Bill Summary for H 351 (2011-2012)

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Summary date: 

Jun 8 2011

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2011-2012 Session
House Bill 351 (Public) Filed Monday, March 14, 2011
TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT BY (1) REQUIRING THAT VOTERS PROVIDE PHOTO IDENTIFICATION BEFORE VOTING; (2) REQUIRING CANDIDATES AND TREASURERS TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO CORRECT CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS AND REQUIRING LIABILITY OF CANDIDATES FOR CIVIL PENALTIES FOR CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS OF CANDIDATE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEES; (3) LIMITING THE CHAIR OF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO TWO TWO-YEAR TERMS IN THAT OFFICE; (4) PROHIBITING PIECE-WORK PAYMENT FOR VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES; (5) PREVENTING CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ITS APPEARANCE INVOLVING POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS BY STATE CONTRACTORS; AND (6) ALLOWING VOTERS MORE FLEXIBILITY IN APPLYING FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
Intro. by Lewis, T. Moore, Killian.

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Bill summary

House committee substitute, reported in on 6/7/11, makes the following changes to the 2nd edition.
Clarifies that despite the photo identification requirement for voting in person, any voter without photo identification must be allowed to vote a provisional official ballot. Deletes subsection (b) of proposed GS 163-166.13, which provided guidelines applicable to a voter with a disability who does not present photo identification.
Amends GS 163-278.69 to provide that the Judicial Voter Guide published under the statute must also include information on the photo identification requirement for voting in person under proposed GS 163-166.13.
Directs that up to $429,455 of the unexpended funds (was, did not specify a dollar amount of the unexpended funds) in the North Carolina Voter-Owned Elections Fund are appropriated for the purposes of implementing this act. Appropriates funds from the surcharge on attorney membership fees under GS 84-34, collected on or after August 1, 2011 (was, July 1, 2011) and provides that these funds may be used to implement the education and publicity requirements of the act as they relate to judicial elections.
Directs that of the funds appropriated to the General Assembly for the 2010-11 fiscal year, the $231,437 remaining on June 30, 2011, be transferred to the State Board of Elections for the 2011-12 fiscal year to implement the provisions of this act.
Provides that of the funds appropriated to the Department of Transportation, Division of Motor Vehicles, up to $1,468,033 for the 2011-12 fiscal year and $100,438 for the 2012-13 fiscal year may be used from the Highway Fund, including unexpended funds within the Inspections Program Account and Telecommunications Account created by GS 20-183, to support the costs of issuing special identification cards for non-drivers and for costs associated with modifications to the State Automated Driver License System.
Deletes provisions authorizing the use of funds under Title I and Title II of the Help America Vote Act and under the Election Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities provisions of the Help America Vote Act for the purposes of this act. Also deletes proposed changes to GS 163-230.2 regarding the method of requesting absentee ballots.
Adds a severability clause to provide that if any provisions of the proposed act or its application are held to be invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications.
Makes a conforming change to the title.