North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H580 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	H 1
4		-	HOUSE BILL 580
	3	+	H D
	4	+	HOUSE BILL DRH40313-LU-93
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: SBOE Legislative Changes.-AB (Public)
8		-	Sponsors: Representatives Dahle, Baker, Buansi, and Rubin (Primary Sponsors).
9		-	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
10		-	Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
11		-	April 1, 2025
12		-	H580 -v-1
	9	+	Sponsors: Representative Dahle.
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRH40313 -LU-93
13	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
14	14		AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS ELECTIONS LAW CHANGES , AS RECOMMENDED BY 2
15	15		THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. 3
16	16		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
17	17		5
18	18		PART I. PRESERVING CONFIDENTIALITY OF ABSENTEE REQUESTERS 6
19	19		SECTION 1.1. G.S. 163-228(c) reads as rewritten: 7
20	20		"(c) The official register required by this section section, along with any other information 8
21	21		in the possession of the State Board or a county board which would disclose that an identifiable 9
22	22		voter has requested an absentee ballot, shall be confidential and not a public record until the 10
23	23		opening of the voting place in accordance with G.S. 163-166.25, at which time the official 11
24	24		register these records shall constitute a public record.public records, unless otherwise protected 12
25	25		from disclosure by law." 13
26	26		SECTION 1.2. G.S. 163-233(b) reads as rewritten: 14
27	27		"(b) The county board of elections shall create a list of applications made for absentee 15
28	28		ballots received and approved by the county board, which shall be updated daily from the date 16
29	29		the county board begins to mail application and ballots through the date of canvass. Such list 17
30	30		shall be a public record." 18
31	31		19
32	32		PART II. REVISIONS TO BALLOT COUNTING PROCEDURES 20
33	33		SECTION 2.1. G.S. 163-182.2(a), as amended by Section 3A.4(e) of S.L. 2024-57, 21
34	34		reads as rewritten: 22
35	35		"(a) The initial counting of official ballots cast on election day and under Part 5 of Article 23
36	36		14A of this Chapter shall be conducted according to the following principles: 24
37	37		(1) Vote counting of ballots cast at the precinct on election day shall occur 25
38	38		immediately after the polls close and shall be continuous until completed. If 26
39	39		ballots cast under Part 5 of Article 14A of this Chapter are counted 27
40	40		electronically, that count shall commence at the time the polls close. If ballots 28
41	41		cast under Part 5 of Article 14A of this Chapter are paper ballots counted 29
42	42		manually, that count shall commence at the same time as mail-in absentee 30
43	43		ballots cast under Article 20 or Article 21A of this Chapter are counted.Vote 31
44	44		counting of ballots cast during early voting shall commence at 5:00 P.M. on 32
45	45		election day. Vote counting of ballots cast during early voting may commence 33
46	46		between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. on election day upon the 34
47		-	adoption of a resolution at least two days before the election in which the hour 35 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48		-	Page 2 House Bill 580-First Edition
49		-	and place of counting the ballots shall be stated. A copy of the resolution shall 1
50		-	be posted on the county board's website and distributed to all persons required 2
51		-	to receive notice under G.S. 143-318.12(b)(2). The county board shall not 3
52		-	announce the result of the count before 7:30 P.M. on election day. 4
53		-	… 5
54		-	(4) If the county board finds that an individual voting a provisional official ballot 6
55		-	(i) was registered in the county as provided in 163-82.1, (ii) voted in the proper 7
56		-	precinct under G.S. 163-55 and G.S. 163-57, and (iii) was otherwise eligible 8
57		-	to vote, the provisional official ballots shall be counted by the county board 9
58		-	no later than 5:00 P.M. on the third business day after the election. County 10
59		-	boards may review for approval provisional ballots cast during early voting 11
60		-	and take preparatory steps for the count before election day with the same 12
61		-	procedures used for absentee ballots under G.S. 163-234(3), so long as the 13
62		-	preparatory steps do not reveal to any individual not engaged in the actual 14
63		-	count election results before 7:30 P.M. on election day. Except as provided in 15
64		-	G.S. 163-82.15(e), if the county board finds that an individual voting a 16
65		-	provisional official ballot (i) did not vote in the proper precinct under 17
66		-	G.S. 163-55 and G.S. 163-57, (ii) is not registered in the county as provided 18
67		-	in G.S. 163-82.1, or (iii) is otherwise not eligible to vote, the ballot shall not 19
68		-	be counted. If a voter was properly registered to vote in the election by the 20
69		-	county board, no mistake of an election official in giving the voter a ballot or 21
70		-	in failing to comply with G.S. 163-82.15 or G.S. 163-166.11 shall serve to 22
71		-	prevent the counting of the vote on any ballot item the voter was eligible by 23
72		-	registration and qualified by residency to vote. When an individual has voted 24
73		-	a provisional official ballot after completing an affidavit under 25
74		-	G.S. 163-166.16(d), and the county board has not found the affidavit to be 26
75		-	valid by the time specified in this subdivision for counting provisional ballots 27
76		-	because the county board has grounds to believe the affidavit is false, the 28
77		-	county board shall determine whether to count the provisional official ballot 29
78		-	by the county canvass. 30
79		-	…." 31
80		-	SECTION 2.2. G.S. 163-230.1, as amended by Section 3A.4(f) of S.L. 2024-57, 32
81		-	reads as rewritten: 33
82		-	"§ 163-230.1. Simultaneous issuance of absentee ballots with application. 34
83		-	… 35
84		-	(e1) Curable Deficiencies. – If a container-return envelope contains a curable deficiency, 36
85		-	the county board shall promptly notify the voter of the deficiency and the manner in which the 37
86		-	voter may cure the deficiency. Curable deficiencies are deficiencies that can be cured with 38
87		-	supplemental documentation or attestation provided by the voter, including when any of the 39
88		-	following occurs: 40
89		-	(1) The voter did not sign the voter certification as required by 41
90		-	G.S. 163-231(a)(4). 42
91		-	(2) The voter signed the application in the wrong place on the application. 43
92		-	(3) The voter failed to include with the container-return envelope a photocopy of 44
93		-	identification described in G.S. 163-166.16(a) or an affidavit as described in 45
94		-	G.S. 163-166.16(d)(1), (d)(2), or (d)(3), as required by subsection (f1) of this 46
95		-	section. 47
96		-	The identification of the two persons witnessing the casting of the absentee ballot in 48
97		-	accordance with G.S. 163-231(a) is not a curable deficiency. Any container-return envelope with 49
98		-	a curable deficiency that is transmitted to the county board shall be considered timely if cure 50
99		-	documentation is received no later than 12:00 P.M. on the third fourth business day after the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
100		-	House Bill 580-First Edition Page 3
101		-	election. Cure documentation may be transmitted via email to the county board if the deficiency 1
102		-	is one described in subdivision (3) of this subsection. The notification of voters regarding curable 2
103		-	deficiencies is an administrative task that may be performed by county board staff and is not 3
104		-	required to be performed at an absentee meeting as provided for in subsection (f) of this section. 4
105		-	The voter shall be notified of curable deficiencies by mail, and by telephone or email if the 5
106		-	telephone number or email address was provided by the voter on the request form for absentee 6
107		-	ballots. 7
108		-	(f) Required Meeting of County Board of Elections. – During the period commencing on 8
109		-	the fifth Tuesday before an election, election through election day in any election in which 9
110		-	absentee ballots are authorized, the county board shall hold one or more public meetings each 10
111		-	Tuesday at 5:00 P.M. for the purpose of action on applications for absentee ballots. At these 11
112		-	meetings, the county board shall pass upon applications for absentee ballots. 12
113		-	If the county board changes the time of holding its meetings or provides for additional 13
114		-	meetings in accordance with the terms of this subsection, notice of the change in hour and notice 14
115		-	of the schedule of additional meetings, if any, shall be published in a newspaper circulated in the 15
116		-	county at least 30 days prior to the election.posted on the county board's website and distributed 16
117		-	to all persons required to receive notice under G.S. 143-318.12(b)(2) at least two days before any 17
118		-	changed or additional meeting. 18
119		-	At the time the county board makes its decision on an application for absentee ballots, the 19
120		-	county board shall enter in the appropriate column in the register of absentee requests, 20
121		-	applications, and ballots issued opposite the name of the applicant a notation of whether the 21
122		-	applicant's application was "Approved" or "Disapproved". 22
123		-	The decision of the county board on the validity of an application for absentee ballots shall 23
124		-	be final subject only to such review as may be necessary in the event of an election contest. The 24
125		-	county board shall constitute the proper official body to pass upon the validity of all applications 25
126		-	for absentee ballots received in the county; this function shall not be performed by the chair or 26
127		-	any other member of the county board individually. 27
128		-	…." 28
129		-	SECTION 2.3. G.S. 163-234, as amended by Section 3A.4(g) of S.L. 2024-57, reads 29
130		-	as rewritten: 30
131		-	"§ 163-234. Counting absentee ballots by county board. 31
132		-	All absentee ballots returned to the county board in the container-return envelopes shall be 32
133		-	retained by the county board to be counted by the county board as follows: 33
	47	+	adoption of a resolution at least two days before the election in which the hour 35
	48	+	and place of counting the ballots shall be stated. A copy of the resolution shall 36
	49	+	H.B. 580
	50	+	Mar 31, 2025
	51	+	HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	52	+	Page 2 DRH40313-LU-93
	53	+	be posted on the county board's website and distributed to all persons required 1
	54	+	to receive notice under G.S. 143-318.12(b)(2). The county board shall not 2
	55	+	announce the result of the count before 7:30 P.M. on election day. 3
	56	+	… 4
	57	+	(4) If the county board finds that an individual voting a provisional official ballot 5
	58	+	(i) was registered in the county as provided in 163-82.1, (ii) voted in the proper 6
	59	+	precinct under G.S. 163-55 and G.S. 163-57, and (iii) was otherwise eligible 7
	60	+	to vote, the provisional official ballots shall be counted by the county board 8
	61	+	no later than 5:00 P.M. on the third business day after the election. County 9
	62	+	boards may review for approval provisional ballots cast during early voting 10
	63	+	and take preparatory steps for the count before election day with the same 11
	64	+	procedures used for absentee ballots under G.S. 163-234(3), so long as the 12
	65	+	preparatory steps do not reveal to any individual not engaged in the actual 13
	66	+	count election results before 7:30 P.M. on election day. Except as provided in 14
	67	+	G.S. 163-82.15(e), if the county board finds that an individual voting a 15
	68	+	provisional official ballot (i) did not vote in the proper precinct under 16
	69	+	G.S. 163-55 and G.S. 163-57, (ii) is not registered in the county as provided 17
	70	+	in G.S. 163-82.1, or (iii) is otherwise not eligible to vote, the ballot shall not 18
	71	+	be counted. If a voter was properly registered to vote in the election by the 19
	72	+	county board, no mistake of an election official in giving the voter a ballot or 20
	73	+	in failing to comply with G.S. 163-82.15 or G.S. 163-166.11 shall serve to 21
	74	+	prevent the counting of the vote on any ballot item the voter was eligible by 22
	75	+	registration and qualified by residency to vote. When an individual has voted 23
	76	+	a provisional official ballot after completing an affidavit under 24
	77	+	G.S. 163-166.16(d), and the county board has not found the affidavit to be 25
	78	+	valid by the time specified in this subdivision for counting provisional ballots 26
	79	+	because the county board has grounds to believe the affidavit is false, the 27
	80	+	county board shall determine whether to count the provisional official ballot 28
	81	+	by the county canvass. 29
	82	+	…." 30
	83	+	SECTION 2.2. G.S. 163-230.1, as amended by Section 3A.4(f) of S.L. 2024-57, 31
	84	+	reads as rewritten: 32
	85	+	"§ 163-230.1. Simultaneous issuance of absentee ballots with application. 33
134	86		… 34
135		-	(2) The county board shall meet at 5:00 P.M. on election day in the county board 35
136		-	office or other public location in the county courthouse for the purpose of 36
137		-	counting all absentee ballots except those which have been challenged before 37
138		-	5:00 P.M. on election day and those received pursuant to G.S. 163-231(b)(2). 38
139		-	Any elector of the county shall be permitted to attend the meeting and allowed 39
140		-	to observe the counting process, so long as the elector does not in any manner 40
141		-	interfere with the election officials in the discharge of their duties. The count 41
142		-	of these absentee ballots shall be continuous until completed, and the members 42
143		-	shall not separate or leave the counting place except for unavoidable 43
144		-	necessity.The county board shall not adjourn the meeting until the count of 44
145		-	these absentee ballots is complete. 45
146		-	The county board may begin counting absentee ballots issued under 46
147		-	Article 21A of this Chapter between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. 47
148		-	and may begin counting all absentee ballots between the hours of 2:00 P.M. 48
149		-	and 5:00 P.M. upon the adoption of a resolution at least two weeks days prior 49
150		-	to the election in which the hour and place of counting absentee ballots shall 50
151		-	be stated. A copy of the resolution shall be published once a week for two 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
152		-	Page 4 House Bill 580-First Edition
153		-	weeks prior to the election, in a newspaper having general circulation in the 1
154		-	county. Notice may additionally be made on a radio or television station or 2
155		-	both, but the notice shall be in addition to the newspaper and other required 3
156		-	notice. The count shall be continuous until completed and the members shall 4
157		-	not separate or leave the counting place except for unavoidable necessity, 5
158		-	except that if the count has been completed prior to the time the polls close, it 6
159		-	shall be suspended until that time pending receipt of any additional ballots. 7
160		-	posted on the county board's website and distributed to all persons required to 8
161		-	receive notice under G.S. 143-318.12(b)(2). Nothing in this section prohibits 9
162		-	a county board from taking preparatory steps for the count earlier than the 10
163		-	times specified in this section, as long as the preparatory steps do not reveal 11
164		-	to any individual not engaged in the actual count election results before the 12
165		-	times specified in this subdivision for the count to begin. By way of 13
166		-	illustration and not limitation, a preparatory step for the count would be the 14
167		-	entry of tally cards from direct record electronic voting units into a computer 15
168		-	for processing. The county board shall not announce the result of the count 16
169		-	before 7:30 P.M. 17
170		-	… 18
171		-	(11) The county board shall meet after the day of the election and prior to the day 19
172		-	of canvass to count absentee ballots received pursuant to G.S. 163-231(b)(2) 20
173		-	and absentee ballots that have deficiencies that have been cured pursuant to 21
174		-	G.S. 163-230.1(e), upon the adoption of a resolution pursuant to subdivision 22
175		-	(2) of this section. The county board shall comply with all other requirements 23
176		-	of this section and G.S. 163-230.1 for the counting of these absentee ballots. 24
177		-	(12) No later than 5:00 P.M. on the third business day after the election, the county 25
178		-	board shall announce the tally of all absentee ballots, except those subject to 26
179		-	a challenge or challenge, those cast in accordance with Article 21A of this 27
180		-	Chapter.Chapter, or those for which a final decision on a cured deficiency 28
181		-	remains pending." 29
182		-	30
183		-	PART III. POLL WORKER ASSIGNMENT FLEXIBI LITY 31
184		-	SECTION 3.1. G.S. 163-41 reads as rewritten: 32
185		-	"§ 163-41. Precinct chief judges and judges of election; appointment; terms of office; 33
186		-	qualifications; vacancies; oaths of office. 34
187		-	(a) Appointment of Chief Judge and Judges. – At the meeting required by G.S. 163-31 to 35
188		-	be held on the Tuesday following the third Monday in August of the year in which they are 36
189		-	appointed, the county board of elections shall appoint one person to act as chief judge and two 37
190		-	other persons to act as judges of election for each precinct in the county. Their terms of office 38
191		-	shall continue for two years from the specified date of appointment and until their successors are 39
192		-	appointed and qualified, except that if a nonresident of the precinct is appointed as chief judge 40
193		-	or judge for a precinct, that person's term of office shall end if the board of elections appoints a 41
194		-	qualified resident of the precinct of who is affiliated with the same party party, or a qualified 42
195		-	resident regardless of party affiliation if the nonresident was unaffiliated, to replace the 43
196		-	nonresident chief judge or judge. It shall be their duty to conduct the primaries and elections 44
197		-	within their respective precincts. Persons appointed to these offices must be registered voters and 45
198		-	residents of the county in which the precinct is located, of good repute, and able to read and write. 46
199		-	Not more than one judge in each precinct shall belong to be affiliated with the same political 47
200		-	party as the chief judge. Not more than one judge in each precinct shall be appointed upon the 48
201		-	recommendation of the same political party that recommended the chief judge. 49
202		-	… 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
203		-	House Bill 580-First Edition Page 5
204		-	(c) The chairman chair of each of the two political party parties in the county having the 1
205		-	greatest numbers of registered voters in the State, where possible possible, shall recommend two 2
206		-	four registered voters in each precinct who are otherwise qualified, are residents of the precinct, 3
207		-	have good moral character, and are able to read and write, for appointment as chief judge or judge 4
208		-	in the precinct, and he shall also recommend where possible the same number of similarly 5
209		-	qualified voters for appointment as judges of election in that precinct. If such recommendations 6
210		-	are received by the county board of elections no later than the fifth day preceding the date on 7
211		-	which appointments are to be made, it must make precinct appointments from the names of those 8
212		-	recommended. Provided that if the party chair submits only one qualified name is submitted by 9
213		-	the fifth day preceding the date on which appointments are to be made, by a party for judge of 10
214		-	election by the chairman of one of the two political parties in the county having the greatest 11
215		-	numbers of registered voters in the State, for judge of election by that date, the county board of 12
216		-	elections must appoint that person. 13
217		-	If the recommendations of the party chairs for chief judge or judge in a precinct are 14
218		-	insufficient, the county board of elections by unanimous vote of all bipartisan majority vote of 15
219		-	its members may name to serve as chief judge or judge in that precinct registered voters in that 16
220		-	precinct who were not recommended by the party chairs. If, after diligently seeking to fill the 17
221		-	positions with registered voters of the precinct, the county board still has an insufficient number 18
222		-	of officials for the precinct, the county board by unanimous vote of all bipartisan majority vote 19
223		-	of its members may appoint to the positions registered voters in other precincts in the same county 20
224		-	who meet the qualifications other than residence to be precinct officials in the precinct, provided 21
225		-	that where possible the county board shall seek and adopt the recommendation of the county 22
226		-	chairman of the political party affected. the recommendations of the county party chairs. In 23
227		-	making its appointments, the county board shall assure, wherever possible, that no precinct has 24
228		-	a chief judge and judges all of whom are registered affiliated with or recommended by the same 25
229		-	party. In no instance shall the county board appoint nonresidents of the precinct to a majority of 26
230		-	the three positions of chief judge and judge in a precinct.The county board shall assure, where 27
231		-	possible, that no precinct has a chief judge and judges all of whom are nonresidents of the 28
232		-	precinct. 29
233		-	(d) If, at any time other than on the day of a primary or election, a chief judge or judge 30
234		-	of election shall be removed from office, or shall die or resign, or if for any other cause there be 31
235		-	a vacancy in a precinct election office, the chairman chair of the county board of elections shall 32
236		-	appoint another in his or her place, promptly notifying him of his or her of the appointment. If at 33
237		-	all possible, the chairman chair of the county board of elections shall consult with the county 34
238		-	chairman chair of the political party of that originally recommended the vacating official, and if 35
239		-	the chairman chair of the county political party nominates a qualified voter of that precinct to fill 36
240		-	the vacancy, the chairman chair of the county board of elections shall appoint that person. In 37
241		-	filling such a vacancy, the chairman chair shall appoint a person who belongs to is affiliated with 38
242		-	the same political party as that to which of the party chair who originally recommended the 39
243		-	vacating member belonged when appointed. official or is unaffiliated. If the chairman chair of 40
244		-	the county board of elections did not appoint a person upon recommendation of the chairman 41
245		-	chair of the party to fill such a vacancy, then the term of office of the person appointed to fill the 42
246		-	vacancy shall expire upon the conclusion of the next canvass held by the county board of 43
247		-	elections under this Chapter, and any successor must be a person nominated by the chairman of 44
248		-	the party of the vacating officer.appointed using the procedures in subsection (c) of this section, 45
249		-	with the chair of the political party recommending two qualified voters for each vacancy to be 46
250		-	filled. 47
251		-	If any person appointed chief judge shall fail to be present at the voting place at the hour of 48
252		-	opening the polls on primary or election day, or if a vacancy in that office shall occur on primary 49
253		-	or election day for any reason whatever, the precinct judges of election shall appoint another to 50
254		-	act as chief judge until such time as the chairman chair of the county board of elections shall 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
255		-	Page 6 House Bill 580-First Edition
256		-	appoint to fill the vacancy. If such appointment by the chairman chair of the county board of 1
257		-	elections is not a person nominated by the county chairman chair of the political party of the 2
258		-	vacating officer, then the term of office of the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall expire 3
259		-	upon the conclusion of the next canvass held by the county board of elections under this Chapter. 4
260		-	If a judge of election shall fail to be present at the voting place at the hour of opening the polls 5
261		-	on primary or election day, or if a vacancy in that office shall occur on primary or election day 6
262		-	for any reason whatever, the chief judge shall appoint another to act as judge until such time as 7
263		-	the chairman chair of the county board of elections shall appoint to fill the vacancy. Persons 8
264		-	appointed to fill vacancies shall, whenever possible, be chosen from affiliated with or 9
265		-	recommended by the same political party as the person whose vacancy is being filled, and all 10
266		-	such appointees shall be sworn before acting. 11
267		-	…." 12
268		-	SECTION 3.2. G.S. 163-42 reads as rewritten: 13
269		-	"§ 163-42. Assistants at polls; appointment; term of office; qualifications; oath of office. 14
270		-	(a) Each county board of elections is authorized, in its discretion, to appoint two or more 15
271		-	assistants for each precinct to aid the chief judge and judges. Not more than two assistants shall 16
272		-	be appointed in precincts having 500 or less registered voters. Assistants shall be qualified voters 17
273		-	of the county in which the precinct is located. When the board of elections determines that 18
274		-	assistants are needed in a precinct an equal number shall be appointed from different political 19
275		-	parties, unless the requirement as to party affiliation cannot be met because of an insufficient 20
276		-	number of voters of recommended by the different political parties within the county. 21
277		-	In the discretion of the county board of elections, a precinct assistant may serve less than the 22
278		-	full day prescribed for chief judges and judges in G.S. 163-47(a). 23
279		-	(b) The chairman chair of each of the two political party parties in the county having the 24
280		-	greatest numbers of registered voters in the State shall have the right to recommend from three 25
281		-	up to 10 registered voters in each precinct for appointment as precinct assistants in that precinct. 26
282		-	If the recommendations are received by it the county board of elections no later than the thirtieth 27
283		-	day prior to the primary or election, the board shall make appointments of the precinct assistants 28
284		-	for each precinct from the names thus recommended. If the recommendations of the party chairs 29
285		-	for precinct assistant in a precinct are insufficient, the county board of elections by unanimous 30
286		-	vote of all bipartisan majority vote of its members may name to serve as precinct assistant in that 31
287		-	precinct registered voters in that precinct of the county who were not recommended by the party 32
288		-	chairs. If, after diligently seeking to fill the positions with registered voters of the precinct, the 33
289		-	county board still has an insufficient number of precinct assistants for the precinct, the county 34
290		-	board by unanimous vote of all of its members may appoint to the positions registered voters in 35
291		-	other precincts in the same county who meet the qualifications other than residence to be precinct 36
292		-	officials in the precinct. In making its appointments, the county board shall assure, wherever 37
293		-	possible, that no precinct has precinct officials all of whom are registered affiliated with or 38
294		-	recommended by the same party. In no instance shall the county board appoint nonresidents of 39
