AN ACT TO ESTABLISH ELECTION DISTRICTS FOR THE WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TO ESTABLISH RESIDENCY DISTRICTS FOR THE ANSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS; AND TO MODIFY THE PRIMARY PROCESS THE JOHNSTON COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION. SL 2023-147. Enacted October 25, 2023. Effective October 25, 2023, except as otherwise provided.
Bill Summaries: S759 WATAUGA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS/LST-2.
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Bill S 759 (2023-2024)Summary date: Oct 25 2023 - View Summary
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Bill S 759 (2023-2024)Summary date: Oct 24 2023 - View Summary
Senate amendment to the 1st edition makes the following changes.
Adds the following content.
Section 2.
Currently, the districts of the seven members of the Anson County Board of Commissioners (Board) are divided into seven residential districts throughout the county. Board members have been elected by the residents of their district. The act retains the seven single-residency districts, but now provides that all eligible voters of the county will vote on each Board member. Specifies that members take office and qualify on the first Monday in December in the year of election and serve until a successor has been elected and qualified. Specifies that the residency districts required by the act will be the election districts used in the 2020 and 2022 elections for the Board until revised. Repeals SL 1987-281 (establishing seven single-member districts for Anson County, election schedule, and Board members’ initial terms). Effective the first Monday in December 2026.
Section 3.
Amends Section 3 of SL 1997-32 (pertaining to primary process for Johnston County Board of Education [BOE]), as follows. Removes language specifying that the filing period for BOE candidates is the same as other county offices. Now requires a nonpartisan primary if three or more candidates qualify to run for the BOE in each district. (Under current law, a nonpartisan primary is required when the number of candidates who qualify to run for the board in any election year is at least three more than twice the number of seats being elected that year.) Provides that the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes in the primary in each residency district will be nominated for the November general election, with no second primary (currently, the purpose of the primary is to reduce the number of candidates to twice the number of open seats). Applies to elections held on or after the act becomes law.
Makes organizational changes. Makes conforming changes to the act’s long title.
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Bill S 759 (2023-2024)Summary date: Oct 18 2023 - View Summary
Currently, the five-member Watauga County Board of Commissioners (Board) are each nominated from a separate district but are elected to the Board in a countywide election on a partisan basis for two and four-year staggered terms. Every two years, three of the five commissioner seats come up for election, with the lowest vote getter serving a two-year term, and the remaining two Commissioners serving four-year terms.
Changes the commissioners’ term lengths so that every commissioner serves a staggered four-year term. Commissioners must now reside in one of the five single-member districts described in the act and are now elected only by the voters residing in that district. Sets out the five districts. Provides for the following election schedule to implement staggered four-year terms: (1) in 2024 and every four years after, the members from Districts 3,4, and 5 must each serve a four-year term and (2) in 2026, and every four years after, the members of Districts 1 and 2 must each serve a four-year term. Applies to elections held on or after the act becomes law.