Conference report replaces the 2nd edition in its entirety with the following.

Applicable only to Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Watauga, and Yancey counties, as follows. 

Requires, by no later than Tuesday, October 29, 2024, and until Saturday, November 2, 2024, for each of those counties’ board of elections to open at least one early voting site for every 30,000 registered voters, or any portion thereof, in that county. Directs that the number of registered voters should be determined by the voter registration file posted on the State Board of Elections’ (SBE) website dated October 19, 2024. Specifies that the act should not be construed to overrule a county’s plan of implementation that already complies with the above requirement. Allows counties already in compliance to add additional sites if it feels it is the best interest of the voters. If the county board of elections determines its current plan for implementation does not provide at least one early voting site for every 30,000 registered voters, or any portion thereof, requires that additional sites will be added as necessary to meet the required minimum number of early voting site locations. Lists four requirements for early voting sites to comply with the act, including (1) the county board of elections must seek to provide geographic diversity in locations; (2) the hours of operation are those established for the county board of elections office or its reasonable proximate substitute under the plan for implementation as of October 17, 2024; (3) any open meeting held to comply with the act, and during which no other matter is considered, may be properly noticed by posting of the notice at least 12 hours before the time of the meeting; and (4) all votes of the county board of elections required under the act must be by bipartisan majority.

Specifies that county board of elections should try to use buildings supported by tax revenues, but that they only have to give 24 hours’ notice to any to any State, county, city, local school board, or other entity in control of the building that is supported or maintained, in whole or in part, by or through tax revenues that the building will be used as an early voting site through November 2, 2024.

Provides for voter education of additional early voting sites. Directs county boards of elections to immediately contact SBE if they cannot secure staff for early voting sites.

Effective when the act becomes law and applies only for the November 2024 elections.

Amends the act’s titles.