295		-	the precinct to a majority of the positions as precinct assistant in a precinct. 40
296		-	(c) In addition, a county board of elections by unanimous vote of all bipartisan majority 41
297		-	vote of its members may appoint any registered voter in the county as emergency election-day 42
298		-	assistant, as long as that voter is otherwise qualified to be a precinct official. The State Board of 43
299		-	Elections shall determine for each election the number of emergency election-day assistants each 44
300		-	county may have, based on population, expected turnout, and complexity of election duties. The 45
301		-	county board by unanimous vote of all bipartisan majority vote of its members may assign 46
302		-	emergency election-day assistants on the day of the election to any precinct in the county where 47
303		-	the number of precinct officials is insufficient because of an emergency occurring within 48 hours 48
304		-	of the opening of the polls that prevents an appointed precinct official from serving. A person 49
305		-	appointed to serve as emergency election-day assistant shall be trained and paid like other 50
306		-	precinct assistants in accordance with G.S. 163-46. A county board of elections shall apportion 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
307		-	House Bill 580-First Edition Page 7
308		-	the appointments as emergency election-day assistant among registrants of each political party 1
309		-	so as to make possible the staffing of each precinct with officials of more than one party, and the 2
310		-	county board shall make assignments so that no precinct has precinct officials all of whom are 3
311		-	registered affiliated with or recommended by the same party. 4
312		-	…." 5
313		-	6
314		-	PART IV. DIGITAL PHOTO IDENTIFICATION 7
315		-	SECTION 4.1. G.S. 163-166.16(a) reads as rewritten: 8
316		-	"(a) Photo Identification Required to Vote. – When a registered voter presents to vote in 9
317		-	person, the registered voter shall produce any of the following forms of identification that contain 10
318		-	a photograph of the registered voter: 11
319		-	(1) Any of the following that is valid and unexpired, or has been expired for one 12
320		-	year or less: 13
321		-	a. A North Carolina drivers license. 14
322		-	b. A special identification card Special identification for nonoperators 15
323		-	issued under G.S. 20-37.7 or other form of nontemporary 16
324		-	identification issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles of the 17
325		-	Department of Transportation. 18
326		-	c. A United States passport. 19
327		-	d. A North Carolina voter photo identification card of the registered voter 20
328		-	issued pursuant to G.S. 163-82.8A. 21
329		-	e. Recodified as sub-subdivision (a)(2)c. of this section by Session Laws 22
330		-	2019-22, s. 1, effective June 3, 2019. 23
331		-	f. Reserved. 24
332		-	g. A student identification card Student identification issued by a 25
333		-	constituent institution of The University of North Carolina, a 26
334		-	community college, as defined in G.S. 115D-2(2), or eligible private 27
335		-	postsecondary institution as defined in G.S. 116-280(3), provided that 28
336		-	card identification is issued in accordance with G.S. 163-166.17. 29
337		-	h. An employee identification card Employee identification issued by a 30
338		-	state or local government entity, including a charter school, provided 31
339		-	that card identification is issued in accordance with G.S. 163-166.18. 32
340		-	i. A drivers Drivers license or special identification card for 33
341		-	nonoperators issued by another state, the District of Columbia, or a 34
342		-	territory or commonwealth of the United States, but only if the voter's 35
343		-	voter registration was within 90 days of the election. 36
344		-	(2) Any of the following, regardless of whether the identification contains a 37
345		-	printed expiration or issuance date: 38
346		-	a. A military identification card Military identification issued by the 39
347		-	United States government. 40
348		-	b. A Veterans Identification Card issued by the United States Department 41
349		-	of Veterans Affairs for use at Veterans Administration medical 42
350		-	facilities. 43
351		-	c. A tribal enrollment card Tribal enrollment identification issued by a 44
352		-	State or federal recognized tribe. 45
353		-	d. An identification card Identification issued by a department, agency, 46
354		-	or entity of the United States government or this State for a 47
355		-	government program of public assistance. 48
356		-	…." 49
357		-	SECTION 4.2. G.S. 163-166.17 reads as rewritten: 50
358		-	"§ 163-166.17. Approval of student identification cards for voting identification. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
359		-	Page 8 House Bill 580-First Edition
360		-	(a) The State Board shall approve the use of student identification cards identifications 1
361		-	issued by a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina, a community college, as 2
362		-	defined in G.S. 115D-2(2), or eligible private postsecondary institution as defined in 3
363		-	G.S. 116-280(3) for voting identification under G.S. 163-166.16 if the following criteria are met: 4
364		-	(1) The chancellor, president, or registrar of the university or college submits 5
365		-	documentation satisfactory to the State Board that the following have been 6
366		-	met and will not knowingly be violated with regard to student identification 7
367		-	cards identifications issued during the approval period: 8
368		-	a. The identification cards identifications that are issued by the university 9
369		-	or college contain photographs of students obtained by the university 10
370		-	or college or its agents or contractors, provided the photograph 11
371		-	obtained (i) is a frontal image that includes the student's face and (ii) 12
372		-	represents a clear, accurate likeness of the student to whom the 13
373		-	identification card is issued. If the photograph is one not produced by 14
374		-	the university or college or its agents, the university or college shall 15
375		-	certify in detail the process used by the university or college to ensure 16
376		-	the photograph is that of the student to whom the identification card is 17
377		-	issued and shall certify that the process is designed to confirm the 18
378		-	identity of the student to whom the identification card is issued. 19
379		-	b. The identification cards identifications are issued after an enrollment 20
380		-	or other process that includes one or more methods of confirming the 21
381		-	identity of the student using information that may include, but are not 22
382		-	limited to, the social security number, citizenship status, and birthdate 23
383		-	of the student. 24
384		-	c. Access to the equipment for producing the identification cards 25
385		-	identifications is restricted through security measures. 26
386		-	d. Misuse of the equipment for producing the identification cards 27
387		-	identifications would be grounds for student discipline or termination 28
388		-	of an employee. 29
389		-	e. University or college officials would report any misuse of student 30
390		-	identification card production equipment they have knowledge of to 31
391		-	law enforcement if G.S. 163-82.8(19) was potentially violated. 32
392		-	f. The cards identifications issued by the university or college on or after 33
393		-	January 1, 2021, contain a date of expiration. 34
394		-	g. The university or college will provide copies of student identification 35
395		-	cards identifications to the State Board to assist with training purposes. 36
396		-	h. The college or university will provide to students who are issued the 37
397		-	student identification card a copy of, or an electronic link to, a 38
398		-	document developed by the State Board that details the requirements 39
399		-	related to identification for voting; the requirements to vote absentee, 40
400		-	early, or on election day; a description of voting by provisional ballot; 41
401		-	and the availability of a free North Carolina voter photo identification 42
402		-	card pursuant to G.S. 163-82.8A to rural, military, veteran, elderly, 43
403		-	underserved, minority, or other communities as determined by local 44
404		-	needs; and the requirements of North Carolina residency to vote, 45
405		-	including applicable intent requirements of North Carolina law, and 46
406		-	the penalty for voting in multiple states. 47
407		-	… 48
408		-	(b) The State Board shall establish a schedule for such submissions and approvals. The 49
409		-	State Board shall permit a university or college with no changes to the prior election cycle's 50
410		-	approval to submit a statement indicating no changes have been made by the university or 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
411		-	House Bill 580-First Edition Page 9
412		-	college. When the State Board approves for use the student identification cards identifications 1
413		-	issued by a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina, a community college, as 2
414		-	defined in G.S. 115D-2(2), or eligible private postsecondary institution as defined in 3
415		-	G.S. 116-280(3), for voting identification purposes under G.S. 163-166.16, such approval shall 4
416		-	be valid for the period from January 1 of an odd-numbered year through December 31 of the next 5
417		-	even-numbered year. 6
418		-	(c) The State Board shall produce a list of participating universities and colleges every 7
419		-	two years. The list shall be published on the State Board's Web site and distributed to every 8
420		-	county board of elections. The State Board shall publish sample student identification cards 9
421		-	identifications for each participating university and college. 10
422		-	(d) If a participating college or university with a student identification card approved for 11
423		-	use by the State Board as provided in subsection (b) of this section changes the design of the 12
424		-	student identification card, identification, that college or university shall provide copies of the 13
425		-	new design of the student identification cards to the State Board to assist with training purposes." 14
426		-	SECTION 4.3. G.S. 163-166.18 reads as rewritten: 15
427		-	"§ 163-166.18. Approval of employee identification cards for voting identification. 16
428		-	(a) The State Board shall approve the use of employee identification cards identifications 17
429		-	issued by a state or local government entity, including a charter school, for voting identification 18
430		-	under G.S. 163-166.16 if the following criteria are met: 19
431		-	(1) The head elected official or lead human resources employee of the state or 20
432		-	local government entity or charter school submits documentation satisfactory 21
433		-	to the State Board that the following true have been met and will not 22
434		-	knowingly be violated with regard to employee identification cards 23
435		-	identifications issued during the approval period: 24
436		-	a. The identification cards identifications that are issued by the state or 25
437		-	local government entity or charter school contain photographs of the 26
438		-	employees obtained by the state or local government entity or charter 27
439		-	school employing entity or its agents or contractors, provided the 28
440		-	photograph obtained (i) is a frontal image that includes the employee's 29
441		-	face and (ii) represents a clear, accurate likeness of the employee to 30
442		-	whom the identification card is issued. If the photograph is one not 31
443		-	produced by the state or local government entity or charter school, the 32
444		-	state or local government entity or charter school shall certify in detail 33
445		-	the process used by the state or local government entity or charter 34
446		-	school to ensure the photograph is that of the employee to whom the 35
447		-	identification card is issued and shall certify that the process is 36
448		-	designed to confirm the identity of the employee to whom the 37
449		-	identification card is issued. 38
450		-	b. The identification cards identifications are issued after an employment 39
451		-	application or other process that includes one or more methods of 40
452		-	confirming the identity of the employee using information that 41
453		-	include, but are not limited to, the social security number, citizenship 42
454		-	status, and birthdate of the employee. 43
455		-	c. Access to the equipment for producing the identification cards 44
456		-	identifications is restricted through security measures. 45
457		-	d. Misuse of the equipment for producing the identification cards 46
458		-	identifications would be grounds for termination of an employee. 47
459		-	e. State or local or charter school officials would report any misuse of 48
460		-	identification card production equipment they have knowledge of to 49
461		-	law enforcement if G.S. 163-275(19) was potentially violated. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
462		-	Page 10 House Bill 580-First Edition
463		-	f. The cards identifications issued by the state or local government entity 1
464		-	or charter school on or after January 1, 2021, contain a date of 2
465		-	expiration. 3
466		-	g. The state or local government entity or charter school will provide 4
467		-	copies of employee identification cards identifications to the State 5
468		-	Board to assist with training purposes. 6
469		-	… 7
470		-	(b) The State Board shall establish a schedule for such submissions and approvals. The 8
471		-	State Board shall permit a State or local government entity or charter school with no changes to 9
472		-	the prior election cycle's approval to submit a statement indicating no changes have been made 10
473		-	by the State or local government entity or charter school. When the State Board approves for use 11
474		-	the employee identification cards identifications issued by a state or local government entity, 12
475		-	including a charter school, for voting identification under G.S. 163-166.16, such approval shall 13
476		-	be valid for the period from January 1 of an odd-numbered year through December 31 of the next 14
477		-	even-numbered year. 15
478		-	(c) The State Board shall produce a list of participating employing entities every two 16
479		-	years. The list shall be published on the State Board's Web site and distributed to every county 17
480		-	board of elections. The State Board shall publish sample employee identification cards 18
481		-	identifications for each participating State or local government entity or charter school." 19
482		-	20
483		-	PART V. CLARIFY ELIGIBILITY DURING EARLY VOTING 21
484		-	SECTION 5.1. G.S. 163-55 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 22
485		-	"(d) Qualifications Determined Upon Voting. – Notwithstanding any other provision of 23
486		-	law to the contrary, a voter shall not be subject to challenge if the voter was qualified to cast the 24
487		-	ballot at the time it was received by the county board; provided, however, that a voter who casts 25
488		-	a ballot in a general election before turning 18 years of age but who will be 18 years of age as of 26
489		-	the date of the general election shall not be disqualified on account of age." 27
490		-	28
491		-	PART VI. AUTHORITY FOR COUNTY BOARD -INITIATED VOTER CHALLENG ES 29
492		-	SECTION 6.1. Article 8 of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by 30
493		-	adding a new section to read: 31
494		-	"§ 163-90.4. Challenges by county boards. 32
495		-	(a) After each election, the State Board shall conduct a uniform, statewide audit to 33
496		-	identify ballots cast during early voting and by absentee ballot in the election that are ineligible 34
497		-	to be counted for one of the reasons identified in G.S. 163-87, as evidenced by official 35
498		-	government database records. The State Board shall distribute the results of this audit to the 36
499		-	county boards by 5:00 P.M. on the fourth business day before the canvass. 37
500		-	(b) The county board shall review the audit produced by the State Board pursuant to this 38
501		-	section, analyze the records of county voters identified in the audit, and, by 5:00 P.M. on the 39
502		-	third business day before the canvass, serve a challenge on any county voter identified in the 40
503		-	audit who the county board has determined has cast an ineligible ballot. The county board shall 41
504		-	conduct the challenge proceedings under the applicable provisions of G.S. 163-89." 42
505		-	43
506		-	PART VII. CLARIFY DEADLINES FOR LATE BAL LOT CHANGES 44
507		-	SECTION 7.1. G.S. 163-22(k) reads as rewritten: 45
508		-	"(k) Notwithstanding the provisions contained in Article 20 or Article 21A of this Chapter, 46
509		-	the State Board shall be authorized, by resolution adopted prior to the printing of the primary 47
510		-	ballots, to reduce the time by which absentee ballots are required to be printed and distributed 48
511		-	for the primary election from 50 days to 45 days. This authority shall not be authorized for 49
512		-	absentee ballots to be voted in the general election, except if the law requires ballots to be 50
513		-	available for mailing 60 days before the general election, and the absentee ballots are not ready 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
514		-	House Bill 580-First Edition Page 11
515		-	by that date, the State Board shall allow the counties to mail absentee ballots out as soon as the 1
516		-	absentee ballots are available.days, if unforeseen circumstances make compliance with the 2
517		-	50-day deadline impracticable." 3
518		-	SECTION 7.2. G.S. 163-113 reads as rewritten: 4
519		-	"§ 163-113. Nominee's right to withdraw as candidate. 5
520		-	A person who has been declared the nominee of a political party for a specified office under 6
521		-	the provisions of G.S. 163-182.15 or G.S. 163-110, shall not be permitted to resign as a candidate 7
522		-	unless, prior to the first day on which military and overseas absentee ballots are transmitted to 8
523		-	voters under Article 21A of this Chapter, that [the] person submits to the board of elections which 9
524		-	certified the nomination a written request that person be permitted to withdraw. For the election 10
525		-	of presidential electors under Article 18 of this Chapter, if a candidate is nominated by a political 11
526		-	party, only the political party making the nomination may withdraw the nomination, and for any 12
527		-	such withdrawal to be effective, the political party executive committee shall certify the 13
528		-	withdrawal in writing to the State Board before the first day on which military and overseas 14
529		-	absentee ballots are transmitted to voters under Article 21A of this Chapter." 15
530		-	SECTION 7.3. G.S. 163-114(a) reads as rewritten: 16
531		-	"(a) If any person nominated as a candidate of a political party for one of the offices listed 17
532		-	below (either in a primary or convention or by virtue of having no opposition in a primary) dies, 18
533		-	resigns, or for any reason becomes ineligible or disqualified before the date of the ensuing general 19
534		-	election, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment according to the following instructions: 20
535		-	… 21
536		-	The party executive making a nomination in accordance with the provisions of this section shall 22
537		-	certify the name of its nominee to the chairman of the board of elections, State or county, that 23
538		-	has jurisdiction over the ballot item under G.S. 163-182.4. If at the time a nomination is made 24
539		-	under this section the general election ballots have already been printed, the provisions of 25
540		-	G.S. 163-165.3(c) shall apply. If a vacancy occurs in a nomination of a political party and that 26
541		-	vacancy arises from a cause other than death and the vacancy in nomination occurs more than 27
542		-	120 days before the general election, the vacancy in nomination may be filled under this section 28
543		-	only if the appropriate executive committee certifies the name of the nominee in accordance with 29
544		-	this paragraph at least 75 days before the general election." 30
545		-	SECTION 7.4. G.S. 163-115 reads as rewritten: 31
546		-	"§ 163-115. Special provisions for obtaining nominations when vacancies occur in certain 32
547		-	offices. 33
548		-	(a) If a vacancy occurs in the office of the clerk of superior court, otherwise than by 34
549		-	expiration of the term, or if the people fail to elect, the vacancy shall be filled as provided in Sec. 35
550		-	9(3) of Article IV of the North Carolina Constitution. If the vacancy occurs after the time for 36
551		-	filing notice of candidacy in the primary has expired in a year when a regular election is not being 37
552		-	held to elect a clerk of the superior court by expiration of term, then the county executive 38
553		-	committee of each political party shall nominate a candidate whose name shall appear on the 39
554		-	general election ballot. candidate, subject to the deadlines in G.S. 163-115.5. The candidate 40
555		-	elected in the general election shall serve the unexpired portion of the term of the person causing 41
556		-	the vacancy. 42
557		-	… 43
558		-	(c) If a vacancy occurs in an elective State or district office (other than member of the 44
559		-	United States House of Representatives) during the period opening 10 days before the filing 45
560		-	period for the office ends and closing 30 days before the ensuing general election, a nomination 46
561		-	shall be made by the proper executive committee of each political party as provided in 47
562		-	G.S. 163-114, and the names of the nominees shall be printed on the general election 48
563		-	ballots.ballots, subject to the deadline in G.S. 163-115.5. 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
564		-	Page 12 House Bill 580-First Edition
565		-	(d) If a vacancy occurs on a county board of commissioners and G.S. 153A-27 or 1
566		-	G.S. 153A-27.1 requires that a person shall be elected to the seat vacated for the remainder of 2
567		-	the unexpired term, and the vacancy occurs: 3
568		-	(1) Beginning on the tenth day before the filing period ends under G.S. 163-106.2, 4
569		-	a nomination shall be made by the county executive committee of each 5
570		-	political party and the names of the nominees shall be printed on the general 6
571		-	election ballots.ballots, subject to the deadline in G.S. 163-115.5. 7
572		-	(2) Prior to the tenth day before the filing period ends under G.S. 163-106.2, 8
573		-	nominations shall be made by primary election as provided by this Article. 9
574		-	(e) If a vacancy occurs in the office of United States Senator, and the vacancy occurs: 10
575		-	(1) Beginning on the tenth day before the filing period ends under G.S. 163-106.2, 11
576		-	a nomination shall be made by the State executive committee of each political 12
577		-	party and the names of the nominees shall be printed on the general election 13
578		-	ballots.ballots, subject to the deadline in G.S. 163-115.5. 14
579		-	(2) Prior to the tenth day before the filing period ends under G.S. 163-106.2, 15
580		-	nominations shall be made by primary election as provided by this Article." 16
581		-	SECTION 7.5. Article 10 of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by 17
582		-	adding a new section to read: 18
583		-	"§ 163-115.5. Removing, replacing, or adding candidates on the general election ballot. 19
584		-	(a) The board of elections with jurisdiction over a ballot item under G.S. 163-182.4 shall 20
585		-	remove a candidate from the general election ballot only if the board of elections is notified, no 21
586		-	later than 20 days before absentee ballots are authorized for distribution for the general election, 22
587		-	that the candidate has died, withdrawn, or for any reason has become ineligible or disqualified. 23
588		-	Except as provided in G.S. 163-113, either the candidate or the relevant executive committee of 24
589		-	the candidate's political party, if the candidate is a nominee of the party, may provide the 25
590		-	notification required by this section. For any nominee authorized to be replaced on the ballot 26
591		-	pursuant to law, the nominee's name shall be replaced on the ballot only if the replacement has 27
592		-	been certified pursuant to law to the board of elections with jurisdiction over the ballot item no 28
593		-	later than 20 days before absentee ballots are authorized for distribution for the election. If a 29
594		-	withdrawal, disqualification, or replacement occurs later than 20 days before absentee ballots are 30
595		-	authorized for distribution for the general election, the provisions of G.S. 163-165.3(c) shall 31
596		-	apply. 32
597		-	(b) When a vacancy in office occurs and that vacancy requires an election to fill the 33
598		-	unexpired term without a candidate filing period, any nominees authorized for the election shall 34
599		-	be certified to the board of elections with jurisdiction over a ballot item under G.S. 163-182.4 no 35
600		-	later than eight days before absentee ballots are authorized for distribution for the election. 36
601		-	(c) The provisions of G.S. 103-5(a) shall not apply to this section." 37
602		-	SECTION 7.6. G.S. 163-122 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 38
603		-	"(f) If any candidate authorized to have the candidate's name printed on the general 39
604		-	election ballot pursuant to this section dies, withdraws, or for any reason becomes ineligible or 40
605		-	disqualified before the general election, the provisions of G.S. 163-115.5 shall apply." 41
606		-	SECTION 7.7. G.S. 163-165.3(c) reads as rewritten: 42
607		-	"(c) Late Changes in Ballots. – The State Board shall promulgate rules for late changes in 43
608		-	ballots. The rules shall provide for the reprinting, where practical, of official ballots as a result 44
609		-	of replacement candidates to fill vacancies in accordance with G.S. 163-114 or other late 45
610		-	changes. If an official ballot is not reprinted, a vote If a board of elections having jurisdiction 46
611		-	over a ballot item is notified of a candidate withdrawal, disqualification, or replacement after the 47
612		-	deadline in G.S. 163-115.5 but before the deadline in G.S. 163-113, votes for a candidate 48
613		-	removed without replacement shall not be counted and votes for a candidate who has been 49
614		-	replaced in accordance with G.S. 163-114 will count for the replacement candidate.candidate, 50
615		-	and the affected county boards of elections shall inform all affected voters of these actions. No 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
616		-	House Bill 580-First Edition Page 13
617		-	candidate withdrawal or replacement shall be permitted after the deadline in G.S. 163-113. No 1
618		-	additional nominees, where permitted due to vacancies in office, shall be allowed after the 2
619		-	deadline in G.S. 163-115.5." 3
620		-	SECTION 7.8. G.S. 163-227.10 reads as rewritten: 4
621		-	"§ 163-227.10. Date by which absentee ballots must be available for voting. 5
622		-	(a) A board of elections shall provide absentee ballots of the kinds needed 60 days prior 6
623		-	to the statewide general election in even-numbered years and 50 days prior to the date on which 7
624		-	any other election shall be conducted, unless 45 days is authorized by the State Board under 8
625		-	G.S. 163-22(k) or there shall exist an appeal before the State Board or the courts not concluded, 9
626		-	in which case the board shall provide the ballots as quickly as possible upon the conclusion of 10
627		-	such an appeal. Provided, in a presidential election year, the board of elections shall provide 11
628		-	general election ballots no later than three days after nomination of the presidential and vice 12
629		-	presidential candidates if that nomination occurs later than 63 days prior to the statewide general 13
630		-	election and makes compliance with the 60-day deadline impossible. However, in the case of 14
