," and "chairman of the board of elections" as used in this Article, with respect to all municipal primaries and...
- § 163-299 Ballots; municipal primaries and elections
(a) The ballots printed for use in general and special elections under the provisions of this Article shall contain: (1) The names of all candidates...
- § 163-300 Disposition of duplicate abstracts in municipal elections
Within nine days after a primary or election is held in any municipality, the chairman of the county or municipal board of elections shall mail...
- § 163-301 Chairman of election board to furnish certificate of elections
Not earlier than five days nor later than 10 days after the results of any municipal election have been officially determined and published in accordance...
- § 163-302 Absentee voting
(a) In any municipal election, including a primary or general election or referendum, conducted by the county board of elections, absentee voting may, upon resolution...
- § 163-303 Repealed by Session Laws 1977, c. 265, s. 19
- § 163-304 State Board of Elections to have jurisdiction over municipal elections and election officials, and to advise; emergency and ongoing administration by county board
(a) Authority and Duty of State Board. The State Board of Elections shall have the same authority over municipal elections and election officials as it...
- § 163-305 Validation of elections
All elections, and the results thereof, previously held in and for any municipality, special district, or school administrative unit pursuant to Subchapter IX, Chapter 163,...
- § 163-306 Assumption of office by mayors and councilmen
Newly elected mayors and councilmen (members of the governing body) shall take office as prescribed by G.S. 160A‑68. (1973, c. 866.)
- § 116-307 through 116-320 Reserved for future codification purposes
Article 25 - Nomination and Election of Appellate, Superior, and District Court Judges.
- § 163-321 Applicability
The nomination and election of justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, and superior and district court judges of the General...
- § 163-322 Nonpartisan primary election method
(a) General. Except as provided in G.S. 163‑329, there shall be a primary to narrow the field of candidates to two candidates for each position...
- § 163-323 Notice of candidacy
(a) Form of Notice. Each person offering to be a candidate for election shall do so by filing a notice of candidacy with the State...
- § 163-324 Filing fees required of candidates; refunds
(a) Fee Schedule. At the time of filing a notice of candidacy under this Article, each candidate shall pay to the State Board of Elections...
- § 163-325 Petition in lieu of payment of filing fee
(a) General. Any qualified voter who seeks election under this Article may, in lieu of payment of any filing fee required for the office he...
- § 163-326 Certification of notices of candidacy
(a) Names of Candidates Sent to Secretary of State. Within three days after the time for filing notices of candidacy with the State Board of...
- § 163-327 Repealed by Session Laws 2006-192, s. 9(a), effective August 3, 2006, and applicable to vacancies occurring on or after August 3, 2006
- § 163-327.1 Rules when vacancies for superior court judge are to be voted on
If a vacancy occurs in a judicial district for any offices of superior court judge, and on account of the occurrence of such vacancy, there...
- § 163-328 Failure of candidates to file; death or other disqualification of a candidate; no withdrawal from candidacy
(a) Insufficient Number of Candidates. If when the filing period expires, candidates have not filed for an office to be filled under this Article, the...
- § 163-329 Elections to fill vacancy in office created after primary filing period opens
(a) General. If a vacancy is created in the office of justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, or judge of...
- § 163-330 Voting in primary
Any person who will become qualified by age or residence to register and vote in the general election for which the primary is held, even...
- § 163-331 Date of primary
The primary shall be held on the same date as established for primary elections under G.S. 163‑1(b). (1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 9, s. 7.)
- § 163-332 Ballots
(a) General. In elections there shall be official ballots. The ballots shall be printed to conform to the requirement of G.S. 163‑165.6(c) and to show...
- § 163-333 Repealed by Session Laws 2001-398, s. 15
- § 163-334 Counting of ballots
Counting of ballots in primaries and elections held under this Article shall be under the same rules as for counting of ballots in nonpartisan municipal...
- § 163-335 Other rules
Except as provided by this Article, the conduct of elections shall be governed by Subchapter VI of this Chapter. (1996, 2nd Ex. Sess., c. 9,...
