GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 2
HOUSE BILL 6
Committee Substitute Favorable 3/4/25
Short Title: Pamlico Co. Muni. Even-Yr. Elect. (Local)
Sponsors:
Referred to:
January 30, 2025
*H6-v-2*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROVIDE TH AT REGULAR MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN ALL OF THE 2
TOWNS IN PAMLICO COUNTY SHALL BE HELD IN EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS . 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1.(a) Sections 3-3 and 3-4 of the Charter of the Town of Grantsboro, 5
being S.L. 1997-446, as amended by S.L. 2011-83, read as rewritten: 6
"Section 3-3. Term of Office of Council Members. Members of the Council are elected to 7
four-year terms in 2011 and quadrennially thereafter.terms. 8
"Section 3-4. Mayor; Term of Office. The Mayor shall be elected by the qualified voters of 9
the Town in 2011 and quadrennially thereafter for a four-year term." 10
SECTION 1.(b) Section 4-1 of the Charter of the Town of Grantsboro, being S.L. 11
1997-446, reads as rewritten: 12
"Section 4-1. Elections. Regular municipal elections shall be held at the time of the general 13
election in even-numbered years. Council members for the Town of Grantsboro shall be elected 14
on a nonpartisan plurality basis and the results determined in accordance with G.S. 163-292. 15
Except as otherwise provided, the election shall be conducted in accordance with the uniform 16
municipal election laws in Chapter 163 of the General Statutes." 17
SECTION 1.(c) Section 4-2 of the Charter of the Town of Grantsboro, being S.L. 18
1997-446, is repealed. 19
SECTION 1.(d) No municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of 20
Grantsboro in 2027. The terms of office for the Council members and Mayor in the Town of 21
Grantsboro serving on the effective date of this act shall be extended by one year. Regular 22
municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Grantsboro every four years beginning in 23
2028. Beginning in 2028, five Council members and a Mayor shall be elected to serve four-year 24
terms. 25
SECTION 2.(a) Section 3 of the Charter of the Town of Minnesott Beach, being 26
Chapter 890 of the 1971 Session Laws, reads as rewritten: 27
"Sec. 3. The governing body of said Town shall consist of a mayor and four commissioners 28
who shall be elected at the time and in the manner provided in the General 29
Statutes.commissioners. The mayor and four commissioners shall be elected to serve two-year 30
terms. Regular municipal elections shall be held at the time of the general election in each 31
even-numbered year. The mayor and commissioners shall be elected on a nonpartisan plurality 32
basis, and the results determined in accordance with G.S. 163-292. Except as otherwise provided, 33
the election shall be conducted in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws in Chapter 34
163 of the General Statutes." 35 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 6-Second Edition
SECTION 2.(b) No municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Minnesott 1
Beach in 2025. The terms of office of the mayor and the four commissioners serving on the 2
effective date of this act whose terms are set to expire in 2025 shall be extended by one year. 3
Regular municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Minnesott Beach in 4
even-numbered years beginning in 2026. Beginning in 2026, the mayor and four commissioners 5
shall be elected to serve two-year terms. 6
SECTION 3.(a) Notwithstanding the Charter of the Town of Oriental, being Chapter 7
184 of the Private Laws of 1899, as amended by Chapter 878 of the 1991 Session Laws and 8
Chapter 4 of the 1993 Session Laws, regular municipal elections for officers in the Town of 9
Oriental shall be held at the time of the general election each even-numbered year. The election 10
shall be conducted on a nonpartisan plurality basis, and the results determined in accordance with 11
G.S. 163-292. Except as otherwise provided, the election shall be conducted in accordance with 12
the uniform municipal election laws in Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. 13
SECTION 3.(b) No municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Oriental 14
in 2025. The terms of office for the mayor and five commissioners in the Town of Oriental 15
serving on the effective date of this act whose terms are set to expire in 2025 shall be extended 16
by one year. Regular municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Oriental in 17
even-numbered years beginning in 2026. Beginning in 2026, a mayor and five commissioners 18
shall be elected to serve two-year terms. 19
SECTION 4.(a) Notwithstanding the Charter of the Town of Vandemere, being 20
Chapter 311 of the Private Laws of 1895, regular municipal elections for officers in the Town of 21
Vandemere shall be held at the time of the general election each even-numbered year. The 22
election shall be conducted on a nonpartisan plurality basis, and the results determined in 23
accordance with G.S. 163-292. Except as otherwise provided, the election shall be conducted in 24
accordance with the uniform municipal election laws in Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. 25
SECTION 4.(b) No municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of 26
Vandemere in 2025. The terms of office for the mayor and five commissioners in the Town of 27
Vandemere serving on the effective date of this act whose terms are set to expire in 2025 shall 28
be extended by one year. Regular municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of 29
Vandemere in even-numbered years beginning in 2026. Beginning in 2026, a mayor and five 30
commissioners shall be elected to serve two-year terms. 31
SECTION 5.(a) Section 8 of the Charter of the Town of Alliance, being Chapter 760 32