631		-	municipal elections, absentee ballots shall be made available no later than 30 days before an 15
632		-	election. In every instance the board of elections shall exert every effort to provide absentee 16
633		-	ballots, of the kinds needed by the date on which absentee voting is authorized to commence. 17
634		-	(b) The board of elections shall provide absentee ballots, of the kinds needed, as quickly 18
635		-	as possible after the ballot information for a second primary has been determined.For a second 19
636		-	primary, the county board of elections shall provide absentee ballots, of the kinds needed, no 20
637		-	later than 45 days before the second primary. 21
638		-	…." 22
639		-	SECTION 7.9. G.S. 163-229 reads as rewritten: 23
640		-	"§ 163-229. Absentee ballots, applications on container-return envelopes, and instruction 24
641		-	sheets. 25
642		-	… 26
643		-	(b) Application on Container-Return Envelope. – In time for use not later than 60 50 days 27
644		-	before a statewide general election in an even-numbered year, and not later than 50 days before 28
645		-	a statewide primary, other general election or county bond election, an election, the county board 29
646		-	of elections shall print a sufficient number of envelopes in which persons casting absentee ballots 30
647		-	may transmit their marked ballots to the county board of elections. However, in the case of 31
648		-	municipal elections, sufficient container-return envelopes shall be made available no later than 32
649		-	30 days before an election. Each container-return envelope shall have printed on it an application 33
650		-	which shall be designed and prescribed by the State Board, providing for all of the following: 34
651		-	… 35
652		-	(c) Instruction Sheets. – In time for use not later than 60 50 days before a statewide 36
653		-	general election in an even-numbered year, and not later than 50 days before a statewide primary 37
654		-	or general election or county bond election, an election, the county board of elections shall 38
655		-	prepare and print a sufficient number of sheets of instructions on how voters are to prepare 39
656		-	absentee ballots and return them to the county board of elections. The instruction sheets shall 40
657		-	include the means by which the voter's marked absentee ballot must be returned to the county 41
658		-	board of elections and the date and time that the ballot must be received by the county board of 42
659		-	elections. However, in the case of municipal elections, instruction sheets shall be made available 43
660		-	no later than 30 days before an election." 44
661		-	SECTION 7.10. G.S. 163-230.1(c), as amended by Section 3A.4(f) of S.L. 2024-57, 45
662		-	reads as rewritten: 46
663		-	"(c) Delivery of Absentee Ballots and Container-Return Envelope to Applicant. – When 47
664		-	the county board receives a completed request form for applications and absentee ballots from 48
665		-	the voter, or the near relative or the verifiable legal guardian of that voter, the county board shall 49
666		-	promptly issue and transmit them to the voter in accordance with the following instructions: 50
667		-	… 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
668		-	Page 14 House Bill 580-First Edition
669		-	The county board may receive completed written request forms for applications at any time 1
670		-	prior to the election but shall not mail applications and absentee ballots to the voter or issue 2
671		-	applications and absentee ballots in person earlier than 60 days prior to the statewide general 3
672		-	election in an even-numbered year, or earlier than 50 days prior to any other before an election. 4
673		-	No election official shall issue applications for absentee ballots except in compliance with this 5
674		-	Article." 6
675		-	SECTION 7.11. G.S. 163-258.9(a) reads as rewritten: 7
676		-	"(a) Not later than 60 days before the statewide general election in even-numbered years 8
677		-	and not later than 50 days before any other election, except for a second primary, the county 9
678		-	board of elections shall transmit a ballot and balloting materials to all covered voters who by that 10
679		-	date submit a valid military-overseas ballot application, except for a second primary. Provided, 11
680		-	in a presidential election year, the board of elections shall provide general election ballots no 12
681		-	later than three days after nomination of the presidential and vice presidential candidates if that 13
682		-	nomination occurs later than 63 days prior to the statewide general election and makes 14
683		-	compliance with the 60-day deadline impossible. unless 45 days is authorized by the State Board 15
684		-	under G.S. 163-22(k) or there exists an appeal before the State Board or the courts that has not 16
685		-	concluded, in which case the county board shall provide the ballots as quickly as possible upon 17
686		-	the conclusion of that appeal. However, in the case of municipal elections, absentee ballots shall 18
687		-	be made available no later than 30 days before an election. For a second primary which includes 19
688		-	a candidate for federal office, primary, the county board of elections shall transmit a ballot and 20
689		-	balloting material to all covered voters who by that date submit a valid military-overseas ballot 21
690		-	application no later than 45 days before the second primary. For a second primary which does 22
691		-	not include a candidate for federal office, the transmission of the ballot and ballot materials shall 23
692		-	be as soon as practicable and shall be transmitted electronically no later than three business days 24
693		-	and by mail no later than 15 days from the date the appropriate board of elections orders that the 25
694		-	second primary be held pursuant to G.S. 163-111. If additional offices are added to the ballot to 26
695		-	fill a vacancy occurring after the deadline provided by this subsection, those ballots shall be 27
696		-	transmitted as soon as practicable." 28
697		-	SECTION 7.12. G.S. 163-294.1(b) reads as rewritten: 29
698		-	"(b) If a candidate for political party nomination for office dies, becomes disqualified, or 30
699		-	withdraws before the primary but after the ballots have been printed, the provisions of 31
700		-	G.S. 163-112 shall govern. 32
701		-	If a candidate for nomination in a nonpartisan municipal primary dies, becomes disqualified, 33
702		-	or withdraws before the primary but after the ballots have been printed, the board of elections 34
703		-	shall determine whether or not there is time to reprint the ballots. If the board determines that 35
704		-	there is not enough time to reprint the ballots, the deceased or disqualified candidate's name shall 36
705		-	remain on the ballots. If he receives enough votes for nomination, such votes shall be disregarded 37
706		-	and the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes below the number necessary for 38
707		-	nomination shall be declared nominated. If the death or disqualification of the candidate leaves 39
708		-	only two candidates for each office to be filled, the nonpartisan primary shall not be held and all 40
709		-	candidates shall be declared nominees. 41
710		-	If a nominee for political party nomination dies, becomes disqualified, or withdraws after the 42
711		-	primary and before election day, the provisions of G.S. 163-114 G.S. 163-114 and 43
712		-	G.S. 163-115.5 shall govern. 44
713		-	If a candidate in a nonpartisan election dies, becomes disqualified, or withdraws before 45
714		-	election day and after the ballots have been printed, the board of elections shall determine 46
715		-	whether there is enough time to reprint the ballots. day, the provisions of G.S. 163-115.5 shall 47
716		-	govern. If there is not enough time to reprint the ballots, the board of elections is notified of a 48
717		-	candidate's death or disqualification after the relevant deadline in G.S. 163-115.5, and should the 49
718		-	deceased or disqualified candidate receive enough votes to be elected, the board of elections shall 50
719		-	declare the office vacant, and it shall be filled as provided by law." 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
720		-	House Bill 580-First Edition Page 15
721		-	1
722		-	PART VIII. DEADLINE FOR PRESIDENTIAL NOM INATIONS 2
723		-	SECTION 8.1. G.S. 163-209(a) reads as rewritten: 3
724		-	"(a) The names of candidates for electors of President and Vice-President nominated by 4
725		-	any political party recognized in this State under G.S. 163-96, or nominated under G.S. 163-1(c) 5
726		-	by a candidate for President of the United States who has qualified to have his or her name printed 6
727		-	on the general election ballot as an unaffiliated candidate under G.S. 163-122, shall be filed with 7
728		-	the Secretary of State no later than 60 days before the general election but shall not be printed on 8
729		-	the ballot. In the case of the unaffiliated candidate, the names of candidates for electors must be 9
730		-	filed with the Secretary of State no later than 12:00 noon on the first Friday in August. In place 10
731		-	of their names, there shall be printed on the ballot the names of the candidates for President and 11
732		-	Vice-President of each political party recognized in this State, and the name of any candidate for 12
733		-	President who has qualified to have his or her name printed on the general election ballot under 13
734		-	G.S. 163-122. A candidate for President who has qualified for the general election ballot as an 14
735		-	unaffiliated candidate under G.S. 163-122 shall, no later than 12:00 noon on the first Friday in 15
736		-	August, file with the State Board of Elections the name of a candidate for Vice-President, whose 16
737		-	name shall also be printed on the ballot. The names of the candidates for President and 17
738		-	Vice-President nominated by any political party recognized in this State under G.S. 163-96 or 18
739		-	who has qualified as an unaffiliated candidate under G.S. 163-122 shall be filed with the State 19
740		-	Board no later than 60 days before the general election, and those names filed shall be printed on 20
741		-	the ballot. A vote for the candidates named on the ballot shall be a vote for the electors of the 21
742		-	party or unaffiliated candidate by which those candidates were nominated and whose names have 22
743		-	been filed with the Secretary of State." 23
744		-	24
745		-	PART IX. INCREASE THRESHOLD FOR REPORTIN G CERTAIN CONTRIBUTI ONS 25
746		-	SECTION 9.1. G.S. 163-278.10A reads as rewritten: 26
747		-	"§ 163-278.10A. Threshold of $1,000 $3,000 for financial reports for certain candidates. 27
748		-	(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, a candidate for a district court 28
749		-	judge, superior court judge, county office, municipal office, local school board office, soil and 29
750		-	water conservation district board of supervisors, or sanitary district board shall be exempted from 30
751		-	the reports of contributions, loans, and expenditures required in G.S. 163-278.9(a), 163-278.40B, 31
752		-	163-278.40C, 163-278.40D, and 163-278.40E if to further the candidate's campaign that 32
753		-	candidate: 33
754		-	(1) Does not receive more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) three thousand 34
755		-	dollars ($3,000) in contributions, and 35
756		-	(2) Does not receive more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) three thousand 36
757		-	dollars ($3,000) in loans, and 37
758		-	(3) Does not spend more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).three thousand 38
759		-	dollars ($3,000). 39
760		-	To qualify for the exemption from those reports, the candidate's treasurer shall file a certification 40
761		-	that the candidate does not intend to receive in contributions or loans or expend more than one 41
762		-	thousand dollars ($1,000) three thousand dollars ($3,000) to further the candidate's campaign. 42
763		-	The certification shall be filed with the Board at the same time the candidate files the candidate's 43
764		-	Organizational Report as required in G.S. 163-278.7, G.S. 163-278.9, and G.S. 163-278.40A. If 44
765		-	the candidate's campaign is being conducted by a political committee which is handling all 45
766		-	contributions, loans, and expenditures for the candidate's campaign, the treasurer of the political 46
767		-	committee shall file a certification of intent to stay within the threshold amount. If the intent to 47
768		-	stay within the threshold changes, or if the one-thousand-dollar ($1,000) three-thousand-dollar 48
769		-	($3,000) threshold is exceeded, the treasurer shall immediately notify the Board and shall be 49
770		-	responsible for filing all reports required in G.S. 163-278.9 and 163-278.40B, 163-278.40C, 50
771		-	163-278.40D, and 163-278.40E; provided that any contribution, loan, or expenditure which 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
772		-	Page 16 House Bill 580-First Edition
773		-	would have been required to be reported on an earlier report but for this section shall be included 1
774		-	on the next report required after the intent changes or the threshold is exceeded. 2
	87	+	(e1) Curable Deficiencies. – If a container-return envelope contains a curable deficiency, 35
	88	+	the county board shall promptly notify the voter of the deficiency and the manner in which the 36
	89	+	voter may cure the deficiency. Curable deficiencies are deficiencies that can be cured with 37
	90	+	supplemental documentation or attestation provided by the voter, including when any of the 38
	91	+	following occurs: 39
	92	+	(1) The voter did not sign the voter certification as required by 40
	93	+	G.S. 163-231(a)(4). 41
	94	+	(2) The voter signed the application in the wrong place on the application. 42
	95	+	(3) The voter failed to include with the container-return envelope a photocopy of 43
	96	+	identification described in G.S. 163-166.16(a) or an affidavit as described in 44
	97	+	G.S. 163-166.16(d)(1), (d)(2), or (d)(3), as required by subsection (f1) of this 45
	98	+	section. 46
	99	+	The identification of the two persons witnessing the casting of the absentee ballot in 47
	100	+	accordance with G.S. 163-231(a) is not a curable deficiency. Any container-return envelope with 48
	101	+	a curable deficiency that is transmitted to the county board shall be considered timely if cure 49
	102	+	documentation is received no later than 12:00 P.M. on the third fourth business day after the 50
	103	+	election. Cure documentation may be transmitted via email to the county board if the deficiency 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	104	+	DRH40313-LU-93 Page 3
	105	+	is one described in subdivision (3) of this subsection. The notification of voters regarding curable 1
	106	+	deficiencies is an administrative task that may be performed by county board staff and is not 2
	107	+	required to be performed at an absentee meeting as provided for in subsection (f) of this section. 3
	108	+	The voter shall be notified of curable deficiencies by mail, and by telephone or email if the 4
	109	+	telephone number or email address was provided by the voter on the request form for absentee 5
	110	+	ballots. 6
	111	+	(f) Required Meeting of County Board of Elections. – During the period commencing on 7
	112	+	the fifth Tuesday before an election, election through election day in any election in which 8
	113	+	absentee ballots are authorized, the county board shall hold one or more public meetings each 9
	114	+	Tuesday at 5:00 P.M. for the purpose of action on applications for absentee ballots. At these 10
	115	+	meetings, the county board shall pass upon applications for absentee ballots. 11
	116	+	If the county board changes the time of holding its meetings or provides for additional 12
	117	+	meetings in accordance with the terms of this subsection, notice of the change in hour and notice 13
	118	+	of the schedule of additional meetings, if any, shall be published in a newspaper circulated in the 14
	119	+	county at least 30 days prior to the election.posted on the county board's website and distributed 15
	120	+	to all persons required to receive notice under G.S. 143-318.12(b)(2) at least two days before any 16
	121	+	changed or additional meeting. 17
	122	+	At the time the county board makes its decision on an application for absentee ballots, the 18
	123	+	county board shall enter in the appropriate column in the register of absentee requests, 19
	124	+	applications, and ballots issued opposite the name of the applicant a notation of whether the 20
	125	+	applicant's application was "Approved" or "Disapproved". 21
	126	+	The decision of the county board on the validity of an application for absentee ballots shall 22
	127	+	be final subject only to such review as may be necessary in the event of an election contest. The 23
	128	+	county board shall constitute the proper official body to pass upon the validity of all applications 24
	129	+	for absentee ballots received in the county; this function shall not be performed by the chair or 25
	130	+	any other member of the county board individually. 26
	131	+	…." 27
	132	+	SECTION 2.3. G.S. 163-234, as amended by Section 3A.4(g) of S.L. 2024-57, reads 28
	133	+	as rewritten: 29
	134	+	"§ 163-234. Counting absentee ballots by county board. 30
	135	+	All absentee ballots returned to the county board in the container-return envelopes shall be 31
	136	+	retained by the county board to be counted by the county board as follows: 32
	137	+	… 33
	138	+	(2) The county board shall meet at 5:00 P.M. on election day in the county board 34
	139	+	office or other public location in the county courthouse for the purpose of 35
	140	+	counting all absentee ballots except those which have been challenged before 36
	141	+	5:00 P.M. on election day and those received pursuant to G.S. 163-231(b)(2). 37
	142	+	Any elector of the county shall be permitted to attend the meeting and allowed 38
	143	+	to observe the counting process, so long as the elector does not in any manner 39
	144	+	interfere with the election officials in the discharge of their duties. The count 40
	145	+	of these absentee ballots shall be continuous until completed, and the members 41
	146	+	shall not separate or leave the counting place except for unavoidable 42
	147	+	necessity.The county board shall not adjourn the meeting until the count of 43
	148	+	these absentee ballots is complete. 44
	149	+	The county board may begin counting absentee ballots issued under 45
	150	+	Article 21A of this Chapter between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. 46
	151	+	and may begin counting all absentee ballots between the hours of 2:00 P.M. 47
	152	+	and 5:00 P.M. upon the adoption of a resolution at least two weeks days prior 48
	153	+	to the election in which the hour and place of counting absentee ballots shall 49
	154	+	be stated. A copy of the resolution shall be published once a week for two 50
	155	+	weeks prior to the election, in a newspaper having general circulation in the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	156	+	Page 4 DRH40313-LU-93
	157	+	county. Notice may additionally be made on a radio or television station or 1
	158	+	both, but the notice shall be in addition to the newspaper and other required 2
	159	+	notice. The count shall be continuous until completed and the members shall 3
	160	+	not separate or leave the counting place except for unavoidable necessity, 4
	161	+	except that if the count has been completed prior to the time the polls close, it 5
	162	+	shall be suspended until that time pending receipt of any additional ballots. 6
	163	+	posted on the county board's website and distributed to all persons required to 7
	164	+	receive notice under G.S. 143-318.12(b)(2). Nothing in this section prohibits 8
	165	+	a county board from taking preparatory steps for the count earlier than the 9
	166	+	times specified in this section, as long as the preparatory steps do not reveal 10
	167	+	to any individual not engaged in the actual count election results before the 11
	168	+	times specified in this subdivision for the count to begin. By way of 12
	169	+	illustration and not limitation, a preparatory step for the count would be the 13
	170	+	entry of tally cards from direct record electronic voting units into a computer 14
	171	+	for processing. The county board shall not announce the result of the count 15
	172	+	before 7:30 P.M. 16
	173	+	… 17
	174	+	(11) The county board shall meet after the day of the election and prior to the day 18
	175	+	of canvass to count absentee ballots received pursuant to G.S. 163-231(b)(2) 19
	176	+	and absentee ballots that have deficiencies that have been cured pursuant to 20
	177	+	G.S. 163-230.1(e), upon the adoption of a resolution pursuant to subdivision 21
	178	+	(2) of this section. The county board shall comply with all other requirements 22
	179	+	of this section and G.S. 163-230.1 for the counting of these absentee ballots. 23
	180	+	(12) No later than 5:00 P.M. on the third business day after the election, the county 24
	181	+	board shall announce the tally of all absentee ballots, except those subject to 25
	182	+	a challenge or challenge, those cast in accordance with Article 21A of this 26
	183	+	Chapter.Chapter, or those for which a final decision on a cured deficiency 27
	184	+	remains pending." 28
	185	+	29
	186	+	PART III. POLL WORKER ASSIGNMENT FLEXIBILITY 30
	187	+	SECTION 3.1. G.S. 163-41 reads as rewritten: 31
	188	+	"§ 163-41. Precinct chief judges and judges of election; appointment; terms of office; 32
	189	+	qualifications; vacancies; oaths of office. 33
	190	+	(a) Appointment of Chief Judge and Judges. – At the meeting required by G.S. 163-31 to 34
	191	+	be held on the Tuesday following the third Monday in August of the year in which they are 35
	192	+	appointed, the county board of elections shall appoint one person to act as chief judge and two 36
	193	+	other persons to act as judges of election for each precinct in the county. Their terms of office 37
	194	+	shall continue for two years from the specified date of appointment and until their successors are 38
	195	+	appointed and qualified, except that if a nonresident of the precinct is appointed as chief judge 39
	196	+	or judge for a precinct, that person's term of office shall end if the board of elections appoints a 40
	197	+	qualified resident of the precinct of who is affiliated with the same party party, or a qualified 41
	198	+	resident regardless of party affiliation if the nonresident was unaffiliated, to replace the 42
	199	+	nonresident chief judge or judge. It shall be their duty to conduct the primaries and elections 43
	200	+	within their respective precincts. Persons appointed to these offices must be registered voters and 44
	201	+	residents of the county in which the precinct is located, of good repute, and able to read and write. 45
	202	+	Not more than one judge in each precinct shall belong to be affiliated with the same political 46
	203	+	party as the chief judge. Not more than one judge in each precinct shall be appointed upon the 47
	204	+	recommendation of the same political party that recommended the chief judge. 48
	205	+	… 49
	206	+	(c) The chairman chair of each of the two political party parties in the county having the 50
	207	+	greatest numbers of registered voters in the State, where possible possible, shall recommend two 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	208	+	DRH40313-LU-93 Page 5
	209	+	four registered voters in each precinct who are otherwise qualified, are residents of the precinct, 1
	210	+	have good moral character, and are able to read and write, for appointment as chief judge or judge 2
	211	+	in the precinct, and he shall also recommend where possible the same number of similarly 3
	212	+	qualified voters for appointment as judges of election in that precinct. If such recommendations 4
	213	+	are received by the county board of elections no later than the fifth day preceding the date on 5
	214	+	which appointments are to be made, it must make precinct appointments from the names of those 6
	215	+	recommended. Provided that if the party chair submits only one qualified name is submitted by 7
	216	+	the fifth day preceding the date on which appointments are to be made, by a party for judge of 8
	217	+	election by the chairman of one of the two political parties in the county having the greatest 9
	218	+	numbers of registered voters in the State, for judge of election by that date, the county board of 10
	219	+	elections must appoint that person. 11
	220	+	If the recommendations of the party chairs for chief judge or judge in a precinct are 12
	221	+	insufficient, the county board of elections by unanimous vote of all bipartisan majority vote of 13
	222	+	its members may name to serve as chief judge or judge in that precinct registered voters in that 14
	223	+	precinct who were not recommended by the party chairs. If, after diligently seeking to fill the 15
	224	+	positions with registered voters of the precinct, the county board still has an insufficient number 16
	225	+	of officials for the precinct, the county board by unanimous vote of all bipartisan majority vote 17
	226	+	of its members may appoint to the positions registered voters in other precincts in the same county 18
	227	+	who meet the qualifications other than residence to be precinct officials in the precinct, provided 19
	228	+	that where possible the county board shall seek and adopt the recommendation of the county 20
	229	+	chairman of the political party affected. the recommendations of the county party chairs. In 21
	230	+	making its appointments, the county board shall assure, wherever possible, that no precinct has 22
	231	+	a chief judge and judges all of whom are registered affiliated with or recommended by the same 23
	232	+	party. In no instance shall the county board appoint nonresidents of the precinct to a majority of 24
	233	+	the three positions of chief judge and judge in a precinct.The county board shall assure, where 25
	234	+	possible, that no precinct has a chief judge and judges all of whom are nonresidents of the 26
	235	+	precinct. 27
	236	+	(d) If, at any time other than on the day of a primary or election, a chief judge or judge 28
	237	+	of election shall be removed from office, or shall die or resign, or if for any other cause there be 29
	238	+	a vacancy in a precinct election office, the chairman chair of the county board of elections shall 30
	239	+	appoint another in his or her place, promptly notifying him of his or her of the appointment. If at 31
	240	+	all possible, the chairman chair of the county board of elections shall consult with the county 32
	241	+	chairman chair of the political party of that originally recommended the vacating official, and if 33
	242	+	the chairman chair of the county political party nominates a qualified voter of that precinct to fill 34
	243	+	the vacancy, the chairman chair of the county board of elections shall appoint that person. In 35
	244	+	filling such a vacancy, the chairman chair shall appoint a person who belongs to is affiliated with 36
	245	+	the same political party as that to which of the party chair who originally recommended the 37
	246	+	vacating member belonged when appointed. official or is unaffiliated. If the chairman chair of 38
	247	+	the county board of elections did not appoint a person upon recommendation of the chairman 39
	248	+	chair of the party to fill such a vacancy, then the term of office of the person appointed to fill the 40
	249	+	vacancy shall expire upon the conclusion of the next canvass held by the county board of 41
	250	+	elections under this Chapter, and any successor must be a person nominated by the chairman of 42
	251	+	the party of the vacating officer.appointed using the procedures in subsection (c) of this section, 43
	252	+	with the chair of the political party recommending two qualified voters for each vacancy to be 44
	253	+	filled. 45
	254	+	If any person appointed chief judge shall fail to be present at the voting place at the hour of 46
	255	+	opening the polls on primary or election day, or if a vacancy in that office shall occur on primary 47
