GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2005

H                                                                                                                                                    1

HOUSE BILL 126

Short Title:     Any-Precinct Voting Pilot.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Insko, Preston (Primary Sponsors);  Alexander, Luebke, and Weiss.
Referred to:	Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform.

February 9, 2005

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to authorize the state Board of elections to conduct a pilot program in which the methods used in one‑stop voting would continue through election day as the predominant voting method, as recommended by the joint select committee on electronic voting systems.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The State Board of Elections shall select up to 10 counties in which to conduct a pilot program during the 2005 and 2006 elections. In selecting those counties, the State Board shall seek diversity of population size, regional location, and demographic composition. The pilot shall be conducted in a county only with the concurrence of the county board of elections. The pilot program shall consist of continuing one‑stop voting as provided in G.S. 163‑227.2 through election day as the principal method of voting. In the counties participating in the pilot, the State Board shall adopt a plan in which the following shall occur:

(1)       Any voter properly registered in the county may vote at any one‑stop site during the one‑stop period established in G.S. 163‑227.2 and on election day.

(2)       All one‑stop sites used in the pilot counties shall have online connection to the voter registration system so that voters can be checked.

(3)       The number of precinct voting places open on election day shall be reduced or eliminated.

(4)       The larger number of one‑stop sites may be open on election day than during the earlier part of the one‑stop period.

(5)       Where technically feasible, the election returns shall be reported by precinct, using all the precincts in existence in the county, whether or not the precinct polling place is open.

(6)       The State Board shall determine which ballots must be made retrievable and identifiable to the voter in order to ensure that the vote count by eligible voters is accurate. If any vote need not be identifiable to the voter, it shall not be made so, notwithstanding G.S. 163‑227.2(e1).

(7)       Notwithstanding G.S. 163‑227.2(g), the State Board may allow the county board in a pilot county to designate one‑stop sites in commercial buildings that are not public buildings.

(8)       In designing the pilot program, the State Board shall ensure fairness to all voters, candidates, and parties, including candidates and voters in counties outside the pilot counties.

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law. The State Board of Elections shall closely monitor the pilot program and report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly at its 2006 Regular Session and to the 2007 General Assembly.