Fix Our Democracy.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 788

Short Title: Fix Our Democracy. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives Buansi, Willingham, Cohn, and Rubin (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 8, 2025
*H788-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT AMENDING THE NORTH CAROLINA CONST ITUTION TO ESTABLISH A 2
NONPARTISAN REDISTRI CTING PROCESS; REENA CTING LEGISLATION TH AT 3
ESTABLISHED A NONPAR TISAN METHOD FOR JUD ICIAL ELECTIONS; 4
EXTENDING THE WAITING PERIOD FOR FORMER LEGISLATORS WHO BECOME 5
LOBBYISTS; PROVIDING FOR ONLINE VOTER RE GISTRATION, AND 6
APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THAT PURPOSE, AN D AUTOMATIC VOTER 7
REGISTRATION; INCREA SING TRANSPARENCY BY REQUIRING ADEQUATE 8
NOTICE OF MEETINGS O F ALL LEGISLATIVE CO MMITTEES AND SESSIO NS 9
OCCURRING IN THE LEG ISLATIVE COMPLEX AND REQUIRING LIVE VIDE O 10
AND AUDIO STREAMING OF ALL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE AND COMMISSION 11
MEETINGS AND SESSION S OCCURRING IN THE L EGISLATIVE COMPLEX; 12
ENSURING VOTING PLACES ON CERTAIN COLLEGE CAMPUSES; PROHIBITING 13
VOTER ROLL PURGING; MAK ING VARIOUS CHANGES TO THE CAMPAIGN 14
FINANCE LAWS REGARDI NG TRANSPARENCY IN S OURCES OF SPENDING, 15
DIGITAL ADVERTISEMEN T CAMPAIGNS, PROTECT IONS AGAINST FOREIGN 16
INTERFERENCE IN ELEC TIONS, AND LIMITING SUPER PAC INFLUENCE; 17
REESTABLISHING PUB LIC FINANCING FOR JU DICIAL CAMPAIGNS; AN D 18
RESTORING CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS OF CERTAIN OFFENDERS. 19
Whereas, short-term political incentives are currently set against the long-term public 20
good; and 21
Whereas, the needed reforms are generally well known; and 22
Whereas, the people of North Carolina are demanding free and fair elections and a 23
true democracy; and 24
Whereas, restoring the people's trust in our work begins with restoring the people's 25
fundamental role in our elections; Now, therefore, 26
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 27
28
PART I. NONPARTISAN REDISTRICTING PROCESS 29
SECTION 1.1.(a) Section 3 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution reads as 30
rewritten: 31
"Sec. 3. Senate districts; apportionment of Senators. 32
The Senators shall be elected from districts. The General Assembly, at the first regular session 33
convening after the return of every decennial census of population taken by order of Congress, 34
shall revise the senate districts and the apportionment of Senators among those districts, subject 35
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 788-First Edition
to the following requirements:Assembly shall establish a nonpartisan process to revise the senate 1
districts and the apportionment of Senators among those districts pursuant to Section 25 of this 2
Article. 3
(1) Each Senator shall represent, as nearly as may be, an equal number of inhabitants, the 4
number of inhabitants that each Senator represents being determined for this purpose by dividing 5
the population of the district that he represents by the number of Senators apportion ed to that 6
district; 7
(2) Each senate district shall at all times consist of contiguous territory; 8
(3) No county shall be divided in the formation of a senate district; 9
(4) When established, the senate districts and the apportionment of Senators shall remain 10
unaltered until the return of another decennial census of population taken by order of Congress." 11
SECTION 1.1.(b) Section 5 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution reads as 12
rewritten: 13
"Sec. 5. Representative districts; apportionment of Representatives. 14
The Representatives shall be elected from districts. The General Assembly, at the first regular 15
session convening after the return of every decennial census of population taken by order of 16
Congress, shall revise the representative districts and th e apportionment of Representatives 17
among those districts, subject to the following requirements: Assembly shall establish a 18
nonpartisan process to revise the representative districts and the apportionment of 19
Representatives among those districts pursuant to Section 25 of this Article. 20
(1) Each Representative shall represent, as nearly as may be, an equal number of 21
inhabitants, the number of inhabitants that each Representative represents being determined for 22
this purpose by dividing the population of the dis trict that he represents by the number of 23
Representatives apportioned to that district; 24
(2) Each representative district shall at all times consist of contiguous territory; 25
(3) No county shall be divided in the formation of a representative district; 26
(4) When established, the representative districts and the apportionment of 27
Representatives shall remain unaltered until the return of another decennial census of population 28
taken by order of Congress." 29
SECTION 1.1.(c) Article II of the North Carolina Constitution is amended by adding 30
a new section to read: 31
"Sec. 25. Redistricting. 32
The General Assembly shall establish by law a nonpartisan process to revise electoral districts 33
for the General Assembly and the House of Representatives of the United States Congress after 34
the return of every decennial census of population taken by order of Congress. The process shall 35
meet at least all of the following requirements: 36
(1) The General Assembly shall have no role in revising electoral districts for the General 37
Assembly or the House of Representatives of the United States Congress. 38
(2) Each member of the Senate and House of Representatives of the General Assembly 39
and the House of Representatives of the United States Congress shall represent, as nearly as may 40
be, an equal number of inhabitants. 41
(3) Each electoral district shall at all times consist of contiguous territory. 42
(4) To the extent practicable and consistent with federal law, no county shall be divided 43
in the formation of an electoral district for the Senate or House of Representatives of the General 44
Assembly. 45
(5) When established, the electoral districts for the Senate and House of Representatives 46
of the General Assembly shall remain unaltered until the return of another decennial census of 47
population taken by order of Congress. 48
(6) Electoral districts adopted pursuant to the process shall have the force and effect of 49
acts of the General Assembly." 50
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House Bill 788-First Edition Page 3
SECTION 1.1.(d) Subsection (5) of Section 22 of Article II of the North Carolina 1
Constitution reads as rewritten: 2
"(5) Other exceptions. Appointments to office. Every bill: 3
(a) In bill in which the General Assembly makes an appointment or appointments 4
to public office and which contains no other matter; 5
(b) Revising the senate districts and the apportionment of Senators among those 6
districts and containing no other matter; 7
(c) Revising the representative districts and the apportionment of Representatives 8
among those districts and containing no other matter; or 9
(d) Revising the districts for the election of members of the House of 10
Representatives of the Congress of the United States and the apportionment 11
of Representatives among those districts and containing no oth er matter, 12
matter shall be read three times in each house before it becomes law and shall 13
be signed by the presiding officers of both houses." 14
SECTION 1.2.(a) The amendments set out in Section 1.1 of this act shall be 15
submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held in 16
November 2026, which election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in 17
the State. Ballots, voting systems, or both may be used in accordance with Chapter 163 of the 18
General Statutes. The question to be used in the voting systems and ballots shall be: 19
"[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST 20
A constitutional amendment providing for a nonpartisan process to be established in 21
law to redistrict the State for the purpose of electing members of the General Assembly and the 22
United States House of Representatives. The General Assembly would establish the nonpartisan 23
process in law and have no other role in the creation of the districts." 24
SECTION 1.2.(b) If a majority of votes cast on the question are in favor of the 25
amendments set out in Section 1.1 of this act, the State Board of Elections shall certify the 26
amendments to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall enroll the amendments so 27
certified among the permanent records of that office. The amendments are effective upon 28
certification. 29
SECTION 1.3. Except as otherwise provided, this Part is effective when it becomes 30
law. 31
32
PART II. REENACT NONPARTISAN JUDICIAL ELECTIONS 33
SECTION 2.1. Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new 34
Subchapter to read: 35
"SUBCHAPTER XI. ELECTION OF APPELLATE, SUPERIOR, AND DISTRICT 36
COURT JUDGES. 37
"Article 26. 38
"Nomination and Election of Appellate, Superior, and District Court Judges. 39
"§ 163-350. Applicability. 40
The nomination and election of justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, 41
and superior and district court judges of the General Court of Justice shall be as provided by this 42
Article. 43
"§ 163-351. Nonpartisan primary election method. 44
(a) General. – Except as provided in G.S. 163-358, there shall be a primary to narrow the 45
field of candidates to two candidates for each position to be filled if, when the filing period closes, 46
there are more than two candidates for a single office or the number of candidates for a group of 47
offices exceeds twice the number of positions to be filled. If only one or two candidates file for 48
a single office, no primary shall be held for that office , and the candidates shall be declared 49
nominated. If the number of candidates for a group of offices does not exceed twice the number 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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of positions to be filled, no primary shall be held for those offices , and the candidates shall be 1
declared nominated. 2
(b) Determination of Nominees. – In the primary, the two candidates for a single office 3
receiving the highest number of votes, and those candidates for a group of offices receiving the 4
highest number of votes, equal to twice the number of positions to be fille d shall be declared 5
nominated. If two or more candidates receiving the highest number of votes each receive the 6
same number of votes, the State Board shall determine their relative ranking by lot and shall 7
declare the nominees accordingly. The canvass of the primary shall be held on the same date as 8
the primary canvass fixed under G.S. 163-182.5. The canvass shall be conducted in accordance 9
with Article 15A of this Chapter. 10
(c) Determination of Election Winners. – In the election, the names of those candida tes 11
declared nominated without a primary and those candidates nominated in the primary shall be 12
placed on the ballot. The candidate for a single office receiving the highest number of votes shall 13
be elected. Those candidates for a group of offices receivin g the highest number of votes, equal 14
in number to the number of positions to be filled, shall be elected. If two candidates receiving the 15
highest number of votes each received the same number of votes, the State Board shall determine 16
the winner by lot. 17
"§ 163-352. Notice of candidacy. 18
(a) Form of Notice. – Each person offering to be a candidate for election shall do so by 19
filing a notice of candidacy with the State Board in the following form, inserting the words in 20
parentheses when appropriate: 21
22
Date: _______________________________ 23
24
I hereby file notice that I am a candidate for election to the office of __________ in the 25
regular election to be held _____________, ____. 26
27
Signed: _____________________________ 28
(Name of Candidate) 29
30
Witness: _______________________________________________________________ 31
32
The notice of candidacy shall be either signed in the presence of the chairman or secretary of 33
the State Board or signed and acknowledged before an officer authorized to take 34
