NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1971 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 201

HOUSE BILL 2

 

 

AN ACT TO AMEND ARTICLE VI, SECTION 1 OF THE NORTH CAROLINA CONSTITUTION SO AS TO LOWER THE AGE FOR VOTING TO 18 YEARS, AND TO PROVIDE ELIGIBILITY TO OFFICE.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

 

Section 1.  (a) Article VI, Section 1, of the Constitution of North Carolina, as ratified by the qualified voters of the State on November 3, 1970, is hereby rewritten to read as follows:

"Section 1.  Who may vote. Every person born in the United States and every person who has been naturalized, 18 years of age, and possessing the qualifications set out in this Article, shall be entitled to vote at any election by the people of the State, except as herein otherwise provided."

(b)  Article VI, Sec. 6, of the Constitution of North Carolina, as ratified by the qualified voters of the State on November 3, 1970, is hereby rewritten to read as follows:

"Sec. 6  Eligibility to elective office. Every qualified voter in North Carolina who is 21 years of age, except as in this Constitution disqualified, shall be eligible for election by the people to office."

Sec. 2.  The amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at a general election which shall be held on November 2, 1971. That election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in this State.

Sec. 3.  At that election, each qualified voter presenting himself to vote shall be provided a ballot on which shall be printed the following:

□ FOR State constitutional amendment reducing the voting age to 18 years and providing that only persons 21 years of age or older shall be eligible for elective office.

□ AGAINST State constitutional amendment reducing the voting age to 18 years and providing that only persons 21 years of age or older shall be eligible for elective office.

Those qualified voters favoring the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act shall vote by marking an X or check mark in the square beside the statement beginning "FOR", and those qualified voters opposed to that amendment shall vote by marking an X or check mark in the square beside the statement "AGAINST".

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, voting machines may be used in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the State Board of Elections.

Sec. 4.  If a majority of the votes cast thereon are in favor of the amendment set out in Section 1 of this act, then the Governor shall certify that fact under the Great Seal of the State to the Secretary of State, and that amendment as set out in Section 1 of this act shall take effect on January 1, 1972.

Sec. 5.  This act shall take effect upon its ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 16th day of April, 1971.