Amends GS 163-227.2, providing that one-stop voting occur no earlier than the second Thursday (currently, the third Thursday) before the election. Clarifies that a county board of elections may not conduct one-stop voting on any Sunday. Clarifies that a county board of elections may provide for one or more locations offering one-stop voting in the county, provided all sites other than the county board of elections office are open at the same time for voting. Also prohibits the State Board of Elections from approving a plan that provides for one-stop voting sites to be open at different times. Repeals GS 163-82.6A, which allows in-person registration and voting at one-stop sites, and makes conforming changes to various provisions in GS Chapter 163.
Repeals subsections (d) and (e) in GS 163-82.6, which detail the voting procedure for persons who become qualified to register and vote on primary or election day. Repeals GS 163-230.2 (method to request absentee ballot), GS 163-82.1(d) (allowing preregistration for persons at least 16 years old, but not 18 by election), and GS 163-82.3(a)(5) (preregistration to vote forms). Makes conforming changes to various provisions of GS Chapter 163. Repeals GS 163-82.6(f) (pertaining to preregistration). Repeals GS 163-82.25 (mandated voter registration drive). Repeals GS 115C-47(59) (encouraging local boards of education to promote student registration and preregistration), and makes a conforming change to GS 115C-81(g1)(1)b. (concerning the high school social studies curriculum).
Amends GS 163-165.6(d), requiring candidates on a general election official ballot to appear in the following order: (1) nominees of political parties that reflect the two highest percentages (rather than at least 5%) of statewide voter registration, in rotating order (currently, in alphabetical order) by party every four years and in random order (currently, alphabetical order) within the party; (2) nominees of other political parties in random order (currently, in alphabetical order by and within the party); and (3) unaffiliated candidates in random (currently, alphabetical) order. Requires the State Board of Elections to begin the rotating order with a party that has not been first on the ballot in the past four years, effective for elections held on or after January 1, 2012.
Amends GS 163-165(6), removing the requirement that a provisional ballot not be marked to make it identifiable to the voter. Amends GS 163-82.6(a1), effective for voter registration applications completed on or after January 1, 2012, to clarify that it is a Class 2 misdemeanor to sell or attempt to sell a completed voter registration form or to condition the form’s delivery upon payment, including payment on a per voter registration application basis. Amends GS 163-166.11 to prohibit any person, other than an election official, from facilitating, organizing, or encouraging any individual or group to appear and vote at a voting place that is known not to be that individual’s or group’s voting place. Makes a clarifying change.
Unless otherwise indicated, effective January 1, 2012, and applies to elections held on or after that date.