acknowledgments who shall certify the notice under seal. An acknowledged and certified notice 35
may be mailed to the State Board. In signing a notice o f candidacy, the candidate shall use only 36
the candidate 's legal name and, in the candidate 's discretion, any nickname by which the 37
candidate is commonly known. A candidate may also, in lieu of that candidate 's first name and 38
legal middle initial or middle name, if any, sign that candidate's nickname, provided the candidate 39
appends to the notice of candidacy an affidavit that the candidate has been commonly known by 40
that nickname for at least five years prior to the date of making the affidavit. The candidate shall 41
also include with the affidavit the way the candidate's name (as permitted by law) should be listed 42
on the ballot if another candidate with the same last name files a notice of candidacy for that 43
office. 44
A notice of candidacy signed by an agent or any person other than the candidate himself or 45
herself shall be invalid. 46
(b) Time for Filing Notice of Candidacy. – Candidates seeking election to the following 47
offices shall file their notice of candidacy with the State Board no earlier than 12:00 noon on the 48
first Monday in December and no later than 12:00 noon on the third Fri day in December 49
preceding the election: 50
Justices of the Supreme Court. 51
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House Bill 788-First Edition Page 5
Judges of the Court of Appeals. 1
Judges of the superior courts. 2
Judges of the district courts. 3
(c) Withdrawal of Notice of Candidacy. – Any person who has filed a notice of candidacy 4
for an office shall have the right to withdraw it at any time prior to the close of business on the 5
third business day prior to the date on which the right to file for that office expires under the 6
terms of subsection (b) of this section. 7
(d) Certificate That Candidate is Registered Voter. – Candidates shall file , along with 8
their notice, a certificate signed by the chairman of the board of elections or the supervisor of 9
elections of the county in which they are registered to vote, stating that the person is registered 10
to vote in that county. In issuing the certificate, the chairman or supervisor shall check the 11
registration records of the county to verify the information. Du ring the period commencing 36 12
hours immediately preceding the filing deadline, the State Board shall accept, on a conditional 13
basis, the notice of candidacy of a candidate who has failed to secure the verification required by 14
this subsection subject to rec eipt of verification no later than three days following the filing 15
deadline. The State Board shall prescribe the form for the certificate and distribute it to each 16
county board of elections no later than the last Monday in December of each odd-numbered year. 17
(e) Candidacy for More Than One Office Prohibited. – No person may file a notice of 18
candidacy for more than one office or group of offices described in subsection (b) of this section, 19
or for an office or group of offices described in subsection (b) of this sec tion and an office 20
described in G.S. 163-106.2, for any one election. If a person has filed a notice of candidacy with 21
a board of elections under this section or under G.S. 163-106.2 for one office or group of offices, 22
then a notice of candidacy may not la ter be filed for any other office or group of offices under 23
this section when the election is on the same date unless the notice of candidacy for the first 24
office is withdrawn under subsection (c) of this section. 25
(f) Notice of Candidacy for Certain Office s to Indicate Vacancy. – In any election in 26
which there are two or more vacancies for the office of justice of the Supreme Court , judge of 27
the Court of Appeals, or district court judge to be filled by nominations, each candidate shall, at 28
the time of filing notice of candidacy, file with the State Board a written statement designating 29
the vacancy to which the candidate seeks election. Votes cast for a candidate shall be effective 30
only for election to the vacancy for which the candidate has given notice of candidacy as provided 31
in this subsection. 32
A person seeking election for a specialized district judgeship established under G.S. 7A-147 33
shall, at the time of filing notice of candidacy, file with the State Board a written statement 34
designating the specialized judgeship to which the person seeks nomination. 35
(g) Notice of Candidacy for Superior Court Judge; Residency. – No person may file a 36
notice of candidacy for superior court judge unless that person is at the time of filing the notice 37
of candidacy a resident of the judicial district as it will exist at the time the person would take 38
office if elected. No person may be nominated as a superior court judge under G.S. 163-114 39
unless that person is at the time of nomination a resident of the judicial district as it will exist at 40
the time the person would take office if elected. This subsection implements Section 9(1) of 41
Article IV of th e North Carolina Constitution which requires regular Superior Court Judges to 42
reside in the district for which elected. 43
"§ 163-353. Filing fees required of candidates; refunds. 44
(a) Fee Schedule. – At the time of filing a notice of candidacy under this Article, each 45
candidate shall pay to the State Board a filing fee for the office the candidate seeks in the amount 46
of one percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office sought. 47
(b) Refund of Fees. – If any person who has filed a notice of candidacy and paid the filing 48
fee prescribed in subsection (a) of this section withdraws his or her notice of candidacy within 49
the period prescribed in G.S. 163-352(c), the candidate shall be entitled to have the fee the 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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candidate paid refunded. The chairman of the State Board shall cause a warrant to be drawn on 1
the State Treasurer for the refund payment. 2
(c) Refund of Fees Upon Death of Candidate. – If any person who has filed a notice of 3
candidacy and paid the filing fee prescribed in subsection (a) of this section dies prior to the date 4
of the election, the personal representative of the estate shall be entitled to have the fee refunded 5
if application is made to the board of elections to which the fee was paid no later than one year 6
after the date of death and refund shall be made in the same manner as the withdrawal of notice 7
of candidacy. 8
"§ 163-354. Petition in lieu of payment of filing fee. 9
(a) General. – Any qualified voter who seeks election under this Article may, in lieu of 10
payment of any filing fee required for the office sought, file a written petition requesting to be a 11
candidate for a specified office with the State Board. 12
(b) Requirements of Petition; Deadline for Filing. – If the candidate is seeking the office 13
of justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, or superior or district court judge, 14
that individual shall file a written petition with the State Board no later than 12:00 noon on 15
Monday preceding the filing deadline before the primary. If the office is justice of the Sup reme 16
Court or judge of the Court of Appeals, the petition shall be signed by 8,000 registered voters in 17
the State. If the office is superior or district court judge, the petition shall be signed by five percent 18
(5%) of the registered voters of the election area in which those registered voters will vote for 19
that office. The board of elections shall verify the names on the petition and , if the petition and 20
notice of candidacy are found to be sufficient, the candidate 's name shall be printed on the 21
appropriate ballot. Petitions shall be presented to the county board of elections for verification at 22
least 15 days before the petition is due to be filed with the State Board. The State Board may 23
adopt rules to implement this section and to provide standard petition forms. 24
"§ 163-355. Certification of notices of candidacy. 25
(a) Names of Candidates Sent to Secretary of State. – Within three days after the time for 26
filing notices of candidacy with the State Board under the provisions of G.S. 163-352(b) has 27
expired, the chairman or secretary of that Board shall certify to the Secretary of State the name 28
and address of each person who has filed with the State Board, indicating in each instance the 29
office sought. 30
(b) Notification of Local Boards. – No later than 10 days after the time for filing notices 31
of candidacy under the provisions of G.S. 163-352(b) has expired, the chairman of the State 32
Board shall certify to the chairman of the county board of elections in each county in the 33
appropriate district the names of cand idates for nomination to the offices of justice of the 34
Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals , and superior and district court judge who have 35
filed the required notice and paid the required filing fee or presented the required petition to the 36
State Board so that their names may be printed on the official judicial ballot for justice of the 37
Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, and superior and district court judge. 38
(c) Receipt of Notification by County Board. – Within two days after receipt of each of 39
the letters of certification from the chairman of the State Board required by subsection (b) of this 40
section, each county board of elections chairman shall acknowledge receipt by letter addressed 41
to the chairman of the State Board. 42
"§ 163-356. Rules when vacancies for superior court judge are to be voted on. 43
If a vacancy occurs in a judicial district for any offices of superior court judge, and on account 44
of the occurrence of the vacancy there is to be an election for one or more terms in that d istrict 45
to fill the vacancy or vacancies, at that same election in accordance with G.S. 163-9 and Section 46
19 of Article IV of the North Carolina Constitution, the nomination and election shall be 47
determined by the following special rules in addition to any other provisions of law: 48
(1) If the vacancy occurs prior to the opening of the filing period under 49
G.S. 163-352(b), nominations shall be made by primary election as provided 50
by this Article without designation as to the vacancy. 51
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(2) If the vacancy occurs beginning on the opening of the filing period under 1
G.S. 163-352(b) and ending on the sixtieth day before the general election, 2
candidate filing shall be as provided by G.S. 163-358 without designation as 3
to the vacancy. 4
(3) The general election ballot shall contain, without designation as to vacancy, 5
spaces for the election to fill the vacancy where nominations were made or 6
candidates filed under subdivision (1) or (2) of this section. Except as provided 7
in G.S. 163-358, the persons receiving the highest numbers of votes equal to 8
the term or terms to be filled shall be elected to the term or terms. 9
"§ 163-357. Failure of candidates to file; death or other disqualification of a candidate; no 10
withdrawal from candidacy. 11
(a) Insufficient Number of Candidates. – If, when the filing period expires, candidates 12
have not filed for an office to be filled under this Article, the State Board shall extend the filing 13
period for five days for any such offices. 14
(b) Death or Disqualification of Candida te Before Primary. – If a candidate for 15
nomination in a primary dies or becomes disqualified before the primary but after the ballots 16
have been printed, the State Board shall determine whether or not there is time to reprint the 17
ballots. If the State Board determines that there is not enough time to reprint the ballots, the 18
deceased or disqualified candidate's name shall remain on the ballots. If that candidate receives 19
enough votes for nomination, such votes shall be disregarded and the candidate receiving the 20
next highest number of votes below the number necessary for nomination shall be declared 21
nominated. If the death or disqualification of the candidate leaves only two candidates for each 22