of the 1965 Session Laws, reads as rewritten: 33
"Sec. 8. Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. At its organizational meeting on the first Saturday in 34
July, 1967, and biennially thereafter following a each regular municipal election, the board of 35
commissioners shall elect the town commissioner with the largest vote at said election, as 36
chairman, chair, who shall act as mayor, and another of its members its vice chairman, chair, who 37
shall act as mayor pro tempore. The mayor shall preside at meetings of the governing board, and 38
shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as are or may be conferred and 39
imposed upon him by the general laws of North Carolina, by this Charter, and by the ordinances 40
of the town. He The mayor shall be recognized as the head of the town government, for all 41
ceremonial purposes, by the courts for the service of all legal process in civil matters, and by the 42
Governor for the purposes of civil defense and military law. In time of public danger or 43
emergency the mayor shall, if so authorized and directed by the town governing board, take and 44
exercise command of the town police, maintain order, and enforce the law. In case of the absence 45
or other disability of the mayor to act, the mayor pro tempore shall act as mayor during the 46
continuance of the absence or other disability." 47
SECTION 5.(b) Section 14 of the Charter of the Town of Alliance, being Chapter 48
760 of the 1965 Session Laws, reads as rewritten: 49
"Sec. 14. Municipal Elections. The regular election of members of the board of 50
commissioners shall be held on the last Saturday in June in the odd-numbered years, beginning 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 6-Second Edition Page 3
with the last Saturday in June, 1967, and biennially thereafter. The board of commissioners may, 1
for any other lawful purpose, and by resolution, order a special election, fix the time for holding 2
the same, and provide all other details and means for holding such special election.at the time of 3
the general election in each even-numbered year. The board of commissioners shall be elected 4
on a nonpartisan plurality basis, and the results determined in accordance with G.S. 163-292." 5
SECTION 5.(c) Section 15 of the Charter of the Town of Alliance, being Chapter 6
760 of the 1965 Session Laws, reads as rewritten: 7
"Sec. 15. Regulations of Elections. All elections shall be conducted in accordance with the 8
general uniform municipal laws relating to municipal elections, in Chapter 163 of the General 9
Statutes, except as otherwise provided herein." 10
SECTION 5.(d) Sections 16, 17, 18, and 19 of the Charter of the Town of Alliance, 11
being Chapter 760 of the 1965 Session Laws, are repealed. 12
SECTION 5.(e) No municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Alliance 13
in 2025. The terms of office of the five members of the board of commissioners serving on the 14
effective date of this act whose terms are set to expire in 2025 shall be extended by one year. 15
Regular municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Alliance in even-numbered years 16
beginning in 2026. Beginning in 2026, the five members of the board of commissioners shall be 17
elected to serve two-year terms. 18
SECTION 6.(a) Notwithstanding the Charter of the Town of Arapahoe, being the 19
Charter approved by the Municipal Board of Control and filed with the Secretary of State on 20
September 21, 1920, as reactivated by Chapter 200 of the 1969 Session Laws, regular municipal 21
elections for officers in the Town of Arapahoe shall be held at the time of the general election 22
each even-numbered year. The election shall be conducted on a nonpartisan plurality basis, and 23
the results determined in accordance with G.S. 163-292. Except as otherwise provided, the 24
election shall be conducted in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws in Chapter 25
163 of the General Statutes. 26
SECTION 6.(b) No municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Arapahoe 27
in 2025. The terms of office for the mayor and five commissioners in the Town of Arapahoe 28
serving on the effective date of this act whose terms are set to expire in 2025 shall be extended 29
by one year. Regular municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Arapahoe in 30
even-numbered years beginning in 2026. Beginning in 2026, a mayor and five commissioners 31
shall be elected to serve two-year terms. 32
SECTION 7.(a) Section 2 of the Charter of the Town of Bayboro, being Chapter 33
110 of the Private Laws of 1903, reads as rewritten: 34
"SEC. 2. That there shall be held on the first Tuesday in May,1903, an election for mayor 35
The governing body for the Town of Bayboro shall consist of a Mayor and three five Town 36
Commissioners, and biennially thereafter on the first Tuesday in May an election shall be held 37
for the purpose of electing a Mayor and three Commissioners for said town. That the elected for 38
staggered four-year terms. Regular municipal elections shall be held at the time of the general 39
election in each even-numbered year. The Mayor and Town Commissioners of said town shall 40
hold a meeting on the first Wednesday in each month for the purpose of transacting the business 41
of said town. That all be elected on a nonpartisan plurality basis, and the results determined in 42
accordance with G.S. 163-292. Except as otherwise provided, municipal elections shall be held 43
under the provisions of the general election law, except as herein amended, except that the Board 44
of Town Commissioners shall appoint all registrar of elections for said town elections and all 45
poll holders, and shall canvass all the votes cast at each election and issue certificates of election 46
