Bill Summaries: H769 (2017-2018 Session)

Tracking:
  • Summary date: Apr 11 2017 - View summary

    Amends the definition of a political party in GS 163-96(a) reducing the percentage requirement of entire votes cast in the state for Governor or for presidential electors to qualify as a political party in North Carolina from 2% to 0.25%. Further requires a petition by a group of voters seeking political party status to be signed by at least 200 registered voters from each of three (was, four) congressional districts. Petitions must be filed by 12:00 noon on the third Friday in July preceding the day on which is to be held the first general state election.

    Amends GS 163-98, adjusting the time frame for the president of the new political party's convention to certify to the State Board of Elections names of persons chosen as the new party's candidates in the upcoming general election to be no later than the first day of September (rather than the first day of July) prior to the general election.

    Amends GS 163-122(a), as amended by SL 2017-3, changing the date by which a petition by an unaffiliated candidate to be included on a ballot must be filed with the State Board of Elections from the second Wednesday prior to the primary election to the third Friday in July. Also reduces the required percentage of qualified voters who must sign the petition from 2% of the total number of voters who voted in the most recent general election to 0.25% if the office is statewide. Requires the petition be signed from voters in three (was, four) Congressional districts.

    If the office is a district office under the jurisdiction of the State Board of Elections or if the office is a county office or single county legislative district, the percentage of qualified voters that must sign the petition is changed from 4% to 0.25%. Deletes various provisions concerning total number of registered voters needed in regards to county officer or single-county legislative district elections, in lieu of setting the requirement at 0.25% of the total number of registered voters that voted in the most recent general election for that office. Updates a statutory reference. If the office is a superior court judge or a district court judge, regardless of whether the district lies entirely in one county or in more than one county, the percentage of qualified voters that must sign the petition is changed from 2% to 0.25%.

    Amends GS 163-296 requiring unaffiliated candidates who seek to have their names printed on the regular municipal ballot to do so in the manner provided in GS 163-122 and removing the requirement that the petition be signed by at least 4% of the qualified voters of the municipality. Makes conforming changes, and makes the language gender neutral. 

    Effective with respect to all primaries and elections held on or after the date the act becomes law.