office to be filled, the nonpartisan primary shall not be held an d all candidates shall be declared 23
nominees. 24
(c) Earlier Non-Primary Vacancies; Reopening Filing. – If there is no primary because 25
only one or two candidates have filed for a single office, or the number of candidates filed for a 26
group of offices does not exceed twice the number of positions to be filled, or if a primary has 27
occurred and eliminated candidates, and thereafter a remaining candidate dies or otherwise 28
becomes disqualified before the election and before the ballots are printed, the State Board shall, 29
upon notification of the death or other disqualification, immediately reopen the filing period for 30
an additional five days during which time additional candidates shall be permitted to file for 31
election. If the ballots have been printed at the time t he State Board receives notice of the 32
candidate's death or other disqualification, the State Board shall determine whether there will be 33
sufficient time to reprint them before the election if the filing period is reopened for three days. 34
If the State Board determines that there will be sufficient time to reprint the ballots, it shall reopen 35
the filing period for three days to allow other candidates to file for election and that election shall 36
be conducted as provided in G.S. 163-358(b). 37
(d) Later Vacancies; Ballots Not Reprinted. – If the ballots have been printed at the time 38
the State Board receives notice of a candidate 's death or other disqualification, and if the Board 39
determines that there is not enough time to reprint the ballots before the election if the filing 40
period is reopened for three days, then regardless of the number of candidates remaining for the 41
office or group of offices, the ballots shall not be reprinted and the name of the vacated candidate 42
shall remain on the ballots. If a vacated candidate should poll the highest number of votes in the 43
election for a single office or enough votes to be elected to one of a group of offices, the State 44
Board shall declare the office vacant and it shall be filled in the manner provided by law. 45
(e) No Withd rawal Permitted of Living, Qualified Candidate After Close of Filing. – 46
After the close of the candidate filing period, a candidate who has filed a notice of candidacy for 47
the office, who has not withdrawn notice before the close of filing as permitted by 48
G.S. 163-352(b), who remains alive, and who has not become disqualified for the office may not 49
withdraw his or her candidacy. That candidate 's name shall remain on the ballot, any votes cast 50
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for the candidacy shall be counted in the primary or election, an d if the candidate wins, the 1
candidate may fail to qualify by refusing to take the oath of office. 2
(f) Death, Disqualification, or Failure to Qualify After Election. – If a person elected to 3
the office of justice of the Supreme Court , judge of the Court of Appeals, or superior or district 4
court judge dies or becomes disqualified on or after election day and before the person has 5
qualified by taking the oath of office, or fails to qualify by refusing to take the oath of office, the 6
office shall be deemed vacant and shall be filled as provided by law. 7
"§ 163-358. Elections to fill vacancy in office created after primary filing period opens. 8
(a) General. – If a vacancy is created in the office of justice of the Supreme Court, judge 9
of the Court of Appeals , or judge of superior court after the filing period for the primary opens 10
but more than 60 days before the general election, and under the Constitution of North Carolina 11
an election is to be held for that position, such that the office shall be filled in the general election 12
as provided in G.S. 163-9, the election to fill the office for the remainder of the term shall be 13
conducted without a primary using the method provided in subsection (b) of this section. If a 14
vacancy is created in the office of justice of t he Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals , 15
or judge of superior court before the filing period for the primary opens, and under the 16
Constitution of North Carolina an election is to be held for that position, such that the office shall 17
be filled in the general election as provided in G.S. 163-9, the election to fill the office for the 18
remainder of the term shall be conducted in accordance with G.S. 163-351. 19
(b) Method for Vacancy Election. – If a vacancy for the office of justice of the Supreme 20
Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, or judge of superior court occurs more than 60 days before 21
the general election and after the opening of the filing period for the primary, then the State Board 22
shall designate a special filing period of one week for candidates for the office. If more than two 23
candidates file and qualify for the office in accordance with G.S. 163-352, then the Board shall 24
conduct the election for the office as follows: 25
(1) When the vacancy described in this section occurs more than 63 days before 26
the date of the second primary for members of the General Assembly, a special 27
primary shall be held on the same day as the second primary. The two 28
candidates with the most votes in the special primary shall h ave their names 29
placed on the ballot for the general election held on the same day as the general 30
election for members of the General Assembly. 31
(2) When the vacancy described in this section occurs less than 64 days before 32
the date of the second primary, a general election for all the candidates shall 33
be held on the same day as the general election for members of the General 34
Assembly and the results shall be determined on a plurality basis as provided 35
by G.S. 163-292. 36
(c) Applicable Provisions. – Except as provided in this section, the provisions of this 37
Article apply to elections conducted under this section. 38
"§ 163-359. Voting in primary. 39
Any person who will become qualified by age or residence to register and vote in the general 40
election for which the pr imary is held, even though not so qualified by the date of the primary, 41
shall be entitled to register for the primary and general election prior to the primary and then to 42
vote in the primary after being registered. The person may register not earlier than 60 days nor 43
later than the last day for making application to register under G.S. 163-82.6(d) prior to the 44
primary. 45
"§ 163-360. Date of primary. 46
The primary shall be held on the same date as established for primary elections under 47
G.S. 163-1(b). 48
"§ 163-361. Ballots. 49
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(a) General. – In elections there shall be official ballots. The ballots shall be printed to 1
conform to the requirement of G.S. 163-165.6(c) and to show the name of each person who has 2
filed notice of candidacy and the office for which each aspirant is a candidate. 3
Only those who have filed the required notice of candidacy with the proper board of elections, 4
and who have paid the required filing fee or qualified by petition, shall have their names printed 5
on the official primary ballots. Only those candidates properly nominated shall have their names 6
appear on the official general election ballots. 7
(b) Ballots to be Furnished by County Board of Elections. – It shall be the duty of the 8
county board of elections to print official ballots for the following offices to be voted for in the 9
primary: 10
Justice of the Supreme Court. 11
Judge of the Court of Appeals. 12
Superior court judge. 13
District court judge. 14
In printing ballots, the county board of elections shall be governed by instructions of the State 15
Board with regard to width, color, kind of paper, form, and size of type. 16
Three days before the election, the chairman of the county board of elections shall distribute 17
official ballots to the chief judge of each precinct in the chairman's county, and the chief judge 18
shall give a receipt for the ballots received. On the day of the primary, it shall be the chief judge's 19
duty to have all the ballots so delivered available for use at the precinct voting place. 20
"§ 163-362. Counting of ballots. 21
Counting of ballots in primaries and elections held under this Article shall be under the same 22
rules as for counting of ballots in nonpartisan municipal elections under Article 2 4 of this 23
Chapter. 24
"§ 163-363. Other rules. 25
Except as provided by this Article, the conduct of elections shall be governed by Subchapter 26
VI of this Chapter." 27
SECTION 2.2. This Part becomes effective with respect to primaries and elections 28
held on or after January 1, 2026. 29
30
PART II-A. CONFORMING STATUTORY CHANGES 31
SECTION 2A.1. G.S. 18C-112(e)(1) reads as rewritten: 32
"(1) Files a notice of candidacy under G.S. 163-106 through 163 -106.6 or 33
G.S. 163-352 or a petition under G.S. 163-107.1.G.S. 163-107.1 or 34
G.S. 163-354." 35
SECTION 2A.2. G.S. 163-1(b) reads as rewritten: 36
"(b) On Tuesday next after the first Monday in March preceding each general election to 37
be held in November for the officers referred to in subsection (a) of this section, there shall be 38
held in all election precincts within the territory for which the officers are to be elected a primary 39
election for the purpose of nominating candidates for each political party in the State for those 40
offices.offices and nonpartisan candidates as to the offices elected under the provisions of Article 41
26 of this Chapter." 42
SECTION 2A.3. G.S. 163-22.3 reads as rewritten: 43
"§ 163-22.3. State Board of Elections littering notification. 44
At the time an individual files with the State Board of Elections a notice of candidacy 45
pursuant to G.S. 163-106, 163-112, 163-291, or 163-294.2, or 163-352, is certified to the State 46
Board of Elections by a political party executive committee to fill a nomination vacancy pursuant 47
to G.S. 163-114, is certified to the State Board of Elections by a new political party as that party's 48
nominee pursuant to G.S. 163-98, qualifies with the State Board of Elections as an unaffiliated 49
or write-in candidate pursuant to Article 11 of this Chapter, or formally initiates a candidacy with 50
the State Board of Elections pursuant to any statute or local act, the State Board of Elections shall 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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notify the candidate of the provisions concerning campaign signs in G.S. 136-32 and 1
G.S. 14-156, and the rules adopted by the Department of Transportation pursuant to 2
G.S. 136-18." 3
SECTION 2A.4. G.S. 163-82.10B reads as rewritten: 4
"§ 163-82.10B. Confidentiality of date of birth. 5
Boards of elections shall keep confidential the date of birth of every voter -registration 6
applicant and registered voter, except in the following situations: 7
(1) When a voter has filed notice of candidacy fo r elective office under 8
G.S. 163-106, 163 -122, 163 -123, or 163-294.2, or 163 -352, has been 9
nominated as a candidate under G.S. 163-98 or G.S. 163-114, or has otherwise 10
formally become a candidate for elective office. The exception of this 11
subdivision does not extend to an individual who meets the definition of 12
"candidate" only by beginning a tentative candidacy by receiving funds or 13
making payments or giving consent to someone else to receive funds or 14
transfer something of value for the purpose of exploring a candidacy. 15
…." 16
SECTION 2A.5. G.S. 163-106.2(a) reads as rewritten: 17
"(a) Candidates seeking party primary nominations for the following offices shall file their 18
notice of candidacy with the State Board no earlier than 12:00 noon on the first Monday in 19
December and no later than 12:00 noon on the third Friday in December preceding the primary: 20
Governor 21
Lieutenant Governor 22
All State executive officers 23
Justices of the Supreme Court 24
Judges of the Court of Appeals 25
Judges of the superior court 26
Judges of the district court 27
United States Senators 28
Members of the House of Representatives of the United States 29
District attorneysattorneys." 30
SECTION 2A.6. G.S. 163-106.3 reads as rewritten: 31
"§ 163-106.3. Notice of candidacy for certain offices to indicate vacancy. 32