	256	+	or election day for any reason whatever, the precinct judges of election shall appoint another to 48
	257	+	act as chief judge until such time as the chairman chair of the county board of elections shall 49
	258	+	appoint to fill the vacancy. If such appointment by the chairman chair of the county board of 50
	259	+	elections is not a person nominated by the county chairman chair of the political party of the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	260	+	Page 6 DRH40313-LU-93
	261	+	vacating officer, then the term of office of the person appointed to fill the vacancy shall expire 1
	262	+	upon the conclusion of the next canvass held by the county board of elections under this Chapter. 2
	263	+	If a judge of election shall fail to be present at the voting place at the hour of opening the polls 3
	264	+	on primary or election day, or if a vacancy in that office shall occur on primary or election day 4
	265	+	for any reason whatever, the chief judge shall appoint another to act as judge until such time as 5
	266	+	the chairman chair of the county board of elections shall appoint to fill the vacancy. Persons 6
	267	+	appointed to fill vacancies shall, whenever possible, be chosen from affiliated with or 7
	268	+	recommended by the same political party as the person whose vacancy is being filled, and all 8
	269	+	such appointees shall be sworn before acting. 9
	270	+	…." 10
	271	+	SECTION 3.2. G.S. 163-42 reads as rewritten: 11
	272	+	"§ 163-42. Assistants at polls; appointment; term of office; qualifications; oath of office. 12
	273	+	(a) Each county board of elections is authorized, in its discretion, to appoint two or more 13
	274	+	assistants for each precinct to aid the chief judge and judges. Not more than two assistants shall 14
	275	+	be appointed in precincts having 500 or less registered voters. Assistants shall be qualified voters 15
	276	+	of the county in which the precinct is located. When the board of elections determines that 16
	277	+	assistants are needed in a precinct an equal number shall be appointed from different political 17
	278	+	parties, unless the requirement as to party affiliation cannot be met because of an insufficient 18
	279	+	number of voters of recommended by the different political parties within the county. 19
	280	+	In the discretion of the county board of elections, a precinct assistant may serve less than the 20
	281	+	full day prescribed for chief judges and judges in G.S. 163-47(a). 21
	282	+	(b) The chairman chair of each of the two political party parties in the county having the 22
	283	+	greatest numbers of registered voters in the State shall have the right to recommend from three 23
	284	+	up to 10 registered voters in each precinct for appointment as precinct assistants in that precinct. 24
	285	+	If the recommendations are received by it the county board of elections no later than the thirtieth 25
	286	+	day prior to the primary or election, the board shall make appointments of the precinct assistants 26
	287	+	for each precinct from the names thus recommended. If the recommendations of the party chairs 27
	288	+	for precinct assistant in a precinct are insufficient, the county board of elections by unanimous 28
	289	+	vote of all bipartisan majority vote of its members may name to serve as precinct assistant in that 29
	290	+	precinct registered voters in that precinct of the county who were not recommended by the party 30
	291	+	chairs. If, after diligently seeking to fill the positions with registered voters of the precinct, the 31
	292	+	county board still has an insufficient number of precinct assistants for the precinct, the county 32
	293	+	board by unanimous vote of all of its members may appoint to the positions registered voters in 33
	294	+	other precincts in the same county who meet the qualifications other than residence to be precinct 34
	295	+	officials in the precinct. In making its appointments, the county board shall assure, wherever 35
	296	+	possible, that no precinct has precinct officials all of whom are registered affiliated with or 36
	297	+	recommended by the same party. In no instance shall the county board appoint nonresidents of 37
	298	+	the precinct to a majority of the positions as precinct assistant in a precinct. 38
	299	+	(c) In addition, a county board of elections by unanimous vote of all bipartisan majority 39
	300	+	vote of its members may appoint any registered voter in the county as emergency election-day 40
	301	+	assistant, as long as that voter is otherwise qualified to be a precinct official. The State Board of 41
	302	+	Elections shall determine for each election the number of emergency election-day assistants each 42
	303	+	county may have, based on population, expected turnout, and complexity of election duties. The 43
	304	+	county board by unanimous vote of all bipartisan majority vote of its members may assign 44
	305	+	emergency election-day assistants on the day of the election to any precinct in the county where 45
	306	+	the number of precinct officials is insufficient because of an emergency occurring within 48 hours 46
	307	+	of the opening of the polls that prevents an appointed precinct official from serving. A person 47
	308	+	appointed to serve as emergency election-day assistant shall be trained and paid like other 48
	309	+	precinct assistants in accordance with G.S. 163-46. A county board of elections shall apportion 49
	310	+	the appointments as emergency election-day assistant among registrants of each political party 50
	311	+	so as to make possible the staffing of each precinct with officials of more than one party, and the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	312	+	DRH40313-LU-93 Page 7
	313	+	county board shall make assignments so that no precinct has precinct officials all of whom are 1
	314	+	registered affiliated with or recommended by the same party. 2
775	315		…." 3
776	316		4
777		-	PART X. INCREASE THR ESHOLD FOR REPORTING INDEPENDENT 5
778		-	EXPENDITURES 6
779		-	SECTION 10.1. G.S. 163-278.12 reads as rewritten: 7
780		-	"§ 163-278.12. Special reporting of contributions and independent expenditures. 8
781		-	(a) Subject to G.S. 163-278.39 and G.S. 163-278.14, individuals and other entities not 9
782		-	otherwise prohibited from doing so may make independent expenditures. In the event an 10
783		-	individual, person, or other entity making independent expenditures but not otherwise required 11
784		-	to report them makes independent expenditures in excess of one hundred dollars ($100.00), 12
785		-	thousand dollars ($1,000), that individual, person, or entity shall file a statement of such 13
786		-	independent expenditure with the appropriate board of elections in the manner prescribed by the 14
787		-	State Board of Elections. 15
788		-	… 16
789		-	(d) Contributions or independent expenditures required to be reported under this section 17
790		-	shall be reported within 30 days after they exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00) thousand dollars 18
791		-	($1,000) or 10 days before an election the contributions or independent expenditures affect, 19
792		-	whichever occurs earlier. 20
793		-	…." 21
794		-	22
795		-	PART XI. PROHIBIT PAYMENT PER SIGNATURE FOR PETITIONS 23
796		-	SECTION 11.1. G.S. 163-221 reads as rewritten: 24
797		-	"§ 163-221. Persons may not sign name of another to petition.Prohibited petition activities. 25
798		-	(a) No person may sign the name of another person to any of the following: 26
799		-	(1) Any petition calling for an election or referendum. 27
800		-	(2) Any petition under G.S. 163-96 for the formulation of a new political party. 28
801		-	(3) Any petition under G.S. 163-107.1 requesting a person to be a candidate. 29
802		-	(4) Any petition under G.S. 163-122 to have the name of an unaffiliated candidate 30
803		-	placed on the general election ballot, or under G.S. 163-296 to have the name 31
804		-	of an unaffiliated or nonpartisan candidate placed on the regular municipal 32
805		-	election ballot. 33
806		-	(5) Any petition under G.S. 163-213.5 to place a name on the ballot under the 34
807		-	Presidential Preference Primary Act. 35
808		-	(6) Any petition under G.S. 163-123 to qualify as a write-in candidate. 36
809		-	(b) Any name signed on a petition, in violation of this section, shall be void. 37
810		-	(b1) No person may be compensated based on the number of signatures collected for a 38
811		-	petition. 39
812		-	(c) Any person who willfully violates this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor." 40
813		-	SECTION 11.2. G.S. 163-274(a) reads as rewritten: 41
814		-	"(a) Class 2 Misdemeanors. – Any person who shall, in connection with any primary or 42
815		-	election in this State, do any of the acts and things declared in this subsection to be unlawful, 43
816		-	shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. It shall be unlawful to do any of the following: 44
817		-	… 45
818		-	(17) For any person to be compensated based on the number of signatures obtained 46
819		-	on a petition authorized under this Chapter." 47
	317	+	PART IV. DIGITAL PHOTO IDENTIFICATION 5
	318	+	SECTION 4.1. G.S. 163-166.16(a) reads as rewritten: 6
	319	+	"(a) Photo Identification Required to Vote. – When a registered voter presents to vote in 7
	320	+	person, the registered voter shall produce any of the following forms of identification that contain 8
	321	+	a photograph of the registered voter: 9
	322	+	(1) Any of the following that is valid and unexpired, or has been expired for one 10
	323	+	year or less: 11
	324	+	a. A North Carolina drivers license. 12
	325	+	b. A special identification card Special identification for nonoperators 13
	326	+	issued under G.S. 20-37.7 or other form of nontemporary 14
	327	+	identification issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles of the 15
	328	+	Department of Transportation. 16
	329	+	c. A United States passport. 17
	330	+	d. A North Carolina voter photo identification card of the registered voter 18
	331	+	issued pursuant to G.S. 163-82.8A. 19
	332	+	e. Recodified as sub-subdivision (a)(2)c. of this section by Session Laws 20
	333	+	2019-22, s. 1, effective June 3, 2019. 21
	334	+	f. Reserved. 22
	335	+	g. A student identification card Student identification issued by a 23
	336	+	constituent institution of The University of North Carolina, a 24
	337	+	community college, as defined in G.S. 115D-2(2), or eligible private 25
	338	+	postsecondary institution as defined in G.S. 116-280(3), provided that 26
	339	+	card identification is issued in accordance with G.S. 163-166.17. 27
	340	+	h. An employee identification card Employee identification issued by a 28
	341	+	state or local government entity, including a charter school, provided 29
	342	+	that card identification is issued in accordance with G.S. 163-166.18. 30
	343	+	i. A drivers Drivers license or special identification card for 31
	344	+	nonoperators issued by another state, the District of Columbia, or a 32
	345	+	territory or commonwealth of the United States, but only if the voter's 33
	346	+	voter registration was within 90 days of the election. 34
	347	+	(2) Any of the following, regardless of whether the identification contains a 35
	348	+	printed expiration or issuance date: 36
	349	+	a. A military identification card Military identification issued by the 37
	350	+	United States government. 38
	351	+	b. A Veterans Identification Card issued by the United States Department 39
	352	+	of Veterans Affairs for use at Veterans Administration medical 40
	353	+	facilities. 41
	354	+	c. A tribal enrollment card Tribal enrollment identification issued by a 42
	355	+	State or federal recognized tribe. 43
	356	+	d. An identification card Identification issued by a department, agency, 44
	357	+	or entity of the United States government or this State for a 45
	358	+	government program of public assistance. 46
	359	+	…." 47
	360	+	SECTION 4.2. G.S. 163-166.17 reads as rewritten: 48
	361	+	"§ 163-166.17. Approval of student identification cards for voting identification. 49
	362	+	(a) The State Board shall approve the use of student identification cards identifications 50
	363	+	issued by a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina, a community college, as 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	364	+	Page 8 DRH40313-LU-93
	365	+	defined in G.S. 115D-2(2), or eligible private postsecondary institution as defined in 1
	366	+	G.S. 116-280(3) for voting identification under G.S. 163-166.16 if the following criteria are met: 2
	367	+	(1) The chancellor, president, or registrar of the university or college submits 3
	368	+	documentation satisfactory to the State Board that the following have been 4
	369	+	met and will not knowingly be violated with regard to student identification 5
	370	+	cards identifications issued during the approval period: 6
	371	+	a. The identification cards identifications that are issued by the university 7
	372	+	or college contain photographs of students obtained by the university 8
	373	+	or college or its agents or contractors, provided the photograph 9
	374	+	obtained (i) is a frontal image that includes the student's face and (ii) 10
	375	+	represents a clear, accurate likeness of the student to whom the 11
	376	+	identification card is issued. If the photograph is one not produced by 12
	377	+	the university or college or its agents, the university or college shall 13
	378	+	certify in detail the process used by the university or college to ensure 14
	379	+	the photograph is that of the student to whom the identification card is 15
	380	+	issued and shall certify that the process is designed to confirm the 16
	381	+	identity of the student to whom the identification card is issued. 17
	382	+	b. The identification cards identifications are issued after an enrollment 18
	383	+	or other process that includes one or more methods of confirming the 19
	384	+	identity of the student using information that may include, but are not 20
	385	+	limited to, the social security number, citizenship status, and birthdate 21
	386	+	of the student. 22
	387	+	c. Access to the equipment for producing the identification cards 23
	388	+	identifications is restricted through security measures. 24
	389	+	d. Misuse of the equipment for producing the identification cards 25
	390	+	identifications would be grounds for student discipline or termination 26
	391	+	of an employee. 27
	392	+	e. University or college officials would report any misuse of student 28
	393	+	identification card production equipment they have knowledge of to 29
	394	+	law enforcement if G.S. 163-82.8(19) was potentially violated. 30
	395	+	f. The cards identifications issued by the university or college on or after 31
	396	+	January 1, 2021, contain a date of expiration. 32
	397	+	g. The university or college will provide copies of student identification 33
	398	+	cards identifications to the State Board to assist with training purposes. 34
	399	+	h. The college or university will provide to students who are issued the 35
	400	+	student identification card a copy of, or an electronic link to, a 36
	401	+	document developed by the State Board that details the requirements 37
	402	+	related to identification for voting; the requirements to vote absentee, 38
	403	+	early, or on election day; a description of voting by provisional ballot; 39
	404	+	and the availability of a free North Carolina voter photo identification 40
	405	+	card pursuant to G.S. 163-82.8A to rural, military, veteran, elderly, 41
	406	+	underserved, minority, or other communities as determined by local 42
	407	+	needs; and the requirements of North Carolina residency to vote, 43
	408	+	including applicable intent requirements of North Carolina law, and 44
	409	+	the penalty for voting in multiple states. 45
	410	+	… 46
	411	+	(b) The State Board shall establish a schedule for such submissions and approvals. The 47
	412	+	State Board shall permit a university or college with no changes to the prior election cycle's 48
	413	+	approval to submit a statement indicating no changes have been made by the university or 49
	414	+	college. When the State Board approves for use the student identification cards identifications 50
	415	+	issued by a constituent institution of The University of North Carolina, a community college, as 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	416	+	DRH40313-LU-93 Page 9
	417	+	defined in G.S. 115D-2(2), or eligible private postsecondary institution as defined in 1
	418	+	G.S. 116-280(3), for voting identification purposes under G.S. 163-166.16, such approval shall 2
	419	+	be valid for the period from January 1 of an odd-numbered year through December 31 of the next 3
	420	+	even-numbered year. 4
	421	+	(c) The State Board shall produce a list of participating universities and colleges every 5
	422	+	two years. The list shall be published on the State Board's Web site and distributed to every 6
	423	+	county board of elections. The State Board shall publish sample student identification cards 7
	424	+	identifications for each participating university and college. 8
	425	+	(d) If a participating college or university with a student identification card approved for 9
	426	+	use by the State Board as provided in subsection (b) of this section changes the design of the 10
	427	+	student identification card, identification, that college or university shall provide copies of the 11
	428	+	new design of the student identification cards to the State Board to assist with training purposes." 12
	429	+	SECTION 4.3. G.S. 163-166.18 reads as rewritten: 13
	430	+	"§ 163-166.18. Approval of employee identification cards for voting identification. 14
	431	+	(a) The State Board shall approve the use of employee identification cards identifications 15
	432	+	issued by a state or local government entity, including a charter school, for voting identification 16
	433	+	under G.S. 163-166.16 if the following criteria are met: 17
	434	+	(1) The head elected official or lead human resources employee of the state or 18
	435	+	local government entity or charter school submits documentation satisfactory 19
	436	+	to the State Board that the following true have been met and will not 20
	437	+	knowingly be violated with regard to employee identification cards 21
	438	+	identifications issued during the approval period: 22
	439	+	a. The identification cards identifications that are issued by the state or 23
	440	+	local government entity or charter school contain photographs of the 24
	441	+	employees obtained by the state or local government entity or charter 25
	442	+	school employing entity or its agents or contractors, provided the 26
	443	+	photograph obtained (i) is a frontal image that includes the employee's 27
	444	+	face and (ii) represents a clear, accurate likeness of the employee to 28
	445	+	whom the identification card is issued. If the photograph is one not 29
	446	+	produced by the state or local government entity or charter school, the 30
	447	+	state or local government entity or charter school shall certify in detail 31
	448	+	the process used by the state or local government entity or charter 32
	449	+	school to ensure the photograph is that of the employee to whom the 33
	450	+	identification card is issued and shall certify that the process is 34
	451	+	designed to confirm the identity of the employee to whom the 35
	452	+	identification card is issued. 36
	453	+	b. The identification cards identifications are issued after an employment 37
	454	+	application or other process that includes one or more methods of 38
	455	+	confirming the identity of the employee using information that 39
	456	+	include, but are not limited to, the social security number, citizenship 40
	457	+	status, and birthdate of the employee. 41
	458	+	c. Access to the equipment for producing the identification cards 42
	459	+	identifications is restricted through security measures. 43
	460	+	d. Misuse of the equipment for producing the identification cards 44
	461	+	identifications would be grounds for termination of an employee. 45
	462	+	e. State or local or charter school officials would report any misuse of 46
	463	+	identification card production equipment they have knowledge of to 47
	464	+	law enforcement if G.S. 163-275(19) was potentially violated. 48
	465	+	f. The cards identifications issued by the state or local government entity 49
	466	+	or charter school on or after January 1, 2021, contain a date of 50
	467	+	expiration. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	468	+	Page 10 DRH40313-LU-93
	469	+	g. The state or local government entity or charter school will provide 1
	470	+	copies of employee identification cards identifications to the State 2
	471	+	Board to assist with training purposes. 3
	472	+	… 4
	473	+	(b) The State Board shall establish a schedule for such submissions and approvals. The 5
	474	+	State Board shall permit a State or local government entity or charter school with no changes to 6
	475	+	the prior election cycle's approval to submit a statement indicating no changes have been made 7
	476	+	by the State or local government entity or charter school. When the State Board approves for use 8
	477	+	the employee identification cards identifications issued by a state or local government entity, 9
	478	+	including a charter school, for voting identification under G.S. 163-166.16, such approval shall 10
	479	+	be valid for the period from January 1 of an odd-numbered year through December 31 of the next 11
	480	+	even-numbered year. 12
	481	+	(c) The State Board shall produce a list of participating employing entities every two 13
	482	+	years. The list shall be published on the State Board's Web site and distributed to every county 14
	483	+	board of elections. The State Board shall publish sample employee identification cards 15
	484	+	identifications for each participating State or local government entity or charter school." 16
	485	+	17
	486	+	PART V. CLARIFY ELIGIBILITY DURING EARLY VOTING 18
	487	+	SECTION 5.1. G.S. 163-55 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 19
	488	+	"(d) Qualifications Determined Upon Voting. – Notwithstanding any other provision of 20
	489	+	law to the contrary, a voter shall not be subject to challenge if the voter was qualified to cast the 21
	490	+	ballot at the time it was received by the county board; provided, however, that a voter who casts 22
	491	+	a ballot in a general election before turning 18 years of age but who will be 18 years of age as of 23
	492	+	the date of the general election shall not be disqualified on account of age." 24
	493	+	25
	494	+	PART VI. AUTHORITY FOR COUNTY BOARD -INITIATED VOTER CHALLENGES 26
	495	+	SECTION 6.1. Article 8 of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by 27
	496	+	adding a new section to read: 28
	497	+	"§ 163-90.4. Challenges by county boards. 29
	498	+	(a) After each election, the State Board shall conduct a uniform, statewide audit to 30
	499	+	identify ballots cast during early voting and by absentee ballot in the election that are ineligible 31
	500	+	to be counted for one of the reasons identified in G.S. 163-87, as evidenced by official 32
	501	+	government database records. The State Board shall distribute the results of this audit to the 33
	502	+	county boards by 5:00 P.M. on the fourth business day before the canvass. 34
	503	+	(b) The county board shall review the audit produced by the State Board pursuant to this 35
	504	+	section, analyze the records of county voters identified in the audit, and, by 5:00 P.M. on the 36
	505	+	third business day before the canvass, serve a challenge on any county voter identified in the 37
	506	+	audit who the county board has determined has cast an ineligible ballot. The county board shall 38
	507	+	conduct the challenge proceedings under the applicable provisions of G.S. 163-89." 39
	508	+	40
	509	+	PART VII. CLARIFY DEADLINES FOR LATE BALLOT CHANGES 41
	510	+	SECTION 7.1. G.S. 163-22(k) reads as rewritten: 42
	511	+	"(k) Notwithstanding the provisions contained in Article 20 or Article 21A of this Chapter, 43
	512	+	the State Board shall be authorized, by resolution adopted prior to the printing of the primary 44
	513	+	ballots, to reduce the time by which absentee ballots are required to be printed and distributed 45
	514	+	for the primary election from 50 days to 45 days. This authority shall not be authorized for 46
	515	+	absentee ballots to be voted in the general election, except if the law requires ballots to be 47
	516	+	available for mailing 60 days before the general election, and the absentee ballots are not ready 48
	517	+	by that date, the State Board shall allow the counties to mail absentee ballots out as soon as the 49
	518	+	absentee ballots are available.days, if unforeseen circumstances make compliance with the 50
	519	+	50-day deadline impracticable." 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	520	+	DRH40313-LU-93 Page 11
	521	+	SECTION 7.2. G.S. 163-113 reads as rewritten: 1
	522	+	"§ 163-113. Nominee's right to withdraw as candidate. 2
	523	+	A person who has been declared the nominee of a political party for a specified office under 3
	524	+	the provisions of G.S. 163-182.15 or G.S. 163-110, shall not be permitted to resign as a candidate 4
	525	+	unless, prior to the first day on which military and overseas absentee ballots are transmitted to 5
	526	+	voters under Article 21A of this Chapter, that [the] person submits to the board of elections which 6
	527	+	certified the nomination a written request that person be permitted to withdraw. For the election 7
	528	+	of presidential electors under Article 18 of this Chapter, if a candidate is nominated by a political 8
	529	+	party, only the political party making the nomination may withdraw the nomination, and for any 9
	530	+	such withdrawal to be effective, the political party executive committee shall certify the 10
	531	+	withdrawal in writing to the State Board before the first day on which military and overseas 11
	532	+	absentee ballots are transmitted to voters under Article 21A of this Chapter." 12
	533	+	SECTION 7.3. G.S. 163-114(a) reads as rewritten: 13
	534	+	"(a) If any person nominated as a candidate of a political party for one of the offices listed 14
	535	+	below (either in a primary or convention or by virtue of having no opposition in a primary) dies, 15
	536	+	resigns, or for any reason becomes ineligible or disqualified before the date of the ensuing general 16
	537	+	election, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment according to the following instructions: 17
	538	+	… 18
	539	+	The party executive making a nomination in accordance with the provisions of this section shall 19
	540	+	certify the name of its nominee to the chairman of the board of elections, State or county, that 20
	541	+	has jurisdiction over the ballot item under G.S. 163-182.4. If at the time a nomination is made 21
	542	+	under this section the general election ballots have already been printed, the provisions of 22
	543	+	G.S. 163-165.3(c) shall apply. If a vacancy occurs in a nomination of a political party and that 23
	544	+	vacancy arises from a cause other than death and the vacancy in nomination occurs more than 24
	545	+	120 days before the general election, the vacancy in nomination may be filled under this section 25
	546	+	only if the appropriate executive committee certifies the name of the nominee in accordance with 26
	547	+	this paragraph at least 75 days before the general election." 27
	548	+	SECTION 7.4. G.S. 163-115 reads as rewritten: 28
	549	+	"§ 163-115. Special provisions for obtaining nominations when vacancies occur in certain 29
	550	+	offices. 30
	551	+	(a) If a vacancy occurs in the office of the clerk of superior court, otherwise than by 31
	552	+	expiration of the term, or if the people fail to elect, the vacancy shall be filled as provided in Sec. 32
	553	+	9(3) of Article IV of the North Carolina Constitution. If the vacancy occurs after the time for 33
	554	+	filing notice of candidacy in the primary has expired in a year when a regular election is not being 34
