NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1961 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 591

SENATE BILL 179

 

 

AN ACT TO AMEND ARTICLE VI, SECTION 2, OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NORTH CAROLINA SO AS TO PERMIT NEW RESIDENTS NOT QUALIFIED TO VOTE ONLY BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT RESIDENCE TIME, TO VOTE FOR PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE-PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

 

Section 1.  Article VI, Section 2, of the Constitution of the State of North Carolina is hereby amended by adding the following sentence at the end of said Section:

"The General Assembly may, however, reduce the time of residence, preceding a Presidential Election, for a person possessing all other qualifications of a voter, in which such person shall be entitled to vote for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States only. Any person eligible to vote for electors for President and Vice President of the United States by reason of a reduction in time of residence shall not thereby become eligible to hold office in this State."

Sec. 2.  This amendment shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the entire State at the next general election following the ratification of this Act.

Sec. 3.  The electors favoring the adoption of this amendment shall vote a ballot on which shall be written or printed:

"For amendment permitting General Assembly to reduce time of residence for persons to vote for Presidential and Vice Presidential Electors, if otherwise qualified."

Those opposed shall vote a ballot on which shall be written or printed the words:

"Against amendment permitting General Assembly to reduce time of residence for persons to vote for Presidential and Vice Presidential Electors, if otherwise qualified."

Sec. 4.  The election upon the amendment shall be conducted in the same manner and under the same rules and regulations as is provided by the laws governing general elections, and if a majority of the votes cast be in favor of the amendment, it shall be the duty of the Governor of the State to certify the amendment under the seal of the State to the Secretary of State, who shall enroll the said amendment so certified among the permanent records of his office, and the same shall be in force, and every part thereof, from and after the date of such certification.

Sec. 5.  All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this Act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 6.  This Act shall be in full force and effect from and after its ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 2nd day of June, 1961.