In any primary in which there are two or more vacancies for associate justices for the Supreme 33
Court, two or more vacancies for the Court of Appeals, two or more vacancies for superior or 34
district court judge, or two vacancies for United States Senator fro m North Carolina, each 35
candidate shall, at the time of filing notice of candidacy, file with the State Board of Elections a 36
written statement designating the vacancy to which the candidate seeks nomination. The 37
designation shall not be the name or names of any incumbent or other individual but shall be 38
designated as determined by the State Board of Elections. A person seeking election for a 39
specialized district judgeship established under G.S. 7A-147 shall, at the time of filing notice of 40
candidacy, file with the State Board of Elections a written statement designating the specialized 41
judgeship to which the person seeks nomination. Votes cast for a candidate shall be effective 42
only for nomination to the vacancy for which the candidate has given notice of can didacy as 43
provided in this section." 44
SECTION 2A.7. G.S. 163-106.5 reads as rewritten: 45
"§ 163-106.5. Certificate of registration to vote in county and party affiliation; cancellation 46
of candidacy; residency requirements for judges.candidacy. 47
(a) Candidates required to file their notice of candidacy with the State Board of Elections 48
under G.S. 163-106.2 shall file along with their notice a certificate signed by the chairman of the 49
board of elections or the director of elections of the county in which they a re registered to vote, 50
stating that the person is registered to vote in that county, if the candidacy is for superior court 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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judge and the county contains more than one superior court district, stating the superior court 1
district of which the person is a resident, stating the party with which the person is affiliated, and 2
that the person has not changed his the person's affiliation from another party or from unaffiliated 3
within three months prior to the filing deadline under G.S. 163-106.2. In issuing such certificate, 4
the chairman or director shall check the registration records of the county to verify such 5
information. During the period commencing 36 hours immediately preceding the filing deadline 6
the State Board of Elections shall accept, on a conditional basis, the notice of candidacy of a 7
candidate who has failed to secure the verification ordered herein subject to receipt of verification 8
no later than three days following the filing deadline. The State Board of Elections shall prescribe 9
the form for such certificate, and distribute it to each county board of elections no later than the 10
last Monday in December of each odd-numbered year. 11
(b) When any candidate files a notice of candidacy with a board of elections under 12
G.S. 163-106.2 or under G.S. 163-291(2), the board of elections shall, immediately upon receipt 13
of the notice of candidacy, inspect the registration records of the county, and cancel the notice of 14
candidacy of any person who does not meet the constitutional or statutory qualifications for the 15
office, including residency. 16
The board shall give notice of cancellation to any candidate whose notice of candidacy has 17
been cancelled under this section by mail or by having the notice served on him the candidate by 18
the sheriff, and to any other candidate filing for the same office. A candidate who has been 19
adversely affected by a cancellation or another candidate for the same office affected by a 20
substantiation under this section may request a hearing on the cancellation. If the candidate 21
requests a hearing, the hearing shall be conducted in accordance with Article 11B of this Chapter. 22
(c) No person may file a notice of candidacy for superior court judge, unless that person 23
is, at the time of filing the notice of candidacy, a resident of the judicial district as it will exist at 24
the time the person would take office if elected. No person may be nominated as a superior court 25
judge under G.S. 163-114, unless that person is, at the time of nomination, a resident of the 26
judicial district as it will exist at the time the person would take office if elected. This subsection 27
implements Section 9(1) of Article IV of the North Carolina Constitution, which requires regular 28
superior court judges to reside in the district for which elected." 29
SECTION 2A.8. G.S. 163-107(a) reads as rewritten: 30
"(a) Fee Schedule. – At the time of filing a notice of candidacy, each candidate shall pay 31
to the board of elections with which the candidate files under the provisions of G.S. 163-106, 32
163-106.1, 163-106.2, 163-106.3, 163-106.4, 163-106.5, and 163-106.6, a filing fee for the office 33
sought in the amount specified in the following tabulation: 34
Office Sought Amount of Filing Fee 35
Governor One percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office 36
sought 37
Lieutenant Governor One percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office 38
sought 39
All State executive offices One percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office 40
sought 41
All Justices, Judges, and District At- One percent (1%) of the annual salary of the 42
torneys of the General Court of office sought 43
Justice 44
United States Senator One percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office 45
sought 46
Members of the United States House One percent (1%) of the annual salary of 47
of Representatives the office sought 48
49
State Senator One percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office 50
sought 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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Member of the State House One percent (1%) of the annual salary of 1
of Representatives the office sought 2
All county offices not compensated by One percent (1%) of the annual salary of 3
fees office sought 4
All county offices compensated partly One percent (1%) of the first annual 5
by salary and partly by fees salary to be received (exclusive of fees) 6
7
The salary of any office that is the basis for calculating the filing fee is the starting salary for the 8
office, rather than the salary received by the incumbent, if different. If no starting salary can be 9
determined for the office, then the salary used for calculation is the salary of the incumbent, as 10
of January 1 of the election year." 11
SECTION 2A.9. G.S. 163-107.1 reads as rewritten: 12
"§ 163-107.1. Petition in lieu of payment of filing fee. 13
(a) Any qualified voter who seeks nomination in the party primary of the political party 14
with which he the qualified voter affiliates may, in lieu of payment of any filing fee required for 15
the office he seeks, sought, file a written petition requesting him to be a candidate for a specified 16
office with the appropriate board of elections, State, county or municipal. 17
(b) If the candidate is seeking the office of United States Senator, Governor, Lieutenant 18
Governor, or any State executive officer, Justice of the Supreme Court, or Judge of the Court of 19
Appeals, officer, the petition must be signed by 10,000 registered voters who are members of the 20
political party in whose primary the candidate desires to run, except that in the case of a political 21
party as defined by G.S. 163-96(a)(2) which will be making nominations by primary election, 22
the petition must be signed by five pe rcent (5%) of the registered voters of the State who are 23
affiliated with the same political party in whose primary the candidate desires to run, or in the 24
alternative, the petition shall be signed by no less than 8,000 registered voters regardless of the 25
voter's political party affiliation, whichever requirement is greater. The petition must be filed 26
with the State Board of Elections not later than 12:00 noon on Monday preceding the filing 27
deadline before the primary in which he seeks to run. The names on the petition shall be verified 28
by the board of elections of the county where the signer is registered, and the petition must be 29
presented to the county board of elections at least 15 days before the petition is due to be filed 30
with the State Board of Electi ons. When a proper petition has been filed, the candidate's name 31
shall be printed on the primary ballot. 32
(c) County, Municipal and District Primaries. – If the candidate is seeking one of the 33
offices set forth in G.S. 163-106.2 but which is not listed in s ubsection (b) of this section, or a 34
municipal or any other office requiring a partisan primary which is not set forth in G.S. 163-106.2 35
or G.S. 163-106.3, the candidate shall file a written petition with the appropriate board of 36
elections no later than 12:00 noon on Monday preceding the filing deadline before the primary. 37
The petition shall be signed by five percent (5%) of the registered voters of the election area in 38
which the office will be voted for, who are affiliated with the same political party in w hose 39
primary the candidate desires to run, or in the alternative, the petition shall be signed by no less 40
than 200 registered voters regardless of said voter's political party affiliation, whichever 41
requirement is greater. The board of elections shall veri fy the names on the petition, and if the 42
petition is found to be sufficient, the candidate's name shall be printed on the appropriate primary 43
ballot. Petitions for candidates for member of the U.S. House of Representatives, District 44
Attorney, judge of the superior court, judge of the district court, and members of the State House 45
of Representatives from multi-county districts or members of the State Senate from multi-county 46
districts must be presented to the county board of elections for verification at least 15 days before 47
the petition is due to be filed with the State Board of Elections, and such petition must be filed 48
with the State Board no later than 12:00 noon on Monday preceding the filing deadline. The State 49
Board of Elections may adopt rules to impl ement this section and to provide standard petition 50
forms. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 788-First Edition Page 13
…." 1
SECTION 2A.10. G.S. 163-108(b) reads as rewritten: 2
"(b) No later than 10 days after the time for filing notices of candidacy under the 3
provisions of G.S. 163-106.2 has expired, the chairman of the State Board of Elections shall 4
certify to the chairman of the county board of elections in each county in the appropriate district 5
the names of candidates for nomination to the following offices office of district attorney who 6
have filed the required notice and pledge and paid the required filing fee to the State Board of 7
Elections, so that their names may be printed on the official county ballots: Superior court judge, 8
district court judge, and district attorney.ballots." 9
SECTION 2A.11. G.S. 163-111(c)(1) reads as rewritten: 10
"(1) A candidate who is apparently entitled to demand a second primary, according 11
to the unofficial results, for one of the offices listed below, and desiring to do 12
so, shall file a request for a second primary in writing with the Executive 13
Director of the State Board of Elections no later than 12:00 noon on the ninth 14
day (including Saturdays and Sundays) following the date on which the 15
primary was conducted, and such request shall be subject to the cert ification 16
of the official results by the State Board of Elections. If the vote certification 17
by the State Board of Elections determines that a candidate who was not 18
originally thought to be eligible to call for a second primary is in fact eligible 19
to call for a second primary, the Executive Director of the State Board of 20
Elections shall immediately notify such candidate and permit the candidate to 21
exercise any options available to the candidate within a 48 -hour period 22
following the notification: 23
Governor, 24
Lieutenant Governor, 25
All State executive officers, 26
Justices, Judges, or District Attorneys of the General Court of Justice, 27
United States Senators, 28
Members of the United States House of Representatives, 29