	555	+	held to elect a clerk of the superior court by expiration of term, then the county executive 35
	556	+	committee of each political party shall nominate a candidate whose name shall appear on the 36
	557	+	general election ballot. candidate, subject to the deadlines in G.S. 163-115.5. The candidate 37
	558	+	elected in the general election shall serve the unexpired portion of the term of the person causing 38
	559	+	the vacancy. 39
	560	+	… 40
	561	+	(c) If a vacancy occurs in an elective State or district office (other than member of the 41
	562	+	United States House of Representatives) during the period opening 10 days before the filing 42
	563	+	period for the office ends and closing 30 days before the ensuing general election, a nomination 43
	564	+	shall be made by the proper executive committee of each political party as provided in 44
	565	+	G.S. 163-114, and the names of the nominees shall be printed on the general election 45
	566	+	ballots.ballots, subject to the deadline in G.S. 163-115.5. 46
	567	+	(d) If a vacancy occurs on a county board of commissioners and G.S. 153A-27 or 47
	568	+	G.S. 153A-27.1 requires that a person shall be elected to the seat vacated for the remainder of 48
	569	+	the unexpired term, and the vacancy occurs: 49
	570	+	(1) Beginning on the tenth day before the filing period ends under G.S. 163-106.2, 50
	571	+	a nomination shall be made by the county executive committee of each 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	572	+	Page 12 DRH40313-LU-93
	573	+	political party and the names of the nominees shall be printed on the general 1
	574	+	election ballots.ballots, subject to the deadline in G.S. 163-115.5. 2
	575	+	(2) Prior to the tenth day before the filing period ends under G.S. 163-106.2, 3
	576	+	nominations shall be made by primary election as provided by this Article. 4
	577	+	(e) If a vacancy occurs in the office of United States Senator, and the vacancy occurs: 5
	578	+	(1) Beginning on the tenth day before the filing period ends under G.S. 163-106.2, 6
	579	+	a nomination shall be made by the State executive committee of each political 7
	580	+	party and the names of the nominees shall be printed on the general election 8
	581	+	ballots.ballots, subject to the deadline in G.S. 163-115.5. 9
	582	+	(2) Prior to the tenth day before the filing period ends under G.S. 163-106.2, 10
	583	+	nominations shall be made by primary election as provided by this Article." 11
	584	+	SECTION 7.5. Article 10 of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by 12
	585	+	adding a new section to read: 13
	586	+	"§ 163-115.5. Removing, replacing, or adding candidates on the general election ballot. 14
	587	+	(a) The board of elections with jurisdiction over a ballot item under G.S. 163-182.4 shall 15
	588	+	remove a candidate from the general election ballot only if the board of elections is notified, no 16
	589	+	later than 20 days before absentee ballots are authorized for distribution for the general election, 17
	590	+	that the candidate has died, withdrawn, or for any reason has become ineligible or disqualified. 18
	591	+	Except as provided in G.S. 163-113, either the candidate or the relevant executive committee of 19
	592	+	the candidate's political party, if the candidate is a nominee of the party, may provide the 20
	593	+	notification required by this section. For any nominee authorized to be replaced on the ballot 21
	594	+	pursuant to law, the nominee's name shall be replaced on the ballot only if the replacement has 22
	595	+	been certified pursuant to law to the board of elections with jurisdiction over the ballot item no 23
	596	+	later than 20 days before absentee ballots are authorized for distribution for the election. If a 24
	597	+	withdrawal, disqualification, or replacement occurs later than 20 days before absentee ballots are 25
	598	+	authorized for distribution for the general election, the provisions of G.S. 163-165.3(c) shall 26
	599	+	apply. 27
	600	+	(b) When a vacancy in office occurs and that vacancy requires an election to fill the 28
	601	+	unexpired term without a candidate filing period, any nominees authorized for the election shall 29
	602	+	be certified to the board of elections with jurisdiction over a ballot item under G.S. 163-182.4 no 30
	603	+	later than eight days before absentee ballots are authorized for distribution for the election. 31
	604	+	(c) The provisions of G.S. 103-5(a) shall not apply to this section." 32
	605	+	SECTION 7.6. G.S. 163-122 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 33
	606	+	"(f) If any candidate authorized to have the candidate's name printed on the general 34
	607	+	election ballot pursuant to this section dies, withdraws, or for any reason becomes ineligible or 35
	608	+	disqualified before the general election, the provisions of G.S. 163-115.5 shall apply." 36
	609	+	SECTION 7.7. G.S. 163-165.3(c) reads as rewritten: 37
	610	+	"(c) Late Changes in Ballots. – The State Board shall promulgate rules for late changes in 38
	611	+	ballots. The rules shall provide for the reprinting, where practical, of official ballots as a result 39
	612	+	of replacement candidates to fill vacancies in accordance with G.S. 163-114 or other late 40
	613	+	changes. If an official ballot is not reprinted, a vote If a board of elections having jurisdiction 41
	614	+	over a ballot item is notified of a candidate withdrawal, disqualification, or replacement after the 42
	615	+	deadline in G.S. 163-115.5 but before the deadline in G.S. 163-113, votes for a candidate 43
	616	+	removed without replacement shall not be counted and votes for a candidate who has been 44
	617	+	replaced in accordance with G.S. 163-114 will count for the replacement candidate.candidate, 45
	618	+	and the affected county boards of elections shall inform all affected voters of these actions. No 46
	619	+	candidate withdrawal or replacement shall be permitted after the deadline in G.S. 163-113. No 47
	620	+	additional nominees, where permitted due to vacancies in office, shall be allowed after the 48
	621	+	deadline in G.S. 163-115.5." 49
	622	+	SECTION 7.8. G.S. 163-227.10 reads as rewritten: 50
	623	+	"§ 163-227.10. Date by which absentee ballots must be available for voting. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	624	+	DRH40313-LU-93 Page 13
	625	+	(a) A board of elections shall provide absentee ballots of the kinds needed 60 days prior 1
	626	+	to the statewide general election in even-numbered years and 50 days prior to the date on which 2
	627	+	any other election shall be conducted, unless 45 days is authorized by the State Board under 3
	628	+	G.S. 163-22(k) or there shall exist an appeal before the State Board or the courts not concluded, 4
	629	+	in which case the board shall provide the ballots as quickly as possible upon the conclusion of 5
	630	+	such an appeal. Provided, in a presidential election year, the board of elections shall provide 6
	631	+	general election ballots no later than three days after nomination of the presidential and vice 7
	632	+	presidential candidates if that nomination occurs later than 63 days prior to the statewide general 8
	633	+	election and makes compliance with the 60-day deadline impossible. However, in the case of 9
	634	+	municipal elections, absentee ballots shall be made available no later than 30 days before an 10
	635	+	election. In every instance the board of elections shall exert every effort to provide absentee 11
	636	+	ballots, of the kinds needed by the date on which absentee voting is authorized to commence. 12
	637	+	(b) The board of elections shall provide absentee ballots, of the kinds needed, as quickly 13
	638	+	as possible after the ballot information for a second primary has been determined.For a second 14
	639	+	primary, the county board of elections shall provide absentee ballots, of the kinds needed, no 15
	640	+	later than 45 days before the second primary. 16
	641	+	…." 17
	642	+	SECTION 7.9. G.S. 163-229 reads as rewritten: 18
	643	+	"§ 163-229. Absentee ballots, applications on container-return envelopes, and instruction 19
	644	+	sheets. 20
	645	+	… 21
	646	+	(b) Application on Container-Return Envelope. – In time for use not later than 60 50 days 22
	647	+	before a statewide general election in an even-numbered year, and not later than 50 days before 23
	648	+	a statewide primary, other general election or county bond election, an election, the county board 24
	649	+	of elections shall print a sufficient number of envelopes in which persons casting absentee ballots 25
	650	+	may transmit their marked ballots to the county board of elections. However, in the case of 26
	651	+	municipal elections, sufficient container-return envelopes shall be made available no later than 27
	652	+	30 days before an election. Each container-return envelope shall have printed on it an application 28
	653	+	which shall be designed and prescribed by the State Board, providing for all of the following: 29
	654	+	… 30
	655	+	(c) Instruction Sheets. – In time for use not later than 60 50 days before a statewide 31
	656	+	general election in an even-numbered year, and not later than 50 days before a statewide primary 32
	657	+	or general election or county bond election, an election, the county board of elections shall 33
	658	+	prepare and print a sufficient number of sheets of instructions on how voters are to prepare 34
	659	+	absentee ballots and return them to the county board of elections. The instruction sheets shall 35
	660	+	include the means by which the voter's marked absentee ballot must be returned to the county 36
	661	+	board of elections and the date and time that the ballot must be received by the county board of 37
	662	+	elections. However, in the case of municipal elections, instruction sheets shall be made available 38
	663	+	no later than 30 days before an election." 39
	664	+	SECTION 7.10. G.S. 163-230.1(c), as amended by Section 3A.4(f) of S.L. 2024-57, 40
	665	+	reads as rewritten: 41
	666	+	"(c) Delivery of Absentee Ballots and Container-Return Envelope to Applicant. – When 42
	667	+	the county board receives a completed request form for applications and absentee ballots from 43
	668	+	the voter, or the near relative or the verifiable legal guardian of that voter, the county board shall 44
	669	+	promptly issue and transmit them to the voter in accordance with the following instructions: 45
	670	+	… 46
	671	+	The county board may receive completed written request forms for applications at any time 47
	672	+	prior to the election but shall not mail applications and absentee ballots to the voter or issue 48
	673	+	applications and absentee ballots in person earlier than 60 days prior to the statewide general 49
	674	+	election in an even-numbered year, or earlier than 50 days prior to any other before an election. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	675	+	Page 14 DRH40313-LU-93
	676	+	No election official shall issue applications for absentee ballots except in compliance with this 1
	677	+	Article." 2
	678	+	SECTION 7.11. G.S. 163-258.9(a) reads as rewritten: 3
	679	+	"(a) Not later than 60 days before the statewide general election in even-numbered years 4
	680	+	and not later than 50 days before any other election, except for a second primary, the county 5
	681	+	board of elections shall transmit a ballot and balloting materials to all covered voters who by that 6
	682	+	date submit a valid military-overseas ballot application, except for a second primary. Provided, 7
	683	+	in a presidential election year, the board of elections shall provide general election ballots no 8
	684	+	later than three days after nomination of the presidential and vice presidential candidates if that 9
	685	+	nomination occurs later than 63 days prior to the statewide general election and makes 10
	686	+	compliance with the 60-day deadline impossible. unless 45 days is authorized by the State Board 11
	687	+	under G.S. 163-22(k) or there exists an appeal before the State Board or the courts that has not 12
	688	+	concluded, in which case the county board shall provide the ballots as quickly as possible upon 13
	689	+	the conclusion of that appeal. However, in the case of municipal elections, absentee ballots shall 14
	690	+	be made available no later than 30 days before an election. For a second primary which includes 15
	691	+	a candidate for federal office, primary, the county board of elections shall transmit a ballot and 16
	692	+	balloting material to all covered voters who by that date submit a valid military-overseas ballot 17
	693	+	application no later than 45 days before the second primary. For a second primary which does 18
	694	+	not include a candidate for federal office, the transmission of the ballot and ballot materials shall 19
	695	+	be as soon as practicable and shall be transmitted electronically no later than three business days 20
	696	+	and by mail no later than 15 days from the date the appropriate board of elections orders that the 21
	697	+	second primary be held pursuant to G.S. 163-111. If additional offices are added to the ballot to 22
	698	+	fill a vacancy occurring after the deadline provided by this subsection, those ballots shall be 23
	699	+	transmitted as soon as practicable." 24
	700	+	SECTION 7.12. G.S. 163-294.1(b) reads as rewritten: 25
	701	+	"(b) If a candidate for political party nomination for office dies, becomes disqualified, or 26
	702	+	withdraws before the primary but after the ballots have been printed, the provisions of 27
	703	+	G.S. 163-112 shall govern. 28
	704	+	If a candidate for nomination in a nonpartisan municipal primary dies, becomes disqualified, 29
	705	+	or withdraws before the primary but after the ballots have been printed, the board of elections 30
	706	+	shall determine whether or not there is time to reprint the ballots. If the board determines that 31
	707	+	there is not enough time to reprint the ballots, the deceased or disqualified candidate's name shall 32
	708	+	remain on the ballots. If he receives enough votes for nomination, such votes shall be disregarded 33
	709	+	and the candidate receiving the next highest number of votes below the number necessary for 34
	710	+	nomination shall be declared nominated. If the death or disqualification of the candidate leaves 35
	711	+	only two candidates for each office to be filled, the nonpartisan primary shall not be held and all 36
	712	+	candidates shall be declared nominees. 37
	713	+	If a nominee for political party nomination dies, becomes disqualified, or withdraws after the 38
	714	+	primary and before election day, the provisions of G.S. 163-114 G.S. 163-114 and 39
	715	+	G.S. 163-115.5 shall govern. 40
	716	+	If a candidate in a nonpartisan election dies, becomes disqualified, or withdraws before 41
	717	+	election day and after the ballots have been printed, the board of elections shall determine 42
	718	+	whether there is enough time to reprint the ballots. day, the provisions of G.S. 163-115.5 shall 43
	719	+	govern. If there is not enough time to reprint the ballots, the board of elections is notified of a 44
	720	+	candidate's death or disqualification after the relevant deadline in G.S. 163-115.5, and should the 45
	721	+	deceased or disqualified candidate receive enough votes to be elected, the board of elections shall 46
	722	+	declare the office vacant, and it shall be filled as provided by law." 47
820	723		48
821		-	PART XII. UNIFORMITY FOR REVIEW OF PETITION SIGNATURES 49
822		-	SECTION 12.1. G.S. 163-96 reads as rewritten: 50
823		-	"§ 163-96. "Political party" defined; creation of new party. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
824		-	House Bill 580-First Edition Page 17
825		-	(a) Definition. – A political party within the meaning of the election laws of this State 1
826		-	shall be one of the following: 2
827		-	… 3
828		-	(2) Any group of voters which shall have filed with the State Board of Elections 4
829		-	petitions for the formulation of a new political party which are signed by 5
830		-	registered and qualified voters in this State equal in number to one-quarter of 6
831		-	one percent (0.25%) of the total number of voters who voted in the most recent 7
832		-	general election for Governor. Also the petition must be signed by at least 200 8
833		-	registered voters from each of three congressional districts in North Carolina. 9
834		-	To be effective, the petitioners must file their petitions with the State Board 10
835		-	of Elections before 12:00 noon on the first day of June May preceding the day 11
836		-	on which is to be held the first general State election in which the new political 12
837		-	party desires to participate. The State Board of Elections shall forthwith 13
838		-	determine the sufficiency of petitions filed with it and shall immediately 14
839		-	communicate its determination to the State chair of the proposed new political 15
840		-	party. 16
841		-	… 17
842		-	(b) Petitions for New Political Party. – Petitions for the creation of a new political party 18
843		-	shall be on a form prescribed by the State Board and contain on the heading of each page of the 19
844		-	petition in bold print or all in capital letters the words: "THE UNDERSIGNED REGISTERED 20
845		-	VOTERS IN ____ COUNTY HEREBY PETITION FOR THE FORMATION OF A NEW 21
846		-	POLITICAL PARTY TO BE NAMED ____ AND WHOSE STATE CHAIRMAN IS ______, 22
847		-	RESIDING AT ______ AND WHO CAN BE REACHED BY TELEPHONE AT ____." 23
848		-	All printing required to appear on the heading of the petition shall be in type no smaller than 10 24
849		-	point or in all capital letters, double spaced typewriter size. In addition to the form of the petition, 25
850		-	the organizers and petition circulators shall inform the signers of the general purpose and intent 26
851		-	of the new party. 27
852		-	The petitions must specify the name selected for the proposed political party. The State Board 28
853		-	of Elections shall reject petitions for the formation of a new party if the name chosen contains 29
854		-	any word that appears in the name of any existing political party recognized in this State or if, in 30
855		-	the State Board's opinion, the name is so similar to that of an existing political party recognized 31
856		-	in this State as to confuse or mislead the voters at an election. 32
857		-	The petitions must state the name and address of the State chairman of the proposed new 33
858		-	political party. 34
859		-	(c) Each petition shall be presented to the chairman of the board of elections of the county 35
860		-	in which the signatures were obtained, and it shall be the chairman's duty: 36
861		-	(1) To examine the signatures on the petition and place a check mark on the 37
862		-	petition by the name of each signer who is qualified and registered to vote in 38
863		-	his county. 39
864		-	(2) To attach to the petition his signed certificate 40
865		-	a. Stating that the signatures on the petition have been checked against 41
866		-	the registration records and 42
867		-	b. Indicating the number found qualified and registered to vote in his 43
868		-	county. 44
869		-	(3) To return each petition, together with the certificate required by the preceding 45
870		-	subdivision, to the person who presented it to him for checking. 46
871		-	The group of petitioners shall submit the petitions to the chairman of the county board of 47
872		-	elections in the county in which the signatures were obtained no later than 5:00 P.M. on the 48
873		-	fifteenth thirtieth day preceding the date the petitions are due to be filed with the State Board of 49
874		-	Elections as provided in subsection [subdivision] (a)(2) of this section. Provided the petitions are 50
875		-	timely submitted, the chairman of the county board of elections shall proceed to examine and 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
876		-	Page 18 House Bill 580-First Edition
877		-	verify the signatures under the provisions of this subsection. Verification shall be completed 1
878		-	within two four weeks from the date such petitions are presented." 2
879		-	SECTION 12.2. G.S. 163-122(a) reads as rewritten: 3
880		-	"(a) Procedure for Having Name Printed on Ballot as Unaffiliated Candidate. – Any 4
881		-	qualified voter who seeks to have the voter's name printed on the general election ballot as an 5
882		-	unaffiliated candidate shall: 6
883		-	(1) If the office is a statewide office, file written petitions with the State Board of 7
884		-	Elections supporting the voter's candidacy for a specified office. These 8
885		-	petitions must be filed with the State Board of Elections on or before 12:00 9
886		-	noon on the day of the primary election 5:00 P.M. on the twentieth business 10
887		-	day after canvass of the primary and must be signed by qualified voters of the 11
888		-	State equal in number to one and a half percent (1.5%) of the total number of 12
889		-	voters who voted in the most recent general election for Governor. Also, the 13
890		-	petition must be signed by at least 200 registered voters from each of three 14
891		-	congressional districts in North Carolina. The State Board shall determine the 15
892		-	sufficiency of petitions filed with the State Board and shall immediately 16
893		-	communicate its determination to the petitioning candidate. The petitions shall 17
894		-	be divided into sections based on the county in which the signatures were 18
895		-	obtained. No later than 12:00 P.M. on the day of the primary election, each 19
896		-	petition shall be presented to the board of elections of the county in which the 20
897		-	signatures were obtained. A petition present to a county board of elections 21
898		-	shall contain only names of voters registered in that county. Provided the 22
899		-	petitions are timely filed, the State Board of Elections shall require the filed 23
900		-	petition be verified no later than 15 business days after canvass of the primary 24
901		-	in one of the following ways: 25
902		-	a. The Executive Director shall examine the names on the petition and 26
903		-	place a check mark on the petition by the name of each signer who is 27
904		-	qualified and registered to vote in the designated county and shall 28
905		-	attach to the petition a signed certificate. Said certificates shall state 29
906		-	that the signatures on the petition have been checked against the 30
907		-	registration records and shall indicate the number of signers to be 31
908		-	qualified and registered to vote in each county. 32
909		-	b. The submitted, the chair of the county board of elections shall examine 33
910		-	the names on the petition and place a check mark on the petition by 34
911		-	the name of each signer who is qualified and registered to vote in the 35
912		-	chair's county and shall attach to the petition the chair's signed 36
913		-	certificate. Said certificates shall state that the signatures on the 37
914		-	petition have been checked against the registration records and shall 38
915		-	indicate the number of signers to be qualified and registered to vote in 39
916		-	the chair's county. The chair shall return the petition and certificate to 40
917		-	the State Board.person who presented it to the chair for checking. The 41
918		-	chair shall complete the verification no later than 15 business days 42
919		-	after the canvass of the primary. 43
920		-	The State Board shall return a copy of each petition, together with a copy of 44
921		-	the certificate required in this section, to the person who presented it to the 45
922		-	State Board. 46
923		-	(2) Except as provided in this subsection, if the office is a district office under the 47
924		-	jurisdiction of the State Board of Elections under G.S. 163-182.4(b), file 48
925		-	written petitions with the State Board of Elections supporting that voter's 49
926		-	candidacy for a specified office. For district offices other than General 50
927		-	Assembly seats, petitions must be filed with the State Board of Elections on 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
928		-	House Bill 580-First Edition Page 19
929		-	or before 12:00 noon on the day of the primary election 5:00 P.M. on the 1
930		-	twentieth business day after canvass of the primary and must be signed by 2
931		-	qualified voters of the district equal in number to one and a half percent (1.5%) 3
932		-	of the total number of registered voters in the district as reflected by the voter 4
933		-	registration records of the State Board of Elections as of January 1 of the year 5
934		-	in which the general election is to be held. For General Assembly seats in 6
935		-	which the district lies in more than one county, petitions must be filed with 7
936		-	the State Board of Elections on or before 12:00 noon on the day of the primary 8
937		-	election 5:00 P.M. on the twentieth business day after canvass of the primary 9
938		-	and must be signed by qualified voters of the district equal in number to four 10
939		-	percent (4%) of the total number of registered voters in the district as reflected 11
940		-	by the voter registration records of the State Board of Elections as of January 12
941		-	1 of the year in which the general election is to be held. The State Board shall 13
942		-	determine the sufficiency of petitions filed with the State Board and shall 14
943		-	immediately communicate its determination to the petitioning candidate. The 15
944		-	petitions shall be divided into sections based on the county in which the 16
945		-	signatures were obtained. The petitions shall be verified as specified in 17
946		-	subdivision (1) of this subsection. 18
947		-	(3) If the office is a county office or a single county legislative district, file written 19
948		-	petitions with the chair or director of the county board of elections supporting 20
949		-	the voter's candidacy for a specified county office. These petitions must be 21
950		-	filed with the county board of elections on or before 12:00 noon on the day of 22
951		-	the primary election and must be signed by qualified voters of the county equal 23
952		-	in number to four percent (4%) of the total number of registered voters in the 24
953		-	county as reflected by the voter registration records of the State Board of 25
954		-	Elections as of January 1 of the year in which the general election is to be 26
955		-	held, except if the office is for a district consisting of less than the entire 27
956		-	county and only the voters in that district vote for that office, the petitions 28
957		-	must be signed by qualified voters of the district equal in number to four 29
958		-	percent (4%) of the total number of voters in the district according to the voter 30
959		-	registration records of the State Board of Elections as of January 1 of the year 31
960		-	in which the general election is to be held. Each petition shall be presented to 32
961		-	the chair or director of the county board of elections. The chair or director of 33
962		-	the county board of elections shall verify the filed petition no later than 15 34
963		-	business days after canvass as provided in sub-subdivision b. of subdivision 35
964		-	(1) of this subsection, and shall return a copy of each petition, together with a 36
965		-	copy of the certificate required in this section, to the person who presented it 37
966		-	to the county board of elections.subsection. 38
967		-	(4) If the office is a partisan municipal office, file written petitions with the chair 39
968		-	or director of the county board of elections in the county wherein the 40
969		-	municipality is located supporting the voter's candidacy for a specified 41
970		-	municipal office. These petitions must be filed with the county board of 42
971		-	elections on or before the time and date specified in G.S. 163-296 12:00 P.M. 43
972		-	on the day of the primary and must be signed by the number of qualified voters 44
973		-	specified in G.S. 163-296. The chair or director of the county board of 45
974		-	elections shall verify the filed petition no later than 15 business days after 46
975		-	canvass the primary and shall otherwise proceed as provided in 47
976		-	sub-subdivision b. of subdivision (1) of this subsection, and shall return a copy 48