to the successful candidates, and in case of a tie in the vote of any two or more candidates they 47
may decide by a majority vote of said board in favor of either and declare the results of all 48
elections; and for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section the Board of Town 49
Commissioners shall on the first Wednesday in April, 1903, and biennially thereafter on the 50
first Wednesday in April, and appoint a registrar and two poll holders to hold said election, and 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 4 House Bill 6-Second Edition
the registrar shall be required to keep open the registration book for registration of voters for ten 1
days only, being the ten days next preceding the day of election, Sundays excluded.conducted in 2
accordance with the uniform municipal election laws in Chapter 163 of the General Statutes." 3
SECTION 7.(b) No municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Bayboro 4
in 2025. The terms of office for the Mayor and two Commissioners in the Town of Bayboro 5
serving on the effective date of this act whose terms are set to expire in 2025 shall be extended 6
by one year. The terms of office for the three Commissioners in the Town of Bayboro serving on 7
the effective date of this act whose terms are set to expire in 2027 shall be extended by one year. 8
Regular municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Bayboro in even-numbered years 9
beginning in 2026. 10
SECTION 8.(a) Section 3.4 of the Charter of the Town of Mesic, being Chapter 626 11
of the 1971 Session Laws, reads as rewritten: 12
"Section 3.4. Terms; Qualifications; Vacancies. 13
(a) Except for the terms of office as specified in Section 3.1. and Section 4.1. herein, the 14
Mayor and the members of the Town Board shall serve for terms of two (2) years, beginning the 15
day and hour of the organizational meeting following their election, as established by ordinance 16
in accordance with this Charter; provided, they shall serve until their successors are elected and 17
qualify. 18
(b) No person shall be eligible to be a candidate or be elected as a member of the Town 19
Board, or to serve in such capacity, unless he or she is a resident and a qualified voter of the 20
Town. 21
(c) If any elected Commissioner shall refuse to qualify, or if there shall be any vacancy 22
in the office of Commissioner after election and qualification, the remaining members of the 23
Board shall by majority vote appoint some qualified person to serve for the unexpired term. Any 24
Commissioner so appointed shall have the same authority and powers as if regularly elected." 25
SECTION 8.(b) Section 4.1 of the Charter of the Town of Mesic, being Chapter 626 26
of the 1971 Session Laws, reads as rewritten: 27
"Section 4.1. Regular Municipal Elections. Regular municipal elections shall be held on the 28
Tuesday after the first Monday in May of each odd-numbered year, beginning in 1973. In the 29
regular election in 1973 and biennially thereafter, there shall be elected five (5) Commissioners. 30
In the regular election in 1973 and biennially thereafter, there shall be elected a Mayor for a term 31
of two (2) years.at the time of the general election in even-numbered years. The Mayor and the 32
Commissioners shall be elected on a nonpartisan plurality basis, and the results determined in 33
accordance with G.S. 163-292." 34
SECTION 8.(c) Section 4.2 of the Charter of the Town of Mesic, being Chapter 626 35
of the 1971 Session Laws, is repealed. 36
SECTION 8.(d) Section 4.3 of the Charter of the Town of Mesic, being Chapter 626 37
of the 1971 Session Laws, reads as rewritten: 38
"Section 4.3. Regulation of Elections. All municipal elections shall be conducted in 39
accordance with the general uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina relating to 40
municipal elections, in Chapter 163 of the General Statutes, except as otherwise provided herein." 41
SECTION 8.(e) No municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Mesic in 42
2025. The terms of office of the Mayor and the five Commissioners serving on the effective date 43
of this act whose terms are set to expire in 2025 shall be extended by one year. Regular municipal 44
elections shall be conducted in the Town of Mesic in even-numbered years beginning in 2026. 45
Beginning in 2026, the Mayor and five Commissioners shall be elected to serve two-year terms. 46
SECTION 9.(a) Section 4 of the Charter of the Town of Stonewall, being Chapter 47
385 of the 1969 Session Laws, reads as rewritten: 48
"Sec. 4. The governing body of said Town shall consist of a mayor and three commissioners 49
who shall be elected at the time and in the manner provided in Chapter 160 commissioners, each 50
elected to serve two-year terms. Regular municipal elections shall be held at the time of the 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 6-Second Edition Page 5
general election in each even-numbered year. The mayor and commissioners shall be elected on 1
a nonpartisan plurality basis, and the results determined in accordance with G.S. 163-292. Except 2
as otherwise provided, the election shall be conducted in accordance with the uniform municipal 3
election laws of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes." 4
SECTION 9.(b) No municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Stonewall 5
in 2025. The terms of office for the mayor and three commissioners in the Town of Stonewall 6
serving on the effective date of this act whose terms are set to expire in 2025 shall be extended 7
by one year. Regular municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Stonewall in 8
even-numbered years beginning in 2026. Beginning in 2026, a mayor and three commissioners 9
shall be elected to serve two-year terms. 10
SECTION 10. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections 11
held on or after that date. 12