Senate committee substitute to the 6th edition makes the following changes.

Removes the following provisions from the previous edition:

(1)   Part I, concerning various changes to the ballot counting procedure,

(2)   Section 2.1, amending GS 163-165.5 concerning the requirements for the printing of party designations on ballots,

(3)   Section 2.3, concerning disorderly conduct at voting places,

(4)   Section 2.5, concerning closure of equipment after early voting,

(5)   Changes to GS 163-82.14 concerning voter list maintenance,

(6)   New GS 163-90.4 (audit and challenge of ineligible votes cast),

(7)   Section 2.9, concerning a temporary moratorium on the expiration of certain Class C drivers licenses,

(8)   Part III, concerning duties and structure of the State Board of Elections and County Boards of Elections,

(9)   Part IV, concerning changes to the Uniform Military and Overseas voters Act,

(10) Section 5.3, concerning contributions by foreign nationals,

(11) Part VII concerning a study of using signature verification technology,

(12) Part VIII concerning the School of Government and State Board of Elections developing trainings for county boards of elections.

Reorganizes the remaining provisions and makes the following changes and additions.

Section 1.1

Makes clarifying changes to GS 163-82.24.

Section 1.4

Further amends GS 163-106.1 to refer to party instead of political parties. Makes changes to the statute effective January 1, 2027.

Section 1.5

Changes the effective date to changes to GS 153A-22, GS 160A-23, and GS 115C-37 to January 1, 2027.

Section 2.1

Makes clarifying changes to GS 20-7 and changes the effective date to January 1, 2027.

Section 2.3

Further amends GS 163-82.14 to specify that any voter registration data receive from other states under a data sharing agreement is not public record. Removes proposed language about disclosure of such data. Amends the procedure for removing names of deceased persons from voters lists, requires the county board, upon receiving names of deceased votes from federal agencies, to remove a person from its voter registration records within one week of receiving the list. Requires the State Board of Elections to confirm that each county board has removed the names. Removes language in the previous edition that set out a procedure for the chair of each county board to initiate a challenge proceeding.

Removes the deadline and specified process for removing votes for which the State Board has received information on a non-eligible citizen appearing on the voter registration records from a federal database on or after January 1, 2026, for whom a challenge has not been entered.

Part III.

Section 3.1

Currently, under GS 163-166.40, early voting for all elections begins no earlier than the third Thursday before an election in which a voter seeks to vote and not later than 3 pm on the last Saturday before that election, with early voting on that last Saturday to run from 8 am to 3 pm.

Shortens early voting periods for a primary election, a second primary, or a runoff election conducted by county boards of elections under GS 163-166.40 to now begin not earlier than the second Monday before a primary election, a second primary, or a runoff election in which a voter seeks to vote and not later than 3 pm on the last Saturday before that primary or runoff. Specifies that early voting on that last Saturday runs from 8 am to 3 pm. Makes conforming changes.

Allows the Governor to fix the early voting period for special elections and for special first primaries to fill vacancies in the US House of Representatives under GS 163-13 so long as the period is not more than 10 consecutive days. Limits the early voting periods to 10 consecutive days under GS 163-287 for special municipal elections that are held at a different time than general State or county elections, primary elections, municipal general elections if the election is within the jurisdiction of the municipality only, or at the same time as any other election requiring all precincts in the county to be open.

No longer refers to mail in absentee voting, just absentee voting, in municipal elections under GS 163-302. Limits early voting in such elections to 10 consecutive days. 

Makes technical changes.

Applies to elections held on or after January 1, 2027.

Section 3.2

Further amend GS 163-89 to allow ballots cast under Part 5 of Article 14A of GS Chapter 163 and under Article 20 and 21A of GS Chapter 163 that are received by the county board to be challenged no later than 5 pm on the fifth business day after the primary or general election or county bond election (was, ballots under part 5 may be challenged no later than the close of polls on election day in previous edition).

Amends GS 163-90.2 by removing proposed addition concerning challenges sustained for death of the voter under GS 163-85.

Section 3.3

Makes new GS 147-64.6Q effective January 1, 2027.

Section 4.2

Further amends GS 163-278.10A by increasing the threshold for exempting certain candidates from financial reporting from contribution of $1,000 or less to $5,000 or less (was, $3,000 or less in previous edition). Makes conforming changes. Applies to certifications for report exemptions filed on or after January 1, 2027.

Section 4.3

Further amends GS 163-278.12 by removing the provision requiring statements filed in connection with an independent expenditure or contribution regarding a referendum to include a certification that the file has not knowingly or willfully accepted funds in excess of $10,000 from a foreign national within the 4 year period proceeding the date on which the expenditure was made and will not do so through the election. Makes clarifying changes to the effective date.

Section 4.4

Makes changes to GS 163-278.9 and GS 163-278.9A effective January 1, 2027.

Section 4.5

Amends proposed changes to GS 163-278.8A so that the purchase price of goods or services sold by a political party committee or affiliated party committees will not be treated as a contribution (was, sold by a political party executive committee, an affiliated party committee, or other political party committees in the previous edition). Makes conforming changes. Amends the conditions that must be met for approval of a treasurer’s plan for the sale of goods or services to that no purchaser makes total purchases under the plan exceeding $100 (was, $50). Amends the definition of political party committee. Makes clarifying changes to the effective date.