977		-	of each petition, together with a copy of the certificate required in this section, 49
978		-	to the person who presented it to the county board of elections.subsection. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
979		-	Page 20 House Bill 580-First Edition
980		-	(5) If the office is a superior court judge or a district court judge, regardless of 1
981		-	whether the district lies entirely in one county or in more than one county, file 2
982		-	written petitions with the State Board of Elections supporting that voter's 3
983		-	candidacy for a specified office. These petitions must be filed with the State 4
984		-	Board of Elections on or before 12:00 noon on the day of the primary election 5
985		-	5:00 P.M. on the twentieth business day after canvass of the primary and must 6
986		-	be signed by qualified voters of the district equal in number to two percent 7
987		-	(2%) of the total number of registered voters in the district as reflected by the 8
988		-	voter registration records of the State Board of Elections as of January 1 of 9
989		-	the year in which the general election is to be held. The State Board shall 10
990		-	determine the sufficiency of the petitions filed with the State Board and shall 11
	724	+	PART VIII. DEADLINE FOR PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS 49
	725	+	SECTION 8.1. G.S. 163-209(a) reads as rewritten: 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	726	+	DRH40313-LU-93 Page 15
	727	+	"(a) The names of candidates for electors of President and Vice-President nominated by 1
	728	+	any political party recognized in this State under G.S. 163-96, or nominated under G.S. 163-1(c) 2
	729	+	by a candidate for President of the United States who has qualified to have his or her name printed 3
	730	+	on the general election ballot as an unaffiliated candidate under G.S. 163-122, shall be filed with 4
	731	+	the Secretary of State no later than 60 days before the general election but shall not be printed on 5
	732	+	the ballot. In the case of the unaffiliated candidate, the names of candidates for electors must be 6
	733	+	filed with the Secretary of State no later than 12:00 noon on the first Friday in August. In place 7
	734	+	of their names, there shall be printed on the ballot the names of the candidates for President and 8
	735	+	Vice-President of each political party recognized in this State, and the name of any candidate for 9
	736	+	President who has qualified to have his or her name printed on the general election ballot under 10
	737	+	G.S. 163-122. A candidate for President who has qualified for the general election ballot as an 11
	738	+	unaffiliated candidate under G.S. 163-122 shall, no later than 12:00 noon on the first Friday in 12
	739	+	August, file with the State Board of Elections the name of a candidate for Vice-President, whose 13
	740	+	name shall also be printed on the ballot. The names of the candidates for President and 14
	741	+	Vice-President nominated by any political party recognized in this State under G.S. 163-96 or 15
	742	+	who has qualified as an unaffiliated candidate under G.S. 163-122 shall be filed with the State 16
	743	+	Board no later than 60 days before the general election, and those names filed shall be printed on 17
	744	+	the ballot. A vote for the candidates named on the ballot shall be a vote for the electors of the 18
	745	+	party or unaffiliated candidate by which those candidates were nominated and whose names have 19
	746	+	been filed with the Secretary of State." 20
	747	+	21
	748	+	PART IX. INCREASE THRESHOLD FOR REPORTING CERTAIN CONTRIBUTIONS 22
	749	+	SECTION 9.1. G.S. 163-278.10A reads as rewritten: 23
	750	+	"§ 163-278.10A. Threshold of $1,000 $3,000 for financial reports for certain candidates. 24
	751	+	(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, a candidate for a district court 25
	752	+	judge, superior court judge, county office, municipal office, local school board office, soil and 26
	753	+	water conservation district board of supervisors, or sanitary district board shall be exempted from 27
	754	+	the reports of contributions, loans, and expenditures required in G.S. 163-278.9(a), 163-278.40B, 28
	755	+	163-278.40C, 163-278.40D, and 163-278.40E if to further the candidate's campaign that 29
	756	+	candidate: 30
	757	+	(1) Does not receive more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) three thousand 31
	758	+	dollars ($3,000) in contributions, and 32
	759	+	(2) Does not receive more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) three thousand 33
	760	+	dollars ($3,000) in loans, and 34
	761	+	(3) Does not spend more than one thousand dollars ($1,000).three thousand 35
	762	+	dollars ($3,000). 36
	763	+	To qualify for the exemption from those reports, the candidate's treasurer shall file a certification 37
	764	+	that the candidate does not intend to receive in contributions or loans or expend more than one 38
	765	+	thousand dollars ($1,000) three thousand dollars ($3,000) to further the candidate's campaign. 39
	766	+	The certification shall be filed with the Board at the same time the candidate files the candidate's 40
	767	+	Organizational Report as required in G.S. 163-278.7, G.S. 163-278.9, and G.S. 163-278.40A. If 41
	768	+	the candidate's campaign is being conducted by a political committee which is handling all 42
	769	+	contributions, loans, and expenditures for the candidate's campaign, the treasurer of the political 43
	770	+	committee shall file a certification of intent to stay within the threshold amount. If the intent to 44
	771	+	stay within the threshold changes, or if the one-thousand-dollar ($1,000) three-thousand-dollar 45
	772	+	($3,000) threshold is exceeded, the treasurer shall immediately notify the Board and shall be 46
	773	+	responsible for filing all reports required in G.S. 163-278.9 and 163-278.40B, 163-278.40C, 47
	774	+	163-278.40D, and 163-278.40E; provided that any contribution, loan, or expenditure which 48
	775	+	would have been required to be reported on an earlier report but for this section shall be included 49
	776	+	on the next report required after the intent changes or the threshold is exceeded. 50
	777	+	…." 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	778	+	Page 16 DRH40313-LU-93
	779	+	1
	780	+	PART X. INCREASE THRESHOLD FOR REPORTING INDEPENDENT 2
	781	+	EXPENDITURES 3
	782	+	SECTION 10.1. G.S. 163-278.12 reads as rewritten: 4
	783	+	"§ 163-278.12. Special reporting of contributions and independent expenditures. 5
	784	+	(a) Subject to G.S. 163-278.39 and G.S. 163-278.14, individuals and other entities not 6
	785	+	otherwise prohibited from doing so may make independent expenditures. In the event an 7
	786	+	individual, person, or other entity making independent expenditures but not otherwise required 8
	787	+	to report them makes independent expenditures in excess of one hundred dollars ($100.00), 9
	788	+	thousand dollars ($1,000), that individual, person, or entity shall file a statement of such 10
	789	+	independent expenditure with the appropriate board of elections in the manner prescribed by the 11
	790	+	State Board of Elections. 12
	791	+	… 13
	792	+	(d) Contributions or independent expenditures required to be reported under this section 14
	793	+	shall be reported within 30 days after they exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00) thousand dollars 15
	794	+	($1,000) or 10 days before an election the contributions or independent expenditures affect, 16
	795	+	whichever occurs earlier. 17
	796	+	…." 18
	797	+	19
	798	+	PART XI. PROHIBIT PAYMENT PER SIGNATURE FOR PETITIONS 20
	799	+	SECTION 11.1. G.S. 163-221 reads as rewritten: 21
	800	+	"§ 163-221. Persons may not sign name of another to petition.Prohibited petition activities. 22
	801	+	(a) No person may sign the name of another person to any of the following: 23
	802	+	(1) Any petition calling for an election or referendum. 24
	803	+	(2) Any petition under G.S. 163-96 for the formulation of a new political party. 25
	804	+	(3) Any petition under G.S. 163-107.1 requesting a person to be a candidate. 26
	805	+	(4) Any petition under G.S. 163-122 to have the name of an unaffiliated candidate 27
	806	+	placed on the general election ballot, or under G.S. 163-296 to have the name 28
	807	+	of an unaffiliated or nonpartisan candidate placed on the regular municipal 29
	808	+	election ballot. 30
	809	+	(5) Any petition under G.S. 163-213.5 to place a name on the ballot under the 31
	810	+	Presidential Preference Primary Act. 32
	811	+	(6) Any petition under G.S. 163-123 to qualify as a write-in candidate. 33
	812	+	(b) Any name signed on a petition, in violation of this section, shall be void. 34
	813	+	(b1) No person may be compensated based on the number of signatures collected for a 35
	814	+	petition. 36
	815	+	(c) Any person who willfully violates this section is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor." 37
	816	+	SECTION 11.2. G.S. 163-274(a) reads as rewritten: 38
	817	+	"(a) Class 2 Misdemeanors. – Any person who shall, in connection with any primary or 39
	818	+	election in this State, do any of the acts and things declared in this subsection to be unlawful, 40
	819	+	shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. It shall be unlawful to do any of the following: 41
	820	+	… 42
	821	+	(17) For any person to be compensated based on the number of signatures obtained 43
	822	+	on a petition authorized under this Chapter." 44
	823	+	45
	824	+	PART XII. UNIFORMITY FOR REVIEW OF PETITION SIGNATURES 46
	825	+	SECTION 12.1. G.S. 163-96 reads as rewritten: 47
	826	+	"§ 163-96. "Political party" defined; creation of new party. 48
	827	+	(a) Definition. – A political party within the meaning of the election laws of this State 49
	828	+	shall be one of the following: 50
	829	+	… 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	830	+	DRH40313-LU-93 Page 17
	831	+	(2) Any group of voters which shall have filed with the State Board of Elections 1
	832	+	petitions for the formulation of a new political party which are signed by 2
	833	+	registered and qualified voters in this State equal in number to one-quarter of 3
	834	+	one percent (0.25%) of the total number of voters who voted in the most recent 4
	835	+	general election for Governor. Also the petition must be signed by at least 200 5
	836	+	registered voters from each of three congressional districts in North Carolina. 6
	837	+	To be effective, the petitioners must file their petitions with the State Board 7
	838	+	of Elections before 12:00 noon on the first day of June May preceding the day 8
	839	+	on which is to be held the first general State election in which the new political 9
	840	+	party desires to participate. The State Board of Elections shall forthwith 10
	841	+	determine the sufficiency of petitions filed with it and shall immediately 11
	842	+	communicate its determination to the State chair of the proposed new political 12
	843	+	party. 13
	844	+	… 14
	845	+	(b) Petitions for New Political Party. – Petitions for the creation of a new political party 15
	846	+	shall be on a form prescribed by the State Board and contain on the heading of each page of the 16
	847	+	petition in bold print or all in capital letters the words: "THE UNDERSIGNED REGISTERED 17
	848	+	VOTERS IN ____ COUNTY HEREBY PETITION FOR THE FORMATION OF A NEW 18
	849	+	POLITICAL PARTY TO BE NAMED ____ AND WHOSE STATE CHAIRMAN IS ______, 19
	850	+	RESIDING AT ______ AND WHO CAN BE REACHED BY TELEPHONE AT ____. " 20
	851	+	All printing required to appear on the heading of the petition shall be in type no smaller than 10 21
	852	+	point or in all capital letters, double spaced typewriter size. In addition to the form of the petition, 22
	853	+	the organizers and petition circulators shall inform the signers of the general purpose and intent 23
	854	+	of the new party. 24
	855	+	The petitions must specify the name selected for the proposed political party. The State Board 25
	856	+	of Elections shall reject petitions for the formation of a new party if the name chosen contains 26
	857	+	any word that appears in the name of any existing political party recognized in this State or if, in 27
	858	+	the State Board's opinion, the name is so similar to that of an existing political party recognized 28
	859	+	in this State as to confuse or mislead the voters at an election. 29
	860	+	The petitions must state the name and address of the State chairman of the proposed new 30
	861	+	political party. 31
	862	+	(c) Each petition shall be presented to the chairman of the board of elections of the county 32
	863	+	in which the signatures were obtained, and it shall be the chairman's duty: 33
	864	+	(1) To examine the signatures on the petition and place a check mark on the 34
	865	+	petition by the name of each signer who is qualified and registered to vote in 35
	866	+	his county. 36
	867	+	(2) To attach to the petition his signed certificate 37
	868	+	a. Stating that the signatures on the petition have been checked against 38
	869	+	the registration records and 39
	870	+	b. Indicating the number found qualified and registered to vote in his 40
	871	+	county. 41
	872	+	(3) To return each petition, together with the certificate required by the preceding 42
	873	+	subdivision, to the person who presented it to him for checking. 43
	874	+	The group of petitioners shall submit the petitions to the chairman of the county board of 44
	875	+	elections in the county in which the signatures were obtained no later than 5:00 P.M. on the 45
	876	+	fifteenth thirtieth day preceding the date the petitions are due to be filed with the State Board of 46
	877	+	Elections as provided in subsection [subdivision] (a)(2) of this section. Provided the petitions are 47
	878	+	timely submitted, the chairman of the county board of elections shall proceed to examine and 48
	879	+	verify the signatures under the provisions of this subsection. Verification shall be completed 49
	880	+	within two four weeks from the date such petitions are presented." 50
	881	+	SECTION 12.2. G.S. 163-122(a) reads as rewritten: 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	882	+	Page 18 DRH40313-LU-93
	883	+	"(a) Procedure for Having Name Printed on Ballot as Unaffiliated Candidate. – Any 1
	884	+	qualified voter who seeks to have the voter's name printed on the general election ballot as an 2
	885	+	unaffiliated candidate shall: 3
	886	+	(1) If the office is a statewide office, file written petitions with the State Board of 4
	887	+	Elections supporting the voter's candidacy for a specified office. These 5
	888	+	petitions must be filed with the State Board of Elections on or before 12:00 6
	889	+	noon on the day of the primary election 5:00 P.M. on the twentieth business 7
	890	+	day after canvass of the primary and must be signed by qualified voters of the 8
	891	+	State equal in number to one and a half percent (1.5%) of the total number of 9
	892	+	voters who voted in the most recent general election for Governor. Also, the 10
	893	+	petition must be signed by at least 200 registered voters from each of three 11
	894	+	congressional districts in North Carolina. The State Board shall determine the 12
	895	+	sufficiency of petitions filed with the State Board and shall immediately 13
	896	+	communicate its determination to the petitioning candidate. The petitions shall 14
	897	+	be divided into sections based on the county in which the signatures were 15
	898	+	obtained. No later than 12:00 P.M. on the day of the primary election, each 16
	899	+	petition shall be presented to the board of elections of the county in which the 17
	900	+	signatures were obtained. A petition present to a county board of elections 18
	901	+	shall contain only names of voters registered in that county. Provided the 19
	902	+	petitions are timely filed, the State Board of Elections shall require the filed 20
	903	+	petition be verified no later than 15 business days after canvass of the primary 21
	904	+	in one of the following ways: 22
	905	+	a. The Executive Director shall examine the names on the petition and 23
	906	+	place a check mark on the petition by the name of each signer who is 24
	907	+	qualified and registered to vote in the designated county and shall 25
	908	+	attach to the petition a signed certificate. Said certificates shall state 26
	909	+	that the signatures on the petition have been checked against the 27
	910	+	registration records and shall indicate the number of signers to be 28
	911	+	qualified and registered to vote in each county. 29
	912	+	b. The submitted, the chair of the county board of elections shall examine 30
	913	+	the names on the petition and place a check mark on the petition by 31
	914	+	the name of each signer who is qualified and registered to vote in the 32
	915	+	chair's county and shall attach to the petition the chair's signed 33
	916	+	certificate. Said certificates shall state that the signatures on the 34
	917	+	petition have been checked against the registration records and shall 35
	918	+	indicate the number of signers to be qualified and registered to vote in 36
	919	+	the chair's county. The chair shall return the petition and certificate to 37
	920	+	the State Board.person who presented it to the chair for checking. The 38
	921	+	chair shall complete the verification no later than 15 business days 39
	922	+	after the canvass of the primary. 40
	923	+	The State Board shall return a copy of each petition, together with a copy of 41
	924	+	the certificate required in this section, to the person who presented it to the 42
	925	+	State Board. 43
	926	+	(2) Except as provided in this subsection, if the office is a district office under the 44
	927	+	jurisdiction of the State Board of Elections under G.S. 163-182.4(b), file 45
	928	+	written petitions with the State Board of Elections supporting that voter's 46
	929	+	candidacy for a specified office. For district offices other than General 47
	930	+	Assembly seats, petitions must be filed with the State Board of Elections on 48
	931	+	or before 12:00 noon on the day of the primary election 5:00 P.M. on the 49
	932	+	twentieth business day after canvass of the primary and must be signed by 50
	933	+	qualified voters of the district equal in number to one and a half percent (1.5%) 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	934	+	DRH40313-LU-93 Page 19
	935	+	of the total number of registered voters in the district as reflected by the voter 1
	936	+	registration records of the State Board of Elections as of January 1 of the year 2
	937	+	in which the general election is to be held. For General Assembly seats in 3
	938	+	which the district lies in more than one county, petitions must be filed with 4
	939	+	the State Board of Elections on or before 12:00 noon on the day of the primary 5
	940	+	election 5:00 P.M. on the twentieth business day after canvass of the primary 6
	941	+	and must be signed by qualified voters of the district equal in number to four 7
	942	+	percent (4%) of the total number of registered voters in the district as reflected 8
	943	+	by the voter registration records of the State Board of Elections as of January 9
	944	+	1 of the year in which the general election is to be held. The State Board shall 10
	945	+	determine the sufficiency of petitions filed with the State Board and shall 11
991	946		immediately communicate its determination to the petitioning candidate. The 12
992	947		petitions shall be divided into sections based on the county in which the 13
993	948		signatures were obtained. The petitions shall be verified as specified in 14
994	949		subdivision (1) of this subsection. 15
995		-	Upon compliance with the provisions of subdivisions (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) of this 16
996		-	subsection, the board of elections with which the petitions have been timely filed shall cause the 17
997		-	unaffiliated candidate's name to be printed on the general election ballots in accordance with 18
998		-	Article 14A of this Chapter." 19
999		-	SECTION 12.3. G.S. 163-296 reads as rewritten: 20
1000		-	"§ 163-296. Nomination by petition. 21
1001		-	In cities conducting partisan elections, any qualified voter who seeks to have his name printed 22
1002		-	on the regular municipal election ballot as an unaffiliated candidate may do so in the manner 23
1003		-	provided in G.S. 163-122, except that the petitions and affidavits shall be filed not later than 24
1004		-	12:00 noon on the Friday preceding the seventh Saturday before the election, and the petitions 25
1005		-	shall be signed by a number of qualified voters of the municipality equal to at least one and a half 26
1006		-	percent (1.5%) of the whole number of voters qualified to vote in the municipal election 27
1007		-	according to the voter registration records of the State Board of Elections as of January 1 of the 28
1008		-	year in which the general municipal election is held. A person whose name appeared on the ballot 29
1009		-	in a primary election is not eligible to have his name placed on the regular municipal election 30
1010		-	ballot as an unaffiliated candidate for the same office in that year. The State Board of Elections 31
1011		-	shall examine and verify the signatures on the petition, and shall certify only the names of signers 32
1012		-	who are found to be qualified registered voters in the municipality. Provided that in the case 33
1013		-	where a qualified voter seeks to have his name printed on the regular municipal election ballot 34
1014		-	as an unaffiliated candidate for election from an election district within the municipality, the 35
1015		-	petition shall be signed by one and a half percent (1.5%) of the voters qualified to vote for that 36
1016		-	office." 37
1017		-	38
1018		-	PART XIII. CAMPAIGN FINANCE PENALTY WAIV ER A PREREQUISITE TO 39
1019		-	FILING A CONTESTED CASE 40
1020		-	SECTION 13.1. G.S. 163-278.34(e) reads as rewritten: 41
1021		-	"(e) Calculation and Assessment. – The State Board shall calculate and assess the amount 42
1022		-	of the civil penalty due under subsection (a) or (b) of this section and shall notify the person who 43
1023		-	is assessed the civil penalty of the amount. The notice of assessment shall be served by any means 44
1024		-	authorized under G.S. 1A-1, Rule 4, and shall direct Rule 4. For a civil penalty assessed under 45
1025		-	subsection (a) of this section, the notice of assessment shall direct the violator to either pay the 46
1026		-	assessment or request a good-cause waiver of the assessment under subsection (d) of this section 47
1027		-	within 60 days. If the State Board does not find good cause for a waiver, the State Board shall 48
1028		-	send notice by any means authorized under G.S. 1A-1, Rule 4, directing the violator either to pay 49
1029		-	the assessment or to contest the assessment within 30 days by filing a petition for a contested 50
1030		-	case under Article 3 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. For a civil penalty assessed under 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
1031		-	House Bill 580-First Edition Page 21
1032		-	subsection (b) of this section, the notice of assessment shall direct the violator either to pay the 1
1033		-	assessment or contest the assessment within 30 days by filing a petition for a contested case under 2
1034		-	Article 3 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. If a violator does not pay a civil penalty 3
1035		-	assessed by the State Board within 30 days after it is due, the State Board shall request the 4
1036		-	Attorney General to institute a civil action to recover the amount of the assessment. The civil 5
1037		-	action may be brought in the superior court of any county where the report was due to be filed or 6
1038		-	any county where the violator resides or maintains an office. A civil action must be filed within 7
1039		-	three years of the date the assessment was due. An assessment that is not contested is due when 8
1040		-	the violator is served with a notice of assessment. An assessment that is contested is due at the 9
1041		-	conclusion of the administrative and judicial review of the assessment. The State Board of 10
1042		-	Elections shall pay the clear proceeds of civil penalties collected under this section to the Civil 11
1043		-	Penalty and Forfeiture Fund pursuant to G.S. 115C-457.2. The State Board of Elections shall 12
1044		-	reduce the monies collected by the enforcement costs and the collection costs to determine the 13
1045		-	clear proceeds payable to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund. Monies set aside for the costs of 14
1046		-	enforcement and the costs of collection shall be credited to accounts of the State Board of 15
1047		-	Elections.Board." 16
1048		-	17
1049		-	PART XIV. CHANGE DATE FOR WHEN CERTAIN M UNICIPAL ELECTIONS H ELD 18
1050		-	SECTION 14.1. G.S. 163-279(a) reads as rewritten: 19
1051		-	"(a) Primaries and elections for offices filled by election of the people in cities, towns, 20
1052		-	incorporated villages, and special districts shall be held in 1973 and every two or four years 21
1053		-	thereafter as provided by municipal charter on the following days: 22
1054		-	(1) If the election is nonpartisan and decided by simple plurality, the election shall 23
1055		-	be held on Tuesday after the first Monday in November. 24
1056		-	(2) If the election is partisan, the election shall be held on Tuesday after the first 25
1057		-	Monday in November, the first primary shall be held on the second Tuesday 26
1058		-	after Labor Day, and the second primary, if required, shall be held on the 27
1059		-	fourth Tuesday before the election. 28
1060		-	(3) If the election is nonpartisan and the nonpartisan primary method of election 29
1061		-	is used, the election shall be held on Tuesday after the first Monday in 30
1062		-	November and the nonpartisan primary shall be held on the fourth Tuesday 31
1063		-	before the election.second Tuesday after Labor Day. 32
1064		-	(4) If the election is nonpartisan and the election and runoff election method of 33
1065		-	election is used, the election shall be held on the fourth Tuesday before the 34
1066		-	Tuesday after the first Monday in November, second Tuesday after Labor 35
1067		-	Day, and the runoff election, if required, shall be held on Tuesday after the 36
1068		-	first Monday in November." 37
1069		-	38
1070		-	PART XV. CLARIFY VENUE IN WHICH CERTAIN STATE BOARD OF ELECT IONS 39
1071		-	MEETINGS HELD 40
1072		-	SECTION 15.1. G.S. 163-20, as amended by Section 3A.3(d) of S.L.2024-57, reads 41
1073		-	as rewritten: 42
1074		-	"§ 163-20. Meetings of Board; quorum; minutes. 43
1075		-	… 44
1076		-	(b) Place of Meeting. – Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the State 45
1077		-	Board shall meet in its offices in the City of Raleigh, or at another place in the City of Raleigh to 46
1078		-	be designated by the chair. However, subject to the limitation imposed by allowance as provided 47
1079		-	in subsection (c) of this section upon the prior written request of any four members, the State 48
1080		-	Board shall meet at any other place in the State designated by the four members. 49
1081		-	(c) Meetings to Investigate Alleged Violations of This Chapter. – When called upon to 50
1082		-	investigate or hear sworn alleged violations of this Chapter, the State Board shall may meet and 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
1083		-	Page 22 House Bill 580-First Edition
1084		-	hear the matter in the county in which the violations are alleged to have occurred.occurred upon 1
1085		-	the prior written request of any three members. 2
1086		-	…." 3
1087		-	4
1088		-	PART XVI. DEADLINE T O CHALLENGE ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN CERTAIN 5
1089		-	MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS 6
1090		-	SECTION 16.1. G.S. 163-89(a) reads as rewritten: 7
1091		-	"(a) Time for Challenge. – The absentee ballot of any voter received by the county board 8
1092		-	of elections pursuant to G.S. 163-231(b)(1) may be challenged no later than 5:00 P.M. on the 9
