Subject to approval by voters at the statewide general election in November of 2018, makes the following changes to Article VI of the North Carolina Constitution.

Enacts new Section 11 establishing the Bipartisan State Board of Ethics and Elections Enforcement (Board) to administer ethics and election laws. Places the Board within the Executive Branch for administrative purposes only. The Board consists of eight members who are qualified voters of the state, serving four-year terms, with no more than four members registered with the same political affiliation. Requires appointments to be made by the Governor as follows: (1) four members upon the recommendation of the leader of each of the two Senate political party caucuses with the most members, but prohibits appointing more than two members from the recommendations of each leader and (2) four members upon the recommendation of the leader of each of the two House of Representatives political party caucuses with the most members, but prohibits appointing more than two members from the recommendations of each leader. Requires the General Assembly to enact laws on how appointments are to be made if the Governor does not appoint a member within 10 days of receiving recommendations.

The ballot question is to be for or against “Constitutional amendment to establish an eight-member Bipartisan Board of Ethics and Elections Enforcement in the Constitution to administer ethics and elections law.”

If approved, the amendment is effective March 1, 2019.

Note: the above provisions are similar in scope to Section 1 of SL 2018-117; however, this bill does not contain changes to Article I, Section 6 (Separation of Powers); Article II, Section 20 (Powers of the General Assembly); or Article III, Section 5, of the North Carolina Constitution.