State Senators in multi-county senatorial districts, and 30
Members of the State House of Representatives in multi-county representative 31
districts." 32
SECTION 2A.12. G.S. 163-114 reads as rewritten: 33
"§ 163-114. Filling vacancies among party nominees occurring after nomination and before 34
election. 35
(a) If any person nominated as a candidate of a political party for one of the offices listed 36
below (either in a primary or convention or by virtue of having no opposition in a primary) dies, 37
resigns, or for any reason becomes ineligible or disqualified before the date of the ensuing general 38
election, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment according to the following instructions: 39
Position 40
President Vacancy is to be filled by 41
Vice President appointment of national 42
executive committee of 43
political party in which 44
vacancy occurs 45
46
Presidential elector or Vacancy is to be filled by ap- 47
alternate elector pointment of State execu- 48
Any elective State office tive committee of political 49
United States Senator party in which vacancy occurs 50
51
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A district office, including: Appropriate district executive 1
Member of the United committee of political 2
States House of Repre- party in which vacancy occurs 3
sentatives 4
Judge of district court 5
District Attorney 6
State Senator in a multi- 7
county senatorial district 8
Member of State House of 9
Representatives in a 10
multi-county representative district 11
12
State Senator in a single- County executive committee 13
county senatorial district of political party in which 14
Member of State House of vacancy occurs, provided, in 15
Representatives in a the case of the State Senator 16
single-county represen- or State Representative in a 17
tative district single-county district where 18
Any elective county office not all the county is located 19
in that district, then in 20
voting, only those members of 21
the county executive committee 22
who reside within the district 23
shall votevote. 24
Judge of superior court in a County executive committee of 25
single-county judicial political party in which vacancy 26
district where the district is occurs; provided, in the case of a 27
the whole county or part of the superior court judge in a single- 28
county county district where not all 29
the county is located in that 30
district, then in voting, only 31
those members of the county 32
executive committee who 33
reside within the district shall 34
vote 35
Judge of superior court in a Appropriate district executive 36
multicounty judicial committee of political party in 37
district which vacancy occurs. 38
39
The party executive making a nomination in accordance with the provisions of this section shall 40
certify the name of its nominee to th e chairman of the board of elections, State or county, that 41
has jurisdiction over the ballot item under G.S. 163-182.4. If at the time a nomination is made 42
under this section the general election ballots have already been printed, the provisions of 43
G.S. 163-165.3(c) shall apply. If a vacancy occurs in a nomination of a political party and that 44
vacancy arises from a cause other than death and the vacancy in nomination occurs more than 45
120 days before the general election, the vacancy in nomination may be filled under this section 46
only if the appropriate executive committee certifies the name of the nominee in accordance with 47
this paragraph at least 75 days before the general election. 48
(b) In a county which is partly in a multicounty judicial district, in choosing that county's 49
member or members of the judicial district executive committee for the multicounty district, only 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 788-First Edition Page 15
the county convention delegates or county executive committee members who reside within the 1
area of the county which is within that multicounty district may vote. 2
…." 3
SECTION 2A.13. G.S. 163-122 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 4
"(c1) This section does not apply to elections under Article 26 of this Chapter." 5
SECTION 2A.14. G.S. 163-123(h) reads as rewritten: 6
"(h) Certain Elections Excluded. – This section does not apply to the following elections: 7
(1) Municipal elections or special district elections conducted under Subchapter 8
IX of this Chapter. 9
(2) Nonpartisan board of education elections conducted under G.S. 115C-37. 10
(3) Nonpartisan judicial elections conducted under Subchapter XI of this 11
Chapter." 12
SECTION 2A.15. G.S. 163-165.5(a)(3) reads as rewritten: 13
"(3) The names of the candidates as they appear on their notice of candidacy filed 14
pursuant to G.S. 163-106, 163 -106.1, 163-106.2, 163 -106.3, 163 -106.4, 15
163-106.5, and 163-106.6, and 163 -352, or on petition forms filed in 16
accordance with G.S. 163-122. No title, appendage, or appellation indicating 17
rank, status, or position shall be printed on the official ballot in connecti on 18
with the candidate's name. Candidates, however, may use the title Mr., Mrs., 19
Miss, or Ms. Nicknames shall be permitted on an official ballot if used in the 20
notice of candidacy or qualifying petition, but the nickname shall appear 21
according to standards adopted by the State Board of Elections. Those 22
standards shall allow the presentation of legitimate nicknames in ways that do 23
not mislead the voter or unduly advertise the candidacy. In the case of 24
candidates for presidential elector, the official ballot s hall not contain the 25
names of the candidates for elector but instead shall contain the nominees for 26
President and Vice President which the candidates for elector represent. The 27
State Board of Elections shall establish a review procedure that local boards 28
of elections shall follow to ensure that candidates' names appear on the official 29
ballot in accordance with this subdivision." 30
SECTION 2A.16. This Part becomes effective with respect to primaries and 31
elections held on or after January 1, 2026. 32
33
PART III. E NHANCE LEGISLATOR TO LOBBYIST REVOLVING DOOR 34
RESTRICTIONS 35
SECTION 3.1. G.S. 120C-304 reads as rewritten: 36
"§ 120C-304. Restrictions. 37
(a) No legislator or former legislator may register as a lobbyist under this Article: 38
(1) While in office. 39
(2) Before the later of the close of session as set forth in G.S. 120C-100(a)(7)b.1 40
in which the legislator served or six months For a period of two years after 41
leaving office. 42
(b) No public servant or former public servant as defined in G.S. 138A-3(70)a. may 43
register as a lobbyist under this Chapter while in office or within six months for a period of two 44
years after leaving office. 45
(c) No public servant or former public servant as defined in G.S. 138A-3(70)c. may 46
register as a lobbyist under this Chapter within six months for a period of two years after 47
separation from employment as a public servant. No other employee of any State agency may 48
register as a lobbyist under this Chapter to lobby the State agency that previously employed the 49
former employee within six months for a period of two years after voluntary separation or 50
separation for cause from that State agency. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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…." 1
SECTION 3.2. This Part becomes effective October 1, 2025. 2
3
PART IV. ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION 4
SECTION 4.1. G.S. 163-82.3(a) reads as rewritten: 5
"(a) Form Developed by State Board of Elections. – The State Board of Elections shall 6
develop an application form for voter registration. registration that may be (i) printed out in blank 7
form or (ii) filled in online as set forth in G.S. 163-82.5A. Any person may use the form to apply 8
to do any of the following: 9
(1) Register to vote. 10
(2) Change party affiliation or unaffiliated status. 11
(3) Report a change of address within a county. 12
(4) Report a change of name. 13
The county board of elections for the county where the applicant resides shall accept the form 14
as application for any of those purposes if the form is submitted as set out in G.S. 163-82.3.this 15
section." 16
SECTION 4.2. Article 7A of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by 17
adding a new section to read: 18
"§ 163-82.5A. Online voter registration. 19
(a) This section may be cited as the "Online Voter Registration Act." 20
(b) Require Availability of Internet for Voter Registration. – The State Board of Elections 21
shall ensure that the following services are available to the public at any time on its official public 22
website: 23
(1) Online application for voter registration, the content of which shall be 24
equivalent to the form provided by designated voter registration agencies. 25
(2) Online assistance to those applying to register to vote. 26
(3) Online completion and submission by applicants of the voter registration 27
application, including the signature of the applicant pursuant to subsection (d) 28
of this section. 29
(4) Online receipt of completed voter registration applications. 30
(c) To the extent a ny State agency described in G.S. 163-82.19 or G.S. 163-82.20 has 31
signatures of clients, those agencies shall cooperate in sharing those signatures with the State 32
Board of Elections. 33
(d) An application submitted under this section shall be deemed submitted to the election 34
authority on the date it is received. 35
(e) An applicant for voter registration under this section provides a signature by doing 36
any of the following: 37
(1) In the case of an applicant who has a signature on file with a State government 38
agency, authorizing the agency to transmit that signature to election officials. 39
(2) Submitting with the application an electronic copy of the applicant 's 40
handwritten signature through electronic means in a manner prescribed by the 41
State Board of Elections. 42
(f) Upon submission of a completed voter registration application under this section, the 43
State Board of Elections official website shall generate an immediate electronic confirmation on 44
the website that the application has been received, with instructions as to how the applicant may 45
check the status of the application thereafter. 46
(g) The State Board of Elections shall accept an online voter registration application 47
submitted under this section and ensure that the individual is registered to vote in this State if 48
each of the following is satisfied: 49
(1) The individual meets the same voter registration eligibility requirements 50
applicable to individuals who register to vote by mail. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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(2) The individual provides a signature in accordance with subsection (e) of this 1
section. 2
(h) The State Board of Elections shall inform the applicant for voter registration of the 3
disposition of the application by regular mail. Additionally, the State Board shall make available 4
to the applicant the option to receive the disposition notification by email. 5
(i) No legal distinction shall be made between registration under this section and 6
registration by written application in accordance with the provisions of this Article. 7
(j) The State Board of Elections shall ensure that any registered voter may at any time 8
update the voter's registration information, including the voter's address, online through the State 9
Board's official public website in accordance with maintenance of the computerized statewide 10
voter registration list. 11
(k) Except as provided in G.S. 163-82.6A, the State Board shall revise any information 12
on the computerized list to reflect the update made by the voter at any time until the deadlines 13
for registration under G.S. 163-82.6(d) for a primary or general election. 14
(l) Upon receipt of updated registration information under this section, the State Board 15
of Elections shall send a notice confirming receipt of the updated information by regular mail, 16
and by email, if available." 17
SECTION 4.3. G.S. 163-82.6(d) reads as rewritten: 18
"(d) Registration Deadlines for a Primary or Election. – In order to be valid for a primary 19
or election, the form:form must comply with one of the following: 20