1093		-	fifth business day after the primary or general election or county bond election. election; 10
1094		-	provided, however, that any such challenge in a municipal primary or election conducted under 11
1095		-	Article 24 of this Chapter, where the canvass is to be held on the seventh day following the 12
1096		-	primary or election, shall be filed no later than two business days after the primary or election. 13
1097		-	The absentee ballot of any voter received by the county board of elections pursuant to 14
1098		-	G.S. 163-231(b)(2) may be challenged no later than 5:00 P.M. on the next business day following 15
1099		-	the deadline for receipt of such absentee ballots." 16
1100		-	17
1101		-	PART XVII. REVISIONS TO VARIOUS STATUTES P ERMANENTLY ENJOINED IN 18
1102		-	NAACP V. MCCRORY PER TAINING TO: OUT -OF-PRECINCT VOTING; 19
1103		-	SAME-DAY REGISTRATION; AND PREREGISTRATI ON 20
1104		-	SECTION 17.1.(a) G.S. 163-55 reads as rewritten: 21
1105		-	"§ 163-55. Qualifications to vote; exclusion from electoral franchise. 22
1106		-	(a) Residence Period for State Elections. – Every person born in the United States, and 23
1107		-	every person who has been naturalized, and who shall have resided in the State of North Carolina 24
1108		-	and in the precinct precinct, ward, or other election district in which the person offers to vote for 25
1109		-	30 days next preceding an election, shall, if otherwise qualified as prescribed in this Chapter, be 26
1110		-	qualified to vote in the precinct in which the person resides. any election held in this State. 27
1111		-	Removal from one precinct precinct, ward, or other election district to another in this State shall 28
1112		-	not operate to deprive any person of the right to vote in the precinct precinct, ward, or other 29
1113		-	election district from which the person has removed until 30 days after the person's removal. 30
1114		-	Except as provided in this Chapter, the following classes of persons shall not be allowed to 31
1115		-	vote in this State: 32
1116		-	(1) Persons under 18 years of age. 33
1117		-	(2) Any person adjudged guilty of a felony against this State or the United States, 34
1118		-	or adjudged guilty of a felony in another state that also would be a felony if it 35
1119		-	had been committed in this State, unless that person shall be first restored to 36
1120		-	the rights of citizenship in the manner prescribed by law. 37
1121		-	(b) Precincts. Precincts and Election Districts. – For purposes of qualification to vote in 38
1122		-	an election, a person's residence in a precinct precinct, ward, or other election district shall be 39
1123		-	determined in accordance with G.S. 163-57. When an election district encompasses more than 40
1124		-	one precinct, then for purposes of those offices to be elected from that election district, a person 41
1125		-	shall also be deemed to be a resident in the election district which includes the precinct in which 42
1126		-	that person resides. An election district may include a portion of a county, an entire county, a 43
1127		-	portion of the State, or the entire State. When a precinct has been divided among two or more 44
1128		-	election districts for purposes of elections to certain offices, then with respect to elections to those 45
1129		-	offices, a person shall be deemed to be a resident in only that election district which includes the 46
1130		-	area of the precinct in which that person resides. Qualification to vote in referenda shall be treated 47
1131		-	the same as qualification for elections to fill offices. 48
1132		-	…." 49
1133		-	SECTION 17.1.(b) G.S. 163-166.11 reads as rewritten: 50
1134		-	"§ 163-166.11. Provisional voting requirements. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
1135		-	House Bill 580-First Edition Page 23
1136		-	If an individual seeking to vote claims to be a registered voter in a jurisdiction as provided in 1
1137		-	G.S. 163-82.1 and though eligible to vote in the election does not appear on the official list of 2
1138		-	eligible registered voters in the voting place, that individual may cast a provisional official ballot 3
1139		-	as follows: 4
1140		-	… 5
1141		-	(6) The county board of elections shall count the individual's provisional official 6
1142		-	ballot for all ballot items on which it determines that the individual was 7
1143		-	eligible under State or federal law to vote." 8
1144		-	SECTION 17.1.(c) G.S. 163-182.2(a)(4), as amended by Section 3A.4(e) of S.L. 9
1145		-	2024-57, reads as rewritten: 10
1146		-	"(4) If the county board finds that an individual voting a provisional official ballot 11
1147		-	(i) was registered in the county as provided in 163-82.1, (ii) voted in the proper 12
1148		-	precinct under G.S. 163-55 and G.S. 163-57, and (iii) was otherwise eligible 13
1149		-	to vote, the provisional official ballots shall be counted by the county board 14
1150		-	no later than 5:00 P.M. on the third business day after the election. Except as 15
1151		-	provided in G.S. 163-82.15(e), if the county board finds that an individual 16
1152		-	voting a provisional official ballot (i) did not vote in the proper precinct under 17
1153		-	G.S. 163-55 and G.S. 163-57, (ii) is not registered in the county as provided 18
1154		-	in G.S. 163-82.1, or (iii) is otherwise not eligible to vote, the ballot shall not 19
1155		-	be counted. Provisional official ballots shall be counted by the county board 20
1156		-	no later than 5:00 P.M. on the third business day after the election. If the 21
1157		-	county board finds that an individual voting a provisional official ballot is not 22
1158		-	eligible to vote in one or more ballot items on the official ballot, the board 23
1159		-	shall not count the official ballot in those ballot items but shall count the 24
1160		-	official ballot in any ballot items for which the individual is eligible to vote. 25
1161		-	Eligibility shall be determined by whether the voter is registered in the county 26
1162		-	as provided in G.S. 163-82.1 and whether the voter is qualified by residency 27
1163		-	to vote in the election district as provided in G.S. 163-55 and G.S. 163-57. If 28
1164		-	a voter was properly registered to vote in the election by the county board, no 29
1165		-	mistake of an election official in giving the voter a ballot or in failing to 30
1166		-	comply with G.S. 163-82.15 or G.S. 163-166.11 shall serve to prevent the 31
1167		-	counting of the vote on any ballot item the voter was eligible by registration 32
1168		-	and qualified by residency to vote." 33
1169		-	SECTION 17.2.(a) G.S. 163-59 reads as rewritten: 34
1170		-	"§ 163-59. Right to participate or vote in party primary. 35
1171		-	No person shall be entitled to vote or otherwise participate in the primary election of any 36
1172		-	political party unless that person complies with all of the following: 37
1173		-	(1) Is a registered voter. 38
1174		-	(2) Has declared and has had recorded on the registration book or record the fact 39
1175		-	that the voter affiliates with the political party in whose primary the voter 40
1176		-	proposes to vote or participate. 41
1177		-	(3) Is in good faith a member of that party. 42
1178		-	Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, any unaffiliated voter who is authorized under 43
1179		-	G.S. 163-119 may also vote in the primary if the voter is otherwise eligible to vote in that primary 44
1180		-	except for subdivisions (2) and (3) of the previous paragraph. 45
1181		-	Any person who will become qualified by age to register and vote in the general election for 46
1182		-	which the primary is held, even though not so qualified by the date of the primary, shall be 47
1183		-	entitled to register for the primary and general election prior to the primary and then to vote in 48
1184		-	the primary after being registered. Such person may register not earlier than 60 days nor later 49
1185		-	than the last day for making application to register under G.S. 163-82.6(d) prior to the primary. 50
1186		-	In addition, persons who will become qualified by age to register and vote in the general election 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
1187		-	Page 24 House Bill 580-First Edition
1188		-	for which the primary is held, who do not register during the special period may register to vote 1
1189		-	after such period as if they were qualified on the basis of age, but until they are qualified by age 2
1190		-	to vote, they may vote only in primary elections. The person may also register and vote in the 3
1191		-	primary and general election pursuant to G.S. 163-82.6B." 4
1192		-	SECTION 17.2.(b) G.S. 163-82.6(d) reads as rewritten: 5
1193		-	"(d) Registration Deadlines for a Primary or Election. – In Except as provided in 6
1194		-	G.S. 163-82.6B, in order to be valid for a primary or election, the form: 7
1195		-	(1) If submitted by mail, must be postmarked at least 25 days before the primary 8
1196		-	or election, except that any mailed application on which the postmark is 9
1197		-	missing or unclear is validly submitted if received in the mail not later than 20 10
1198		-	days before the primary or election, 11
1199		-	(2) If submitted in person, by facsimile transmission, or by transmission of a 12
1200		-	scanned document, must be received by the county board of elections by a 13
1201		-	time established by that board, but no earlier than 5:00 P.M., on the 14
1202		-	twenty-fifth day before the primary or election, 15
1203		-	(3) If submitted through a delegatee who violates the duty set forth in subsection 16
1204		-	(a) of this section, must be signed by the applicant and given to the delegatee 17
1205		-	not later than 25 days before the primary or election, except as provided in 18
1206		-	subsection (f) of this section." 19
1207		-	SECTION 17.3.(a) G.S. 163-82.1 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 20
1208		-	"(d) Preregistration. – A person who is at least 16 years of age but will not be 18 years of 21
1209		-	age by the date of the next election and who is otherwise qualified to register may preregister to 22
1210		-	vote and shall be automatically registered upon reaching the age of eligibility following 23
1211		-	verification of the person's qualifications and address in accordance with G.S. 163-82.7." 24
1212		-	SECTION 17.3.(b) G.S. 163-82.3(a) is amended by adding a new subdivision to 25
1213		-	read: 26
1214		-	"(5) Preregister to vote." 27
1215		-	SECTION 17.3.(c) G.S. 163-82.4(e)(2) reads as rewritten: 28
1216		-	"(2) The following question questions and statement: 29
1217		-	a. "Will you be 18 years of age on or before election day?" and boxes for 30
1218		-	the applicant to check to indicate whether the applicant will be 18 31
1219		-	years of age or older on election day. 32
1220		-	b. "Are you at least 16 years of age and understand that you must be 18 33
1221		-	years of age on or before election day to vote?" and boxes for the 34
1222		-	applicant to check to indicate whether the applicant is at least 16 years 35
1223		-	of age and understands that the applicant must be at least 18 years of 36
1224		-	age or older by election day to vote. 37
1225		-	c. "If you checked "no' in response to this question, both of these 38
1226		-	questions, do not submit this form."" 39
1227		-	SECTION 17.3.(d) G.S. 163-82.19(a) reads as rewritten: 40
1228		-	"(a) Voter Registration at Drivers License Offices. – The Division of Motor Vehicles 41
1229		-	shall, pursuant to the rules adopted by the State Board of Elections, Board, modify its forms so 42
1230		-	that any eligible person who applies for original issuance, renewal or correction of a drivers 43
1231		-	license, or special identification card issued under G.S. 20-37.7 may, on a part of the form, 44
1232		-	complete an application to register to vote, or to update the voter's registration if the voter has 45
1233		-	changed his or her address or moved from one precinct to another or from one county to another. 46
1234		-	another, or to preregister to vote. The person taking the application shall ask if the applicant is a 47
1235		-	citizen of the United States. If the applicant states that the applicant is not a citizen of the United 48
1236		-	States, or declines to answer the question, the person taking the application shall inform the 49
1237		-	applicant that it is a felony for a person who is not a citizen of the United States to apply to 50
1238		-	register to vote. The application shall state in clear language the penalty for violation of this 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
1239		-	House Bill 580-First Edition Page 25
1240		-	section. The necessary forms shall be prescribed by the State Board of Elections. Board. The 1
1241		-	form must ask for the previous voter registration address of the voter, if any. If a previous address 2
1242		-	is listed, and it is not in the county of residence of the applicant, the appropriate county board of 3
1243		-	elections shall treat the application as an authorization to cancel the previous registration and also 4
1244		-	process it as such under the procedures of G.S. 163-82.9. If a previous address is listed and that 5
1245		-	address is in the county where the voter applies to register, the application shall be processed as 6
1246		-	if it had been submitted under G.S. 163-82.9. 7
1247		-	Registration shall become effective as provided in G.S. 163-82.7. Applications to register to 8
1248		-	vote accepted at a drivers license office under this section until the deadline established in 9
1249		-	G.S. 163-82.6(d)(2) shall be treated as timely made for an election, and no person who completes 10
1250		-	an application at that drivers license office shall be denied the vote in that election for failure to 11
1251		-	apply earlier than that deadline. 12
1252		-	All applications shall be forwarded by the Department of Transportation to the appropriate 13
1253		-	board of elections not later than five business days after the date of acceptance, according to rules 14
1254		-	which shall be promulgated by the State Board of Elections. Board. Those rules shall provide for 15
1255		-	a paperless, instant, electronic transfer of applications to the appropriate board of elections. 16
1256		-	Applications for preregistration shall be forwarded to the State Board." 17
1257		-	SECTION 17.3.(e) G.S. 163-82.20 reads as rewritten: 18
1258		-	"§ 163-82.20. Voter registration at other public agencies. 19
1259		-	(a) Voter Registration Agencies. – Every office in this State which accepts: 20
1260		-	(1) Applications for a program of public assistance under Article 2 of Chapter 21
1261		-	108A of the General Statutes or under Article 13 of Chapter 130A of the 22
1262		-	General Statutes; 23
1263		-	(2) Applications for State-funded State or local government programs primarily 24
1264		-	engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities, with such office 25
1265		-	designated by the State Board of Elections; Board; or 26
1266		-	(3) Claims for benefits under Chapter 96 of the General Statutes, the Employment 27
1267		-	Security Law, is designated as a voter registration agency for purposes of this 28
1268		-	section. 29
1269		-	(b) Duties of Voter Registration Agencies. – A voter registration agency described in 30
1270		-	subsection (a) of this section shall, unless the applicant declines, in writing, to register to vote:or 31
1271		-	preregister to vote, do each of the following: 32
1272		-	(1) Distribute with each application for service or assistance, and with each 33
1273		-	recertification, renewal, or change of address relating to such service or 34
1274		-	assistance: 35
1275		-	a. The voter registration application form described in G.S. 163-82.3(a) 36
1276		-	or (b); or 37
1277		-	b. The voter registration agency's own form, if it is substantially 38
1278		-	equivalent to the form described in G.S. 163-82.3(a) or (b) and has 39
1279		-	been approved by the State Board of Elections, Board, provided that 40
1280		-	the agency's own form may be a detachable part of the agency's paper 41
1281		-	application or may be a paperless computer process, as long as the 42
1282		-	applicant is required to sign an attestation as part of the application to 43
1283		-	register.register or preregister. 44
1284		-	(2) Provide a form that contains the elements required by section 7(a)(6)(B) of 45
1285		-	the National Voter Registration Act; andAct. 46
1286		-	(3) Provide to each applicant who does not decline to register or preregister to 47
1287		-	vote the same degree of assistance with regard to the completion of the 48
1288		-	registration application as is provided by the office with regard to the 49
1289		-	completion of its own forms. 50
1290		-	… 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
1291		-	Page 26 House Bill 580-First Edition
1292		-	(e) Prohibitions. – Any person providing any service under subsection (b) of this section 1
1293		-	shall not: 2
1294		-	(1) Seek to influence an applicant's political preference or party registration, 3
1295		-	except that this shall not be construed to prevent the notice provided by 4
1296		-	G.S. 163-82.4(d) to be given if the applicant refuses to declare his party 5
1297		-	affiliation; 6
1298		-	(2) Display any such political preference or party allegiance; 7
1299		-	(3) Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of 8
1300		-	which is to discourage the applicant from registering or preregistering to vote; 9
1301		-	or 10
1302		-	(4) Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of 11
1303		-	which is to lead the applicant to believe that a decision to register or preregister 12
1304		-	or not to register has any bearing on the availability of services or benefits. 13
1305		-	(f) Confidentiality of Declination to Register. – No information relating to a declination 14
1306		-	to register or preregister to vote in connection with an application made at a voter registration 15
1307		-	agency may be used for any purpose other than voter registration. 16
1308		-	(g) Transmittal From Agency to Board of Elections. State Board. – Any voter registration 17
1309		-	or preregistration application completed at a voter registration agency shall be accepted by that 18
1310		-	agency in lieu of the applicant's mailing the application. Any such application so received shall 19
1311		-	be transmitted to the appropriate board of elections not later than five business days after 20
1312		-	acceptance, according to rules which shall be promulgated by the State Board of Elections.Board. 21
1313		-	… 22
1314		-	(i) Ineligible Applications Prohibited. – No person shall make application to register or 23
1315		-	preregister to vote under this section if that person is ineligible on account of age, citizenship, 24
1316		-	lack of residence for the period of time provided by law, or because of conviction of a felony." 25
1317		-	SECTION 17.3.(f) G.S. 163-82.23 reads as rewritten: 26
1318		-	"§ 163-82.23. Voter registration at public high schools. 27
1319		-	Every public high school shall make available to its students and others who are eligible to 28
1320		-	register or preregister to vote the application forms described in G.S. 163-82.3, and shall keep a 29
1321		-	sufficient supply of the forms so that they are always available. A local board of education may, 30
1322		-	but is not required to, designate high school employees to assist in completing the forms. Only 31
1323		-	employees who volunteer for this duty may be designated by boards of education." 32
1324		-	33
1325		-	PART XVIII. ALLOW DE PLOYED FIRST RESPOND ERS TO USE ABSENTEE 34
1326		-	VOTING PROCEDURES FO R MILITARY OVERSEAS CITIZENS 35
1327		-	SECTION 18.1. G.S. 163-258.2 reads as rewritten: 36
1328		-	"§ 163-258.2. Definitions. 37
1329		-	As used in this Article: 38
1330		-	(1) "Covered voter" means any of the following: 39
1331		-	a. A uniformed-service voter or an overseas voter who is registered to 40
1332		-	vote in this State. 41
1333		-	b. A uniformed-service voter defined in subdivision (7) of this section 42
1334		-	whose voting residence is in this State and who otherwise satisfies this 43
1335		-	State's voter eligibility requirements. 44
1336		-	c. An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, was last 45
1337		-	eligible to vote in this State and, except for a State residency 46
1338		-	requirement, otherwise satisfies this State's voter eligibility 47
1339		-	requirements. 48
1340		-	d. An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, would have 49
1341		-	been last eligible to vote in this State had the voter then been of voting 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
1342		-	House Bill 580-First Edition Page 27
1343		-	age and, except for a State residency requirement, otherwise satisfies 1
1344		-	this State's voter eligibility requirements. 2
1345		-	e. An overseas voter who was born outside the United States, is not 3
1346		-	described in sub-subdivision c. or d. of this subdivision, and, except 4
1347		-	for a State residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this State's voter 5
1348		-	eligibility requirements, if: 6
1349		-	1. The last place where a parent or legal guardian of the voter 7
1350		-	was, or under this Article would have been, eligible to vote 8
1351		-	before leaving the United States is within this State; and 9
1352		-	2. The voter has not previously registered to vote in any other 10
1353		-	state. 11
1354		-	f. A voter who is registered to vote in this State and who has been 12
1355		-	deployed by the voter's employer away from the voter's county of 13
1356		-	residence to respond to a disaster declared by the Governor or the 14
1357		-	President of the United States within 60 days before an election. 15
1358		-	…." 16
1359		-	17
1360		-	PART XIX. EFFECTIVE DATE 18
1361		-	SECTION 19.1. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections 19
1362		-	held on or after that date. 20
	950	+	(3) If the office is a county office or a single county legislative district, file written 16
	951	+	petitions with the chair or director of the county board of elections supporting 17
	952	+	the voter's candidacy for a specified county office. These petitions must be 18
	953	+	filed with the county board of elections on or before 12:00 noon on the day of 19
	954	+	the primary election and must be signed by qualified voters of the county equal 20
	955	+	in number to four percent (4%) of the total number of registered voters in the 21
	956	+	county as reflected by the voter registration records of the State Board of 22
	957	+	Elections as of January 1 of the year in which the general election is to be 23
	958	+	held, except if the office is for a district consisting of less than the entire 24
	959	+	county and only the voters in that district vote for that office, the petitions 25
	960	+	must be signed by qualified voters of the district equal in number to four 26
	961	+	percent (4%) of the total number of voters in the district according to the voter 27
	962	+	registration records of the State Board of Elections as of January 1 of the year 28
	963	+	in which the general election is to be held. Each petition shall be presented to 29
	964	+	the chair or director of the county board of elections. The chair or director of 30
	965	+	the county board of elections shall verify the filed petition no later than 15 31
	966	+	business days after canvass as provided in sub-subdivision b. of subdivision 32
	967	+	(1) of this subsection, and shall return a copy of each petition, together with a 33
	968	+	copy of the certificate required in this section, to the person who presented it 34
	969	+	to the county board of elections.subsection. 35
	970	+	(4) If the office is a partisan municipal office, file written petitions with the chair 36
	971	+	or director of the county board of elections in the county wherein the 37
	972	+	municipality is located supporting the voter's candidacy for a specified 38
	973	+	municipal office. These petitions must be filed with the county board of 39
	974	+	elections on or before the time and date specified in G.S. 163-296 12:00 P.M. 40
	975	+	on the day of the primary and must be signed by the number of qualified voters 41
	976	+	specified in G.S. 163-296. The chair or director of the county board of 42
	977	+	elections shall verify the filed petition no later than 15 business days after 43
	978	+	canvass the primary and shall otherwise proceed as provided in 44
	979	+	sub-subdivision b. of subdivision (1) of this subsection, and shall return a copy 45
	980	+	of each petition, together with a copy of the certificate required in this section, 46
	981	+	to the person who presented it to the county board of elections.subsection. 47
	982	+	(5) If the office is a superior court judge or a district court judge, regardless of 48
	983	+	whether the district lies entirely in one county or in more than one county, file 49
	984	+	written petitions with the State Board of Elections supporting that voter's 50
	985	+	candidacy for a specified office. These petitions must be filed with the State 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	986	+	Page 20 DRH40313-LU-93
	987	+	Board of Elections on or before 12:00 noon on the day of the primary election 1
	988	+	5:00 P.M. on the twentieth business day after canvass of the primary and must 2
	989	+	be signed by qualified voters of the district equal in number to two percent 3
	990	+	(2%) of the total number of registered voters in the district as reflected by the 4
	991	+	voter registration records of the State Board of Elections as of January 1 of 5
	992	+	the year in which the general election is to be held. The State Board shall 6
	993	+	determine the sufficiency of the petitions filed with the State Board and shall 7
	994	+	immediately communicate its determination to the petitioning candidate. The 8
	995	+	petitions shall be divided into sections based on the county in which the 9
	996	+	signatures were obtained. The petitions shall be verified as specified in 10
	997	+	subdivision (1) of this subsection. 11
	998	+	Upon compliance with the provisions of subdivisions (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5) of this 12
	999	+	subsection, the board of elections with which the petitions have been timely filed shall cause the 13
	1000	+	unaffiliated candidate's name to be printed on the general election ballots in accordance with 14
	1001	+	Article 14A of this Chapter." 15
	1002	+	SECTION 12.3. G.S. 163-296 reads as rewritten: 16
	1003	+	"§ 163-296. Nomination by petition. 17
	1004	+	In cities conducting partisan elections, any qualified voter who seeks to have his name printed 18
	1005	+	on the regular municipal election ballot as an unaffiliated candidate may do so in the manner 19
	1006	+	provided in G.S. 163-122, except that the petitions and affidavits shall be filed not later than 20
	1007	+	12:00 noon on the Friday preceding the seventh Saturday before the election, and the petitions 21
	1008	+	shall be signed by a number of qualified voters of the municipality equal to at least one and a half 22
	1009	+	percent (1.5%) of the whole number of voters qualified to vote in the municipal election 23
	1010	+	according to the voter registration records of the State Board of Elections as of January 1 of the 24
	1011	+	year in which the general municipal election is held. A person whose name appeared on the ballot 25
	1012	+	in a primary election is not eligible to have his name placed on the regular municipal election 26
	1013	+	ballot as an unaffiliated candidate for the same office in that year. The State Board of Elections 27
	1014	+	shall examine and verify the signatures on the petition, and shall certify only the names of signers 28
	1015	+	who are found to be qualified registered voters in the municipality. Provided that in the case 29
	1016	+	where a qualified voter seeks to have his name printed on the regular municipal election ballot 30
	1017	+	as an unaffiliated candidate for election from an election district within the municipality, the 31
	1018	+	petition shall be signed by one and a half percent (1.5%) of the voters qualified to vote for that 32
	1019	+	office." 33
	1020	+	34
	1021	+	PART XIII. CAMPAIGN FINANCE PENALTY WAIVER A PREREQUISITE TO 35
