Part 1.

Amends GS 115C-37 to make county boards of education elected biennially on a partisan basis. Makes conforming and clarifying changes. 

Repeals GS 115C-37.1, which provided that vacancies in offices of county boards were to be elected on a partisan basis in certain counties.

Makes conforming changes to GS 115C-67(3).

Provides that this act has the effect of repealing any provisions of local or special acts relating to the nonpartisan election of a local board of education and any conflicting methods of filling vacancies in the membership of boards of education than as required by GS 115C‑37(f), as amended by this act. Specifies that this act does not affect the filling of a vacancy on a local board of education that occurs for a seat elected prior to the effective date of this act. 

Requires any local act requiring a board of education election to be conducted in an odd‑numbered year to be held as a partisan election beginning in 2017.

Part 2.

Repeals Article 25 of GS Chapter 163 and amends various statutes in GS Chapter 163 to make the election of Appellate, Superior Court, and District Court judges partisan. Amends GS 163-106 to prohibit filing a notice of candidacy for superior court judge unless that person is, at the time of filing the notice of candidacy, a resident of the judicial district as it will exist at the time the person would take office if elected; prohibits nomination as a superior court judge under GS 163‑114 unless that person is, at the time of nomination, a resident of the judicial district as it will exist at the time the person would take office if elected; and requires regular superior court judges to reside in the district for which elected. Amends GS 163-107.1 to specify the number of signatures needed to meet the requirements for petition in lieu of paying the filing fee, depending on whether the office is for appellate courts, or superior or district court. Makes conforming, clarifying, and technical changes. 

Part 3.

Amends Article 23 of GS Chapter 163 to require all municipal primaries and elections to be conducted on a partisan basis. Makes conforming, clarifying, and technical changes.

Provides that the act has the effect of repealing any provisions of local or special acts relating to the nonpartisan municipal elections. Provides that the act does not affect the filling of a vacancy in a municipal election that occurs for a seat elected prior to the effective date of this act. Requires any local act requiring a municipal election to be conducted in an odd‑numbered year be held as a partisan election beginning in 2017.

Part 4.

Provides that in applying the act, a candidate's party affiliation or unaffiliated status is based on the party affiliation or unaffiliated status under which the candidate registered at the general election immediately preceding the candidate's filing for office pursuant to this act.

Part 5.

The act is effective with respect to primaries and elections held on or after January 1, 2016.