(1) If submitted by mail, must be postmarked at least 25 days before the prima ry 21
or election, except that any mailed application on which the postmark is 22
missing or unclear is validly submitted if received in the mail not later than 20 23
days before the primary or election,election. 24
(2) If submitted in person, by facsimile transmissio n, or by transmission of a 25
scanned document, or by online voter registration pursuant to G.S. 163-82.5A, 26
must be received by the county board of elections by a time established by 27
that board, but no earlier than 5:00 P.M., on the twenty -fifth day before the 28
primary or election,election. 29
(3) If submitted through a delegatee who violates the duty set forth in subsection 30
(a) of this section, must be signed by the applicant and given to the delegatee 31
not later than 25 days before the primary or election, except as provided in 32
subsection (f) of this section." 33
SECTION 4.4. G.S. 163-82.10(a1) reads as rewritten: 34
"(a1) Personal Identifying Information. – Full or partial social security numbers, dates of 35
birth, the identity of the public agency at which the voter registered under G.S. 163-82.20, any 36
electronic mail address submitted under this Article, Article 20, or Article 21A of this Chapter, 37
photocopies of identification for voting, and drivers license numbers, whether held by the State 38
Board o r a county board of elections, or obtained through online voter registration under 39
G.S. 163-82.5A, are confidential and shall not be considered public records and subject to 40
disclosure to the general public under Chapter 132 of the General Statutes. Cumulative data based 41
on those items of information may be publicly disclosed as long as information about any 42
individual cannot be discerned from the disclosed data. Disclosure of information in violation of 43
this subsection shall not give rise to a civil cause of action. This limitation of liability does not 44
apply to the disclosure of information in violation of this subsection as a result of gross 45
negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing that would otherwise be actionable." 46
SECTION 4.5. In establishing online voter registration in accordance with this Part, 47
the State Board of Elections shall establish appropriate technological security measures to protect 48
against unauthorized access to information. The State Board of Elections shall ensure that online 49
voter registration under this Part is provided in a manner that is accessible to persons with 50
disabilities so as to provide the same opportunity for access and participation as for other voters. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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SECTION 4.6. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Auditor, 1
pursuant to Section 3A.2 of S.L. 2024-57, for the State Board of Elections (State Board) the sum 2
of two hundred fifteen thousand dollars ($215,000) in recurring funds for each year of the 3
2025-2027 fiscal biennium and the sum of nine ty thousand dollars ($90,000) in nonrecurring 4
funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to implement online voter registration pursuant to this Part. 5
SECTION 4.7. Sections 4.1 through 4.5 of this Part become effective December 1, 6
2025. Section 4.6 of this Part becomes effective July 1, 2025. 7
8
PART V. AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION 9
SECTION 5.1. G.S. 163-82.3 reads as rewritten: 10
"§ 163-82.3. Voter registration application forms.forms; automatic voter registration at 11
certain agencies. 12
(a) Form Developed by State Board of Elections. – The State Board of Elections shall 13
develop an application form for voter registration. Any person may use the form to apply to do 14
any of the following: 15
… 16
(c) Agency Application Form. Application. – The county board of elections where an 17
applicant resides shall accept as application for any of the purposes set out in subsection (a) of 18
this section a form automatic voter registration developed pursuant to G.S. 163-82.19 or 19
G.S. 163-82.20." 20
SECTION 5.2. G.S. 163-82.6 reads as rewritten: 21
"§ 163-82.6. Acceptance of application forms. 22
(a) How the Form May Be Submitted. – The county board of elections shall accept any 23
form described in G.S. 163-82.3 if the applicant submits the form by mail, facsimile transmission, 24
transmission of a scanned document, or in person. person or by automatic voter registration 25
pursuant to G.S. 163-82.19 or G.S. 163-82.20. The applicant may delegate the submission of the 26
form to another person. Any person who communicates to an applicant acceptance of that 27
delegation shall deliver that form so that it is received by the appropriate county board of 28
elections in time to satisfy the registration deadline in subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (d) of 29
this section for the next election. It shall be a Class 2 misdemeanor for any person to communicate 30
to the applicant acceptance of that delegation and then fail to make a good faith effort to deliver 31
the form so that it is received by the county board of elections in time to satisfy the registration 32
deadline in subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (d) of this section for the next election. It shall be 33
an affirmative defense to a charge of failing to make a good faith effort to deliver a delegated 34
form by the registration deadline that the delegatee informed the appli cant that the form would 35
not likely be delivered in time for the applicant to vote in the next election. It shall be a Class 2 36
misdemeanor for any person to sell or attempt to sell a completed voter registration form or to 37
condition its delivery upon payment. 38
… 39
(d) Registration Deadlines for a Primary or Election. – In order to be valid for a primary 40
or election, the form:form must comply with one of the following: 41
(1) If submitted by mail, must be postmarked at least 25 days before the primary 42
or election, except that any mailed application on which the postmark is 43
missing or unclear is validly submitted if received in the mail not later than 20 44
days before the primary or election,election. 45
(2) If submitted in person, by facsimile transmission, or by transm ission of a 46
scanned document, or by automatic voter registration, must be received by the 47
county board of elections by a time established by that board, but no earlier 48
than 5:00 P.M., on the twenty-fifth day before the primary or election,election. 49
(3) If submitted through a delegatee who violates the duty set forth in subsection 50
(a) of this section, must be signed by the applicant and given to the delegatee 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 788-First Edition Page 19
not later than 25 days before the primary or election, except as provided in 1
subsection (f) of this section. 2
…." 3
SECTION 5.3. G.S. 163-82.19 reads as rewritten: 4
"§ 163-82.19. Voter Automatic voter registration at drivers license offices; coordination on 5
data interface. 6
(a) Automatic Voter Registration at Drivers License Offices. – The Beginning January 1, 7
2026, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall, pursuant to the rules adopted by in consultation with 8
the State Board of Elections, modify its forms so that implement a method by which any eligible 9
person who applies for original issuance, renewal or correction of a drivers license, or special 10
identification card issued under G.S. 20-37.7 may, on a part of the form, complete an application 11
to register shall be automatically registered to vote, or able to update the voter's registration if 12
the voter has changed his or her address or moved from one precinct to another or from one 13
county to another. The person taking the application shall ask if the applicant is a citizen of the 14
United States. If the applicant states that the applicant is not a citizen of the United States, or 15
declines to answer the question, the person taking the application shall inform the applicant that 16
it is a felony for a person who is not a citizen of the United States to apply to register to vote. The 17
application shall state in clea r language the penalty for violation of this section. The necessary 18
forms shall be prescribed by the State Board of Elections. The form must ask for the previous 19
voter registration address of the voter, if any. If a previous address is listed, and it is no t in the 20
county of residence of the applicant, the appropriate county board of elections shall treat the 21
application as an authorization to cancel the previous registration and also process it as such 22
under the procedures of G.S. 163-82.9. If a previous ad dress is listed and that address is in the 23
county where the voter applies to register, the application shall be processed as if it had been 24
submitted under G.S. 163-82.9.inform the applicant of the following: 25
(1) That the applicant shall be registered to vote or have the applicant 's voter 26
registration record updated, as applicable, unless the applicant declines. 27
(2) The qualifications to vote under G.S. 163-55. 28
(3) That the applicant should not register if the applicant does not meet the 29
qualifications described under subdivision (2) of this subsection. 30
(4) That any person who willfully and knowingly and with fraudulent intent gives 31
false information on the application is guilty of a Class I felony. 32
(5) That if the applicant declines to register to vote, the fact that the applicant has 33
declined to register will remain confidential and be used for voter registration 34
purposes only. 35
(6) Information regarding the address confidentiality program under Chapter 15C 36
of the General Statutes, including how to regis ter for the program and how 37
voter registration may impact participation in the program. 38
(a1) Requirements. – An applicant must affirmatively opt-out of voter registration if the 39
applicant chooses to decline automatic voter registration. If the applicant does not decline voter 40
registration, the person taking the application shall require the applicant to provide all 41
information requested of the applicant under G.S. 163-82.4, including declaring a preference to 42
be affiliated with a political party or a preference to be an unaffiliated voter. If the applicant fails 43
to declare a political party affiliation, the applicant 's political affiliation shall be designated as 44
unaffiliated. The applicant shall provide an electronic signature as required under 45
G.S. 163-82.6(c), subject to the penalty of perjury, by which the applicant attests that the 46
information provided by the applicant is true and that the applicant meets all qualifications to 47
become a registered voter. 48
(a2) When Registration Effective. – Registration shall become effective as provided in 49
G.S. 163-82.7. Applications to register to vote accepted at a drivers license office under this 50
section until the deadline established in G.S. 163-82.6(d)(2) shall be treated as timely made fo r 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 20 House Bill 788-First Edition
an election, and no person who completes an application at that drivers license office shall be 1
denied the vote in that election for failure to apply earlier than that deadline. 2
(a3) All applications shall be forwarded by the Transmittal from Department of 3
Transportation to Board of Elections. – The Department of Transportation shall electronically 4
transmit the applications of applicants who have not declined voter registration to the appropriate 5
board of elections not later than five business days after the date of acceptance, according to rules 6
which shall be promulgated by the State Board of Elections. Board. Those rules shall provide for 7
a paperless, instant, electronic transfer of applications to the appropriate board of elections. 8
(a4) Confidentiality of Declination to Register. – No information relating to a declination 9
to register to vote in connection with a voter registration application at a Division of Motor 10
Vehicles office may be used for any purpose other than voter registration. The State Board shall 11
ensure that information acquired for purposes of automatic voter registration under this section 12