	1022	+	FILING A CONTESTED CASE 36
	1023	+	SECTION 13.1. G.S. 163-278.34(e) reads as rewritten: 37
	1024	+	"(e) Calculation and Assessment. – The State Board shall calculate and assess the amount 38
	1025	+	of the civil penalty due under subsection (a) or (b) of this section and shall notify the person who 39
	1026	+	is assessed the civil penalty of the amount. The notice of assessment shall be served by any means 40
	1027	+	authorized under G.S. 1A-1, Rule 4, and shall direct Rule 4. For a civil penalty assessed under 41
	1028	+	subsection (a) of this section, the notice of assessment shall direct the violator to either pay the 42
	1029	+	assessment or request a good-cause waiver of the assessment under subsection (d) of this section 43
	1030	+	within 60 days. If the State Board does not find good cause for a waiver, the State Board shall 44
	1031	+	send notice by any means authorized under G.S. 1A-1, Rule 4, directing the violator either to pay 45
	1032	+	the assessment or to contest the assessment within 30 days by filing a petition for a contested 46
	1033	+	case under Article 3 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. For a civil penalty assessed under 47
	1034	+	subsection (b) of this section, the notice of assessment shall direct the violator either to pay the 48
	1035	+	assessment or contest the assessment within 30 days by filing a petition for a contested case under 49
	1036	+	Article 3 of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes. If a violator does not pay a civil penalty 50
	1037	+	assessed by the State Board within 30 days after it is due, the State Board shall request the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	1038	+	DRH40313-LU-93 Page 21
	1039	+	Attorney General to institute a civil action to recover the amount of the assessment. The civil 1
	1040	+	action may be brought in the superior court of any county where the report was due to be filed or 2
	1041	+	any county where the violator resides or maintains an office. A civil action must be filed within 3
	1042	+	three years of the date the assessment was due. An assessment that is not contested is due when 4
	1043	+	the violator is served with a notice of assessment. An assessment that is contested is due at the 5
	1044	+	conclusion of the administrative and judicial review of the assessment. The State Board of 6
	1045	+	Elections shall pay the clear proceeds of civil penalties collected under this section to the Civil 7
	1046	+	Penalty and Forfeiture Fund pursuant to G.S. 115C-457.2. The State Board of Elections shall 8
	1047	+	reduce the monies collected by the enforcement costs and the collection costs to determine the 9
	1048	+	clear proceeds payable to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund. Monies set aside for the costs of 10
	1049	+	enforcement and the costs of collection shall be credited to accounts of the State Board of 11
	1050	+	Elections.Board." 12
	1051	+	13
	1052	+	PART XIV. CHANGE DATE FOR WHEN CERTAIN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS HELD 14
	1053	+	SECTION 14.1. G.S. 163-279(a) reads as rewritten: 15
	1054	+	"(a) Primaries and elections for offices filled by election of the people in cities, towns, 16
	1055	+	incorporated villages, and special districts shall be held in 1973 and every two or four years 17
	1056	+	thereafter as provided by municipal charter on the following days: 18
	1057	+	(1) If the election is nonpartisan and decided by simple plurality, the election shall 19
	1058	+	be held on Tuesday after the first Monday in November. 20
	1059	+	(2) If the election is partisan, the election shall be held on Tuesday after the first 21
	1060	+	Monday in November, the first primary shall be held on the second Tuesday 22
	1061	+	after Labor Day, and the second primary, if required, shall be held on the 23
	1062	+	fourth Tuesday before the election. 24
	1063	+	(3) If the election is nonpartisan and the nonpartisan primary method of election 25
	1064	+	is used, the election shall be held on Tuesday after the first Monday in 26
	1065	+	November and the nonpartisan primary shall be held on the fourth Tuesday 27
	1066	+	before the election.second Tuesday after Labor Day. 28
	1067	+	(4) If the election is nonpartisan and the election and runoff election method of 29
	1068	+	election is used, the election shall be held on the fourth Tuesday before the 30
	1069	+	Tuesday after the first Monday in November, second Tuesday after Labor 31
	1070	+	Day, and the runoff election, if required, shall be held on Tuesday after the 32
	1071	+	first Monday in November." 33
	1072	+	34
	1073	+	PART XV. CLARIFY VENUE IN WH ICH CERTAIN STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS 35
	1074	+	MEETINGS HELD 36
	1075	+	SECTION 15.1. G.S. 163-20, as amended by Section 3A.3(d) of S.L.2024-57, reads 37
	1076	+	as rewritten: 38
	1077	+	"§ 163-20. Meetings of Board; quorum; minutes. 39
	1078	+	… 40
	1079	+	(b) Place of Meeting. – Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the State 41
	1080	+	Board shall meet in its offices in the City of Raleigh, or at another place in the City of Raleigh to 42
	1081	+	be designated by the chair. However, subject to the limitation imposed by allowance as provided 43
	1082	+	in subsection (c) of this section upon the prior written request of any four members, the State 44
	1083	+	Board shall meet at any other place in the State designated by the four members. 45
	1084	+	(c) Meetings to Investigate Alleged Violations of This Chapter. – When called upon to 46
	1085	+	investigate or hear sworn alleged violations of this Chapter, the State Board shall may meet and 47
	1086	+	hear the matter in the county in which the violations are alleged to have occurred.occurred upon 48
	1087	+	the prior written request of any three members. 49
	1088	+	…." 50
	1089	+	51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	1090	+	Page 22 DRH40313-LU-93
	1091	+	PART XVI. DEADLINE TO CHALLENGE ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN CERTAIN 1
	1092	+	MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS 2
	1093	+	SECTION 16.1. G.S. 163-89(a) reads as rewritten: 3
	1094	+	"(a) Time for Challenge. – The absentee ballot of any voter received by the county board 4
	1095	+	of elections pursuant to G.S. 163-231(b)(1) may be challenged no later than 5:00 P.M. on the 5
	1096	+	fifth business day after the primary or general election or county bond election. election; 6
	1097	+	provided, however, that any such challenge in a municipal primary or election conducted under 7
	1098	+	Article 24 of this Chapter, where the canvass is to be held on the seventh day following the 8
	1099	+	primary or election, shall be filed no later than two business days after the primary or election. 9
	1100	+	The absentee ballot of any voter received by the county board of elections pursuant to 10
	1101	+	G.S. 163-231(b)(2) may be challenged no later than 5:00 P.M. on the next business day following 11
	1102	+	the deadline for receipt of such absentee ballots." 12
	1103	+	13
	1104	+	PART XVII. REVISIONS TO VARIOUS STATUTES PERMANENTLY ENJOINED IN 14
	1105	+	NAACP V. MCCRORY PERTAINING TO: OUT -OF-PRECINCT VOTING; 15
	1106	+	SAME-DAY REGISTRATION; AND PREREGISTRATION 16
	1107	+	SECTION 17.1.(a) G.S. 163-55 reads as rewritten: 17
	1108	+	"§ 163-55. Qualifications to vote; exclusion from electoral franchise. 18
	1109	+	(a) Residence Period for State Elections. – Every person born in the United States, and 19
	1110	+	every person who has been naturalized, and who shall have resided in the State of North Carolina 20
	1111	+	and in the precinct precinct, ward, or other election district in which the person offers to vote for 21
	1112	+	30 days next preceding an election, shall, if otherwise qualified as prescribed in this Chapter, be 22
	1113	+	qualified to vote in the precinct in which the person resides. any election held in this State. 23
	1114	+	Removal from one precinct precinct, ward, or other election district to another in this State shall 24
	1115	+	not operate to deprive any person of the right to vote in the precinct precinct, ward, or other 25
	1116	+	election district from which the person has removed until 30 days after the person's removal. 26
	1117	+	Except as provided in this Chapter, the following classes of persons shall not be allowed to 27
	1118	+	vote in this State: 28
	1119	+	(1) Persons under 18 years of age. 29
	1120	+	(2) Any person adjudged guilty of a felony against this State or the United States, 30
	1121	+	or adjudged guilty of a felony in another state that also would be a felony if it 31
	1122	+	had been committed in this State, unless that person shall be first restored to 32
	1123	+	the rights of citizenship in the manner prescribed by law. 33
	1124	+	(b) Precincts. Precincts and Election Districts. – For purposes of qualification to vote in 34
	1125	+	an election, a person's residence in a precinct precinct, ward, or other election district shall be 35
	1126	+	determined in accordance with G.S. 163-57. When an election district encompasses more than 36
	1127	+	one precinct, then for purposes of those offices to be elected from that election district, a person 37
	1128	+	shall also be deemed to be a resident in the election district which includes the precinct in which 38
	1129	+	that person resides. An election district may include a portion of a county, an entire county, a 39
	1130	+	portion of the State, or the entire State. When a precinct has been divided among two or more 40
	1131	+	election districts for purposes of elections to certain offices, then with respect to elections to those 41
	1132	+	offices, a person shall be deemed to be a resident in only that election district which includes the 42
	1133	+	area of the precinct in which that person resides. Qualification to vote in referenda shall be treated 43
	1134	+	the same as qualification for elections to fill offices. 44
	1135	+	…." 45
	1136	+	SECTION 17.1.(b) G.S. 163-166.11 reads as rewritten: 46
	1137	+	"§ 163-166.11. Provisional voting requirements. 47
	1138	+	If an individual seeking to vote claims to be a registered voter in a jurisdiction as provided in 48
	1139	+	G.S. 163-82.1 and though eligible to vote in the election does not appear on the official list of 49
	1140	+	eligible registered voters in the voting place, that individual may cast a provisional official ballot 50
	1141	+	as follows: 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	1142	+	DRH40313-LU-93 Page 23
	1143	+	… 1
	1144	+	(6) The county board of elections shall count the individual's provisional official 2
	1145	+	ballot for all ballot items on which it determines that the individual was 3
	1146	+	eligible under State or federal law to vote." 4
	1147	+	SECTION 17.1.(c) G.S. 163-182.2(a)(4), as amended by Section 3A.4(e) of S.L. 5
	1148	+	2024-57, reads as rewritten: 6
	1149	+	"(4) If the county board finds that an individual voting a provisional official ballot 7
	1150	+	(i) was registered in the county as provided in 163-82.1, (ii) voted in the proper 8
	1151	+	precinct under G.S. 163-55 and G.S. 163-57, and (iii) was otherwise eligible 9
	1152	+	to vote, the provisional official ballots shall be counted by the county board 10
	1153	+	no later than 5:00 P.M. on the third business day after the election. Except as 11
	1154	+	provided in G.S. 163-82.15(e), if the county board finds that an individual 12
	1155	+	voting a provisional official ballot (i) did not vote in the proper precinct under 13
	1156	+	G.S. 163-55 and G.S. 163-57, (ii) is not registered in the county as provided 14
	1157	+	in G.S. 163-82.1, or (iii) is otherwise not eligible to vote, the ballot shall not 15
	1158	+	be counted. Provisional official ballots shall be counted by the county board 16
	1159	+	no later than 5:00 P.M. on the third business day after the election. If the 17
	1160	+	county board finds that an individual voting a provisional official ballot is not 18
	1161	+	eligible to vote in one or more ballot items on the official ballot, the board 19
	1162	+	shall not count the official ballot in those ballot items but shall count the 20
	1163	+	official ballot in any ballot items for which the individual is eligible to vote. 21
	1164	+	Eligibility shall be determined by whether the voter is registered in the county 22
	1165	+	as provided in G.S. 163-82.1 and whether the voter is qualified by residency 23
	1166	+	to vote in the election district as provided in G.S. 163-55 and G.S. 163-57. If 24
	1167	+	a voter was properly registered to vote in the election by the county board, no 25
	1168	+	mistake of an election official in giving the voter a ballot or in failing to 26
	1169	+	comply with G.S. 163-82.15 or G.S. 163-166.11 shall serve to prevent the 27
	1170	+	counting of the vote on any ballot item the voter was eligible by registration 28
	1171	+	and qualified by residency to vote." 29
	1172	+	SECTION 17.2.(a) G.S. 163-59 reads as rewritten: 30
	1173	+	"§ 163-59. Right to participate or vote in party primary. 31
	1174	+	No person shall be entitled to vote or otherwise participate in the primary election of any 32
	1175	+	political party unless that person complies with all of the following: 33
	1176	+	(1) Is a registered voter. 34
	1177	+	(2) Has declared and has had recorded on the registration book or record the fact 35
	1178	+	that the voter affiliates with the political party in whose primary the voter 36
	1179	+	proposes to vote or participate. 37
	1180	+	(3) Is in good faith a member of that party. 38
	1181	+	Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, any unaffiliated voter who is authorized under 39
	1182	+	G.S. 163-119 may also vote in the primary if the voter is otherwise eligible to vote in that primary 40
	1183	+	except for subdivisions (2) and (3) of the previous paragraph. 41
	1184	+	Any person who will become qualified by age to register and vote in the general election for 42
	1185	+	which the primary is held, even though not so qualified by the date of the primary, shall be 43
	1186	+	entitled to register for the primary and general election prior to the primary and then to vote in 44
	1187	+	the primary after being registered. Such person may register not earlier than 60 days nor later 45
	1188	+	than the last day for making application to register under G.S. 163-82.6(d) prior to the primary. 46
	1189	+	In addition, persons who will become qualified by age to register and vote in the general election 47
	1190	+	for which the primary is held, who do not register during the special period may register to vote 48
	1191	+	after such period as if they were qualified on the basis of age, but until they are qualified by age 49
	1192	+	to vote, they may vote only in primary elections. The person may also register and vote in the 50
	1193	+	primary and general election pursuant to G.S. 163-82.6B." 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	1194	+	Page 24 DRH40313-LU-93
	1195	+	SECTION 17.2.(b) G.S. 163-82.6(d) reads as rewritten: 1
	1196	+	"(d) Registration Deadlines for a Primary or Election. – In Except as provided in 2
	1197	+	G.S. 163-82.6B, in order to be valid for a primary or election, the form: 3
	1198	+	(1) If submitted by mail, must be postmarked at least 25 days before the primary 4
	1199	+	or election, except that any mailed application on which the postmark is 5
	1200	+	missing or unclear is validly submitted if received in the mail not later than 20 6
	1201	+	days before the primary or election, 7
	1202	+	(2) If submitted in person, by facsimile transmission, or by transmission of a 8
	1203	+	scanned document, must be received by the county board of elections by a 9
	1204	+	time established by that board, but no earlier than 5:00 P.M., on the 10
	1205	+	twenty-fifth day before the primary or election, 11
	1206	+	(3) If submitted through a delegatee who violates the duty set forth in subsection 12
	1207	+	(a) of this section, must be signed by the applicant and given to the delegatee 13
	1208	+	not later than 25 days before the primary or election, except as provided in 14
	1209	+	subsection (f) of this section." 15
	1210	+	SECTION 17.3.(a) G.S. 163-82.1 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 16
	1211	+	"(d) Preregistration. – A person who is at least 16 years of age but will not be 18 years of 17
	1212	+	age by the date of the next election and who is otherwise qualified to register may preregister to 18
	1213	+	vote and shall be automatically registered upon reaching the age of eligibility following 19
	1214	+	verification of the person's qualifications and address in accordance with G.S. 163-82.7." 20
	1215	+	SECTION 17.3.(b) G.S. 163-82.3(a) is amended by adding a new subdivision to 21
	1216	+	read: 22
	1217	+	"(5) Preregister to vote." 23
	1218	+	SECTION 17.3.(c) G.S. 163-82.4(e)(2) reads as rewritten: 24
	1219	+	"(2) The following question questions and statement: 25
	1220	+	a. "Will you be 18 years of age on or before election day?" and boxes for 26
	1221	+	the applicant to check to indicate whether the applicant will be 18 27
	1222	+	years of age or older on election day. 28
	1223	+	b. "Are you at least 16 years of age and understand that you must be 18 29
	1224	+	years of age on or before election day to vote?" and boxes for the 30
	1225	+	applicant to check to indicate whether the applicant is at least 16 years 31
	1226	+	of age and understands that the applicant must be at least 18 years of 32
	1227	+	age or older by election day to vote. 33
	1228	+	c. "If you checked "no' in response to this question, both of these 34
	1229	+	questions, do not submit this form."" 35
	1230	+	SECTION 17.3.(d) G.S. 163-82.19(a) reads as rewritten: 36
	1231	+	"(a) Voter Registration at Drivers License Offices. – The Division of Motor Vehicles 37
	1232	+	shall, pursuant to the rules adopted by the State Board of Elections, Board, modify its forms so 38
	1233	+	that any eligible person who applies for original issuance, renewal or correction of a drivers 39
	1234	+	license, or special identification card issued under G.S. 20-37.7 may, on a part of the form, 40
	1235	+	complete an application to register to vote, or to update the voter's registration if the voter has 41
	1236	+	changed his or her address or moved from one precinct to another or from one county to another. 42
	1237	+	another, or to preregister to vote. The person taking the application shall ask if the applicant is a 43
	1238	+	citizen of the United States. If the applicant states that the applicant is not a citizen of the United 44
	1239	+	States, or declines to answer the question, the person taking the application shall inform the 45
	1240	+	applicant that it is a felony for a person who is not a citizen of the United States to apply to 46
	1241	+	register to vote. The application shall state in clear language the penalty for violation of this 47
	1242	+	section. The necessary forms shall be prescribed by the State Board of Elections. Board. The 48
	1243	+	form must ask for the previous voter registration address of the voter, if any. If a previous address 49
	1244	+	is listed, and it is not in the county of residence of the applicant, the appropriate county board of 50
	1245	+	elections shall treat the application as an authorization to cancel the previous registration and also 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	1246	+	DRH40313-LU-93 Page 25
	1247	+	process it as such under the procedures of G.S. 163-82.9. If a previous address is listed and that 1
	1248	+	address is in the county where the voter applies to register, the application shall be processed as 2
	1249	+	if it had been submitted under G.S. 163-82.9. 3
	1250	+	Registration shall become effective as provided in G.S. 163-82.7. Applications to register to 4
	1251	+	vote accepted at a drivers license office under this section until the deadline established in 5
	1252	+	G.S. 163-82.6(d)(2) shall be treated as timely made for an election, and no person who completes 6
	1253	+	an application at that drivers license office shall be denied the vote in that election for failure to 7
	1254	+	apply earlier than that deadline. 8
	1255	+	All applications shall be forwarded by the Department of Transportation to the appropriate 9
	1256	+	board of elections not later than five business days after the date of acceptance, according to rules 10
	1257	+	which shall be promulgated by the State Board of Elections. Board. Those rules shall provide for 11
	1258	+	a paperless, instant, electronic transfer of applications to the appropriate board of elections. 12
	1259	+	Applications for preregistration shall be forwarded to the State Board." 13
	1260	+	SECTION 17.3.(e) G.S. 163-82.20 reads as rewritten: 14
	1261	+	"§ 163-82.20. Voter registration at other public agencies. 15
	1262	+	(a) Voter Registration Agencies. – Every office in this State which accepts: 16
	1263	+	(1) Applications for a program of public assistance under Article 2 of Chapter 17
	1264	+	108A of the General Statutes or under Article 13 of Chapter 130A of the 18
	1265	+	General Statutes; 19
	1266	+	(2) Applications for State-funded State or local government programs primarily 20
	1267	+	engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities, with such office 21
	1268	+	designated by the State Board of Elections; Board; or 22
	1269	+	(3) Claims for benefits under Chapter 96 of the General Statutes, the Employment 23
	1270	+	Security Law, is designated as a voter registration agency for purposes of this 24
	1271	+	section. 25
	1272	+	(b) Duties of Voter Registration Agencies. – A voter registration agency described in 26
	1273	+	subsection (a) of this section shall, unless the applicant declines, in writing, to register to vote:or 27
	1274	+	preregister to vote, do each of the following: 28
	1275	+	(1) Distribute with each application for service or assistance, and with each 29
	1276	+	recertification, renewal, or change of address relating to such service or 30
	1277	+	assistance: 31
	1278	+	a. The voter registration application form described in G.S. 163-82.3(a) 32
	1279	+	or (b); or 33
	1280	+	b. The voter registration agency's own form, if it is substantially 34
	1281	+	equivalent to the form described in G.S. 163-82.3(a) or (b) and has 35
	1282	+	been approved by the State Board of Elections, Board, provided that 36
	1283	+	the agency's own form may be a detachable part of the agency's paper 37
	1284	+	application or may be a paperless computer process, as long as the 38
	1285	+	applicant is required to sign an attestation as part of the application to 39
	1286	+	register.register or preregister. 40
	1287	+	(2) Provide a form that contains the elements required by section 7(a)(6)(B) of 41
	1288	+	the National Voter Registration Act; andAct. 42
	1289	+	(3) Provide to each applicant who does not decline to register or preregister to 43
	1290	+	vote the same degree of assistance with regard to the completion of the 44
	1291	+	registration application as is provided by the office with regard to the 45
	1292	+	completion of its own forms. 46
	1293	+	… 47
	1294	+	(e) Prohibitions. – Any person providing any service under subsection (b) of this section 48
	1295	+	shall not: 49
	1296	+	(1) Seek to influence an applicant's political preference or party registration, 50
	1297	+	except that this shall not be construed to prevent the notice provided by 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	1298	+	Page 26 DRH40313-LU-93
	1299	+	G.S. 163-82.4(d) to be given if the applicant refuses to declare his party 1
	1300	+	affiliation; 2
	1301	+	(2) Display any such political preference or party allegiance; 3
	1302	+	(3) Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of 4
	1303	+	which is to discourage the applicant from registering or preregistering to vote; 5
	1304	+	or 6
	1305	+	(4) Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of 7
	1306	+	which is to lead the applicant to believe that a decision to register or preregister 8
	1307	+	or not to register has any bearing on the availability of services or benefits. 9
	1308	+	(f) Confidentiality of Declination to Register. – No information relating to a declination 10
	1309	+	to register or preregister to vote in connection with an application made at a voter registration 11
	1310	+	agency may be used for any purpose other than voter registration. 12
	1311	+	(g) Transmittal From Agency to Board of Elections. State Board. – Any voter registration 13
	1312	+	or preregistration application completed at a voter registration agency shall be accepted by that 14
	1313	+	agency in lieu of the applicant's mailing the application. Any such application so received shall 15
	1314	+	be transmitted to the appropriate board of elections not later than five business days after 16
	1315	+	acceptance, according to rules which shall be promulgated by the State Board of Elections.Board. 17
	1316	+	… 18
	1317	+	(i) Ineligible Applications Prohibited. – No person shall make application to register or 19
	1318	+	preregister to vote under this section if that person is ineligible on account of age, citizenship, 20
	1319	+	lack of residence for the period of time provided by law, or because of conviction of a felony." 21
	1320	+	SECTION 17.3.(f) G.S. 163-82.23 reads as rewritten: 22
	1321	+	"§ 163-82.23. Voter registration at public high schools. 23
	1322	+	Every public high school shall make available to its students and others who are eligible to 24
	1323	+	register or preregister to vote the application forms described in G.S. 163-82.3, and shall keep a 25
	1324	+	sufficient supply of the forms so that they are always available. A local board of education may, 26
	1325	+	but is not required to, designate high school employees to assist in completing the forms. Only 27
	1326	+	employees who volunteer for this duty may be designated by boards of education." 28
	1327	+	29
	1328	+	PART XVIII. ALLOW DEPLOYED FIRST RESPONDERS TO USE ABSENTEE 30
	1329	+	VOTING PROCEDURES FOR MILITARY OVERSEAS CITIZENS 31
	1330	+	SECTION 18.1. G.S. 163-258.2 reads as rewritten: 32
	1331	+	"§ 163-258.2. Definitions. 33
	1332	+	As used in this Article: 34
	1333	+	(1) "Covered voter" means any of the following: 35
	1334	+	a. A uniformed-service voter or an overseas voter who is registered to 36
	1335	+	vote in this State. 37
	1336	+	b. A uniformed-service voter defined in subdivision (7) of this section 38
	1337	+	whose voting residence is in this State and who otherwise satisfies this 39
	1338	+	State's voter eligibility requirements. 40
	1339	+	c. An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, was last 41
	1340	+	eligible to vote in this State and, except for a State residency 42
	1341	+	requirement, otherwise satisfies this State's voter eligibility 43
	1342	+	requirements. 44
	1343	+	d. An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, would have 45
	1344	+	been last eligible to vote in this State had the voter then been of voting 46
	1345	+	age and, except for a State residency requirement, otherwise satisfies 47
	1346	+	this State's voter eligibility requirements. 48
	1347	+	e. An overseas voter who was born outside the United States, is not 49
	1348	+	described in sub-subdivision c. or d. of this subdivision, and, except 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	1349	+	DRH40313-LU-93 Page 27
	1350	+	for a State residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this State's voter 1
	1351	+	eligibility requirements, if: 2
	1352	+	1. The last place where a parent or legal guardian of the voter 3
	1353	+	was, or under this Article would have been, eligible to vote 4
	1354	+	before leaving the United States is within this State; and 5
	1355	+	2. The voter has not previously registered to vote in any other 6
	1356	+	state. 7
	1357	+	f. A voter who is registered to vote in this State and who has been 8
	1358	+	deployed by the voter's employer away from the voter's county of 9
	1359	+	residence to respond to a disaster declared by the Governor or the 10
	1360	+	President of the United States within 60 days before an election. 11
	1361	+	…." 12
	1362	+	13
	1363	+	PART XIX. EFFECTIVE DATE 14
	1364	+	SECTION 19.1. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections 15
	1365	+	held on or after that date. 16