NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1977 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 475

HOUSE BILL 1040

 

 

AN ACT TO AMEND G.S. 163-302 RELATING TO MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO CLARIFY PERIOD FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  G.S. 163-302 is amended by rewriting to read:

"§ 163-302.  Absentee voting. — (a) In any municipal election, including a primary or general election or referendum, conducted by the county board of elections, absentee voting may, upon resolution of the municipal governing body, be permitted. Such resolution must be adopted no later than 60 days prior to an election in order to be effective for that election. Any such resolution shall remain effective for all future elections unless repealed no later than 60 days before an election. A copy of all resolutions adopted under this section shall be filed with the State Board of Elections and the county board of elections conducting the election within 10 days of passage in order to be effective. Absentee voting shall not be permitted in any municipal election unless such election is conducted by the county board of elections.

(b)        The provisions of Articles 20 and 21 of this Chapter shall apply to absentee voting in municipal elections, except the earliest date by which absentee ballots shall be required to be available for absentee voting in municipal elections shall be 30 days prior to the date of the municipal primary or election or as quickly following the filing deadline specified in G.S. 163‑291(2) or G.S. 163-294.2(c) as the county board of elections is able to secure the official ballots."

Sec. 2.  Nothing herein shall render void any resolution on file with the State Board of Elections as of the effective date of this act.

Sec. 3.  This act shall become effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 3rd day of June, 1977.