is kept confidential in accordance with G.S. 163-82.4(c), including compliance with any voter 13
registration requirements under G.S. 163-82.10. 14
(b) Any Ineligible Applications Prohibited. – If a person who is ineligible to vote 15
becomes registered to vote pursuant to this section, the presumption shall be that the person 's 16
registration is deemed officially authorized and shall not be attributed to any fault of the person. 17
However, any person who willfully and knowingly and with fraudulent intent gives false 18
information on the application described under this section is guilty of a Class I felony. 19
… 20
(d) No Requirement to Determine Eligibility. – Nothing in this section shall be construed 21
as requiring the Department of Transportation to determine eligibility for voter registration and 22
voting." 23
SECTION 5.4. G.S. 163-82.20 reads as rewritten: 24
"§ 163 -82.20. Voter registration at other public agencies.agencies; automatic voter 25
registration. 26
(a) Voter Registration Agencies. – Every office in this State which accepts: 27
… 28
(b) Duties of Voter Registration Agencies. – A Agencies; Automatic Voter Registration 29
Information. – Beginning January 1, 202 7, a voter registration agency described in subsection 30
(a) of this section shall, unless the applicant declines, in writing, to register to vote:in consultation 31
with the State Board, prov ide, with each application for service or assistance, and with each 32
recertification, renewal, or change of address relating to such service or assistance, an application 33
process for aut omatic voter registration. The person taking the application shall info rm the 34
applicant of the following: 35
(1) Distribute with each application for service or assistance, and with each 36
recertification, renewal, or change of address relating to such service or 37
assistance:That the applicant shall be registered to vote or have the applicant's 38
voter registration record updated, as applicable, unless the applicant declines. 39
a. The voter registration application form described in G.S. 163-82.3(a) 40
or (b); or 41
b. The voter registration agency's own form, if it is substantially 42
equivalent to the form described in G.S. 163-82.3(a) or (b) and has 43
been approved by the State Board of Elections, provided that the 44
agency's own form may be a detachable part of the agency's paper 45
application or may be a paperless computer process, as lon g as the 46
applicant is required to sign an attestation as part of the application to 47
register. 48
(2) Provide a form that contains the elements required by section 7(a)(6)(B) of 49
the National Voter Registration Act; and The qualifications to vote under 50
G.S. 163-55. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 788-First Edition Page 21
(3) Provide to each applicant who does not decline to register to vote the same 1
degree of assistance with regard to the completion of the registration 2
application as is provided by the office with regard to the completion of its 3
own forms.That the applicant should not register if the applicant does not meet 4
the qualifications described under subdivision (2) of this subsection. 5
(4) That any person who willfully and knowingly and with fraudulent intent gives 6
false information on the application is guilty of a Class I felony. 7
(5) That if the applicant declines to register to vote, the fact that the applicant has 8
declined to register will remain confidential and be used for voter registration 9
purposes only. 10
(6) Information regarding the address confidentiality program under Chapter 15C 11
of the General Statutes, including how to register for the program and how 12
voter registration may impact participation in the program. 13
(b1) Requirements. – An applicant must affirmatively opt -out of voter registration if the 14
applicant chooses to decline automatic voter registration. If the applicant does not decline voter 15
registration, the person taking the application shall require the applicant to provide all 16
information requested of the applicant under G.S. 163-82.4, including declaring a preference to 17
be affiliated with a political party or a preference to be an unaffiliated voter. If the applicant fails 18
to declare a political party affiliation, the applicant 's political affiliation shall be designated as 19
unaffiliated. The applicant shall provide an electronic signature as required under 20
G.S. 163-82.6(c), subject to the penalty of perjury, by which the applicant attests that the 21
information provided by the applicant is true and that the appli cant meets all qualifications to 22
become a registered voter. 23
(c) Employment Security Law Applicants. – Provided that voter registration agencies 24
designated under subdivision (a)(3) of this section shall only be required to provide the services 25
set out in this subsection to applicants for new claims, reopened claims, and changes of address 26
under Chapter 96 of the General Statutes, the Employment Security Law. 27
(d) Home Registration for Disabled. – If a voter registration agency provides services to 28
a person with disability at the person's home, the voter registration agency shall provide the 29
services described in subsection (b) of this section at the person's home. However, the agency is 30
not required to provide automatic voter registration at the person's home. 31
… 32
(f) Confidentiality of Declination to Register. – No information relating to a declination 33
to register to vote in connection with an application made at a voter registration agency may be 34
used for any purpose other than voter registration. The State Board shall ensure that information 35
acquired for purposes of automatic voter registration under this section is kept confidential in 36
accordance with G.S. 163-82.4(c), including compliance with any voter registration requirements 37
under G.S. 163-82.10. 38
(g) Transmittal From Agency to Board of Elections. – Any voter registration application 39
completed at a voter registration agency shall be accepted by that agency in lieu of the applicant's 40
mailing the application. Any such application so received shall be tran smitted The agency shall 41
electronically transmit the applications of applicants who did not decline voter registration to the 42
appropriate board of elections not later than five business days after acceptance, according to 43
rules which shall be promulgated by the State Board of Elections. 44
… 45
(i) Ineligible Applications Prohibited. – No person shall make application to register to 46
vote under this section if that person is ineligible on account of age, citizenship, lack of residence 47
for the period of time provided by law, or because of conviction of a felony. However, if a person 48
who is ineligible to vote becomes registered to vote pursuant to this section, the presumption 49
shall be that the person 's registration is deemed officially authorized and shall not be at tributed 50
to any fault of the person. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 22 House Bill 788-First Edition
(j) No Requirement to Determine Eligibility. – Nothing in this section shall be construed 1
as requiring agencies to determine eligibility for voter registration and voting." 2
SECTION 5.5. G.S. 163-82.20A reads as rewritten: 3
"§ 163-82.20A. Voter registration upon restoration of citizenship. 4
The State Board of Elections, the Division of Prisons of the Department of Adult Correction, 5
and the Administrative Office of the Courts shall jointly develop and implement educational 6
programs and procedures for persons to apply to register to vote at the time they are restored to 7
citizenship and all filings required have been completed under Chapter 13 of the General Statutes. 8
Those procedures shall be designed to do both of the following: 9
(1) Inform the person that the restoration of rights removes the person's 10
disqualification from voting, but that in order to vote the person must register 11
to vote.vote, including informing the person of automatic voter registration in 12
accordance with G.S. 163-82.19. 13
(2) Provide an opportunity to that person to register to vote. 14
At a minimum, the program shall include a written notice to the person whose citizenship has 15
been restored, informing that person that the person may now register to vote, with a voter 16
registration form enclosed with the notice." 17
SECTION 5.6. The State Board of Elections shall establish and implement an 18
education and outreach campaign to inform voters of the automatic voter registration procedures 19
established pursuant to this act. 20
SECTION 5.7. Sections 5.1 through 5.3 and Section 5.5 of this Part become effective 21
January 1, 2026. Section 5.4 of this Part becomes effective January 1, 2027. The remainder of 22
this Part is effective when it becomes law. 23
24
PART VI. OPEN MEETIN GS LAW R EFORM/LIVE VIDEO AND AUDIO 25
STREAMING IN LEGISLATIVE COMPLEX 26
SECTION 6.1. G.S. 143-318.14A reads as rewritten: 27
"§ 143-318.14A. Legislative commissions, committees, and standing subcommittees. 28
… 29
(b) Reasonable public notice of all meetings of commissions, committees, and standing 30
subcommittees of the General Assembly shall be given. given to all members of the General 31
Assembly; to all members of the commissions, committees, and standing subcommittees; and to 32
the Legislative Services Office, which shall post the notice on the General Assembly website. 33
For purposes of this subsection, "reasonable public notice" includes, but is not limited 34
to:"adequate public notice" means written or electronic notice that is posted and emailed to those 35
who have requested notice at least 48 hours before the time of the meeting. The notice shall 36
include the time, date, location, and, to the extent known, the agenda of the meeting. 37
(1) Notice given openly at a session of the Senate or of the House; or 38
(2) Notice mailed or sent by electronic mail to those who have requested notice, 39
and to the Legislative Services Office, which shall post the notice on the 40
General Assembly web site. 41
(b1) The chair of the commission, committee , or standing subcommittee shall make the 42
agenda for a meeting noticed under subsection (b) of this section readily available for public 43
inspection no less than 24 hours in advance of the time of the meeting. Except for items of an 44
emergency nature, the agenda shall not be altered after the notice has been made available to the 45
public. The commission, committee, or standing subcommittee may modify the agenda to include 46
items of an emergency nature only during the meeting. As used in this subsection, items of an 47
emergency nature are matters that involve unexpected circumstances that require imm ediate 48
consideration by the commission, committee, or standing subcommittee. 49
(b2) No later than 24 hours in advance of the time of the meeting, the chair of the 50
commission, committee, or standing subcommittee shall make available to the members of the 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 788-First Edition Page 23
same the text of all bills, proposed committee substitutes, and amendments that will be considered 1
during the scheduled meeting. No commission, committee, or standing subcommittee shall 2
consider or act on a bill, proposed committee substitute, or amendment that has not been made 3
available to the members in accordance with this subsection. 4
(b3) G.S. 143-318.12 shall not apply to meetings of commissions, committees, and 5
standing subcommittees of the General Assembly. 6
…." 7
SECTION 6.2. The Legislative Services Officer (LSO) shall ensure live audiovisual 8
streaming of all floor proceedings and all committee meetings held in the Legislative Complex. 9
Live audiovisual streaming shall include (i) public participation and comment to the exten t 10
allowed by the streaming technology and (ii) access to the recorded live stream on a centralized 11
website within 48 hours after all floor proceedings or committee meetings. The LSO shall also 12
ensure the live audiovisual streaming of these floor proceeding s and committee meetings are 13
properly recorded and saved. 14
SECTION 6.3. This Part is effective when it becomes law. 15
16
PART VII. ABSENTEE BALLOTS 17
SECTION 7.1.(a) G.S. 163-229(b)(3) reads as rewritten: 18
"(3) A space for the identification of the two persons person witnessing the casting 19
of the absentee ballot in accordance with G.S. 163-231, those persons' 20
signatures, those persons' printed names, and those persons' addresses. that 21
person's signature, printed name, and address." 22
SECTION 7.1.(b) G.S. 163-231(a) reads as rewritten: 23
"(a) Procedure for Voting Absentee Ballots. – In the presence of two persons one person 24
who are is at least 18 years of age, and who are not disqualified by G.S. 163-226.3(a)(4) or 25
G.S. 163-237(c), the voter shall do all of the following: 26
… 27
(5) Require those two persons the person in whose presence the voter marked that 28
voter's ballots to sign and print their names the name on the application and 29
certificate as witnesses a witness and to indicate those persons' addresses. the 30
person's address. Failure to list a ZIP code does not invalidate the application 31
and certificate. Failure to include a printed witness name does not invalidate 32
the application and certificate if the identity of an individual can solely be 33
ascertained by the witness's signature. 34
(6) Do one of the following:Have the witness in whose presence the voter marked 35
that voter's ballots certify that the voter is the person submitting the marked 36
ballots. 37
a. Have the application notarized. The notary public may be the person 38
in whose presence the voter marked that voter's ballot. 39
b. Have the two persons in whose presence the voter marked that voter's 40
ballots to certify that the voter is the registered voter submitting the 41
marked ballots. 42
Alternatively to the prior paragraph of this subsection, any requirement for two witnesses 43
shall be satisfied if witnessed by one notary public, who shall comply with all the other 44
requirements of that paragraph. The notary shall affix a valid notarial seal to the envelope, and 45
include the word "Notary Public" below his or her signature. 46
The persons person in whose presence the ballot is marked shall at all times respect the 47
secrecy of the ballot and the privacy of the absentee voter, unless the voter requests assistance 48
and that person is otherwise authorized by law to give assistance. When thus executed, the sealed 49
container-return envelope, with the ballots enclosed, shall be transmitted in accordance with the 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 24 House Bill 788-First Edition
provisions of subsection (b) of this section to the county board of elections which issued the 1
ballots." 2
SECTION 7.2. G.S. 163-230.2(c) reads as rewritten: 3
"(c) Return of Request. – The completed request form for absentee ballots shall be 4
delivered either in person or by mail, email, or fax to the county board of elections only by any 5
of the following: 6
(1) The voter. 7
(2) The voter's near relative or verifiable legal guardian. 8
(3) A member of a multipartisan team trained and authorized by the county board 9
of elections pursuant to G.S. 163-226.3." 10
SECTION 7.3. This Part is effective when i t becomes law and applies to elections 11
held on or after that date. 12
13
PART VIII. USE OF CERTAIN CAMPUSES/VOTING PLACES 14
SECTION 8.1. G.S. 163-129(a) reads as rewritten: 15
"(a) At the voting place in each precinct established under the provisions of G.S. 163-128, 16
the county board of elections shall provide or procure by lease or otherwise a suitable structure 17
or part of a structure in which registration and voting may be conducted. To this end, the county 18
board of elections shall be entitled to demand and use an y school or other State, county, or 19
municipal building, or a part thereof, or any other building, or a part thereof, which is supported 20
or maintained, in whole or in part by or through tax revenues provided, however, that revenues, 21
including ensuring the use of voting places on college campuses. The State Board shall also make 22
reasonable effort s to provide means for other college campus es to be used as voting place s. 23
However, this section shall not be construed to permit any board of elections to demand and use 24
any tax exempt church property for such purposes without the express consent of the individual 25
church involved, for the purpose of conducting registration and voting for any primary or 26
election, and it may require that the requisitioned premises, or a part thereof, be vacated for these 27
purposes." 28
29
PART IX. VOTER LIST MAINTENANCE 30
SECTION 9.1. G.S. 163-82.14 reads as rewritten: 31
"§ 163-82.14. List maintenance. 32
… 33
(b) Death. – In order to remove the names of deceased persons from the list of eligible 34
voters in this State, the following shall occur: 35
(1) At a minimum of once per week, the Department of Health and Human 36
Services shall furnish free of charge to the Executive Director, in a format 37
prescribed by the State Board, the names of deceased persons who were 38
residents of the State. Upon receipt of the list from the Department of Health 39
and Human Services, the Executive Director shall distribute to each county 40
board of elections the names on that list of deceased persons who were 41
residents of that county. Upon the receipt of those names, each county board 42
of elections shall remove from its voter registration records any person the list 43
shows to be deceased each week.week after confirming that the complete date 44
of birth of the deceased person and the last four digits of the social security 45
number are identical to the person to be removed from the voter registration 46
records. If the last four digits of the social security number are not available 47
from voter registration records, then the county board of elections shall not 48
remove the voter unless it has matched the complete date of birth and other 49
identification i nformation from the deceased records received from the 50
Department of Health and Human Services or a near relative. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 788-First Edition Page 25
(2) Upon Subject to the requirements of subdivision (1) of this s ubsection, upon 1
receipt of a signed statement of a near relative or personal representative of 2
the estate of a deceased voter indicating that the person has died, a county 3
board of elections shall remove the person ident ified as deceased from its 4
voter registration records within one week of receipt of the signed statement. 5
The county board does not need to send any notice to the address of the person 6
before removing the person from its voter registration records. 7
… 8
(d) Change of Address. – In order to remove the names of individuals who have moved 9
out of the county, the following shall occur: 10
… 11
(2) Following each congressional election, the county board of elections shall 12
send to each registered voter who has not voted or confirmed the voter's 13
address by another means a confirmation mailing. The county board of 14
elections shall remove from its voter registration records the names of 15
individuals who fail to respond after no less than 60 days to the confirmation 16
mailing sent by the county board in accordance with this subdivision and who 17
do not vote or appear to vote in an election beginning on the date of the notice 18
and ending on the day after the date of the second general election for the 19
United States House of Representatives that occurs after the date of the notice. 20
A county board of elections shall send a confirmation notice that complies 21
with all of the following: 22
a. Is a postage prepaid and preaddressed return card, sent by forwardable 23
mail, on which the registrant may state current address. 24
b. Contains or is accompanied by a notice to the effect that if the 25
registrant did not change residence but remained in the county, the 26
registrant should return the card not later than the deadline for 27
registration by mail in G.S. 163-82.6(d)(1). 28
c. Contains or is accompanied by information as to how the registrant 29
may continue to be eligible to vote if the registrant has moved outside 30
the county. 31
d. If a voter has provided the county board of elections with an email 32
address, is an email that (i) provides the confirmation mailing has been 33
sent, (ii) contains information on how the registrant may confirm the 34
registrant's current address online, and (iii) contains information on 35
how the voter may continue to be eligible to vote if the registrant has 36
moved outside the county. If the voter has not provided an email 37
address to the county board but has provided a phone number, the 38
county board shall contact the voter by phone to provide this 39
information. 40
… 41
(d1) Notwithstanding subsection (d) of this section, a county board of elections shall not 42
remove a registrant from its list of registered voters solely based on the county board receiving a 43
return mailing as "undeliverable" without taking steps to confirm the registrant's current address 44
by other means. 45
…." 46
47
PART X. TRUE SOURCE OF SPENDING 48
SECTION 10.1. G.S. 163-278.12 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 49
"(h) Except for political committees that do not receive more than six thousand four 50
hundred dollars ($ 6,400), or the amount set by G.S. 163-278.13, from any one person in an 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 26 House Bill 788-First Edition
election, a filer, when reporting donations of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more in the 1
aggregate under this subsection, shall disclose the identity of the original source of the funds, the 2
amounts of those donations, and any intermediaries who transferred the funds before they were 3
contributed to the filer. For purposes of this sub section, "original source" means an individual 4
who contributes wages, investment income, or bequests or a person th at contributes money 5
received through ordinary commercial transactions. Any person or entity making a donation of 6
one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, in the aggregate, in an election to a person or entity 7
required to report donations under this subsection shall inform that person or entity of the identity 8
of the original sources of funds being transferred, the amounts of the persons' original funds being 9
transferred, and the identity of any persons who previously transferred the original funds." 10
SECTION 10.2. G.S. 163-278.12C is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 11
"(e) Except for political committee s that do not receive more than six thousand four 12
hundred dollars ($ 6,400), or the amount set by G.S. 163-278.13, from any one person in an 13
election, a filer, when reporting donations of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more in the 14
aggregate under this subsection, shall disclose the identity of the original source of the funds, the 15
amounts of those donations, and any intermediaries who transferred the funds before they were 16
contributed to the filer. "Original source" has the same meaning as in G.S. 163-278.12(h). Any 17
person or entity making a donation of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, in the aggregate, 18
in an election to a person or entity required to report donations under this subsection shall inform 19
that person or entity of the identity of the original sources of funds being transferred, the amounts 20
of the persons' original funds being transferred, and the identity of any persons who previously 21
transferred the original funds." 22
SECTION 10.3. G.S. 163-278.39(a) is amended by adding a new subdivision to 23
read: 24
"(5) In an advertisement made by a sponsor other than a candidate, political party 25
organization, an individual solely spending the individual 's own personal 26
funds received through wages, investment income, or bequests or a person 27
solely spending money received through ordinary commercial transactions, 28
the advertisement bears the legend or includes the statement: "[Names of top 29
three donors] are the top donors who helped pay for this message. " In a 30
television advertisement or digital communication, this disclosur e shall be 31
made by visual legend. In advertisements made by a sponsor that reports 32
original sources under G.S. 163-278.12 or