NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1979 SESSION

CHAPTER 539

HOUSE BILL 989

AN ACT TO PREVENT FRAUD AND TO INSURE THE LEGAL REGISTRATION OF VOTERS.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  G.S. 163-72 is amended by adding a new subparagraph (d) to read as follows:

"(d)      Officers authorized by G.S. 163-80(a) to register voters shall personally examine the applicant and administer the oaths prescribed in G.S. 163-72(a) and (b) to each individual applying to register, and the officer shall sign the individual's application in the presence of the applicant at the time he takes the application."

Sec. 2.  G.S. 163-72 is further amended by adding a new subparagraph (e) to read as follows:

"(e)       Any individual not authorized by G.S. 163-80 to register voters shall complete the registration application on behalf of any applicant only in the physical presence of an authorized registration officer, who shall in such case examine the applicant and administer the oaths required in G.S. 163-72(a) and (b). The registration officer shall sign the application in the presence of the applicant at the time he takes the application."

Sec. 3.  G.S. 163-72 is further amended by adding a new subparagraph (f) to read as follows:

"(f)       The application of any individual who is registered by a procedure other than as set out in this section shall be void."

Sec. 4. G.S. 163-275 is amended by adding a new subsection (14) to read as follows:

"(14)    Any officer authorized by G.S. 163-80 to register voters and any other individual who knowingly and willfully receives, completes, or signs an application to register from any voter contrary to the provisions of G.S. 163-72 shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction shall be imprisoned not less than four months or fined not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both, in the discretion of the court."

Sec. 5.  G.S. 163-67(a) is amended by deleting in lines 5,6,7, and 8 of the fourth paragraph the words "provided that where the application is completed during the last 51 days prior to the election but at least 21 days prior to the election, the notification of rejection shall be made no less than 21 days prior to the election or the application shall constitute a valid registration", and substituting in lieu thereof the following:

"provided that where the application is completed during the last 51 days prior to the election but at least 21 days excluding Saturdays and Sundays, prior to the election, notification of registration shall be made no less than 14 days prior to the election of the application shall constitute a valid registration. If the application is rejected after the close of the registration books as provided in G.S. 163-67(a), the board shall notify the applicant at least 14 days before the election that it has rejected his application. The applicant may appear before the board and, if he establishes his qualifications to register prior to the election, he shall be permitted to vote."

Sec. 6.  This act shall become effective September 1, 1979.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 9th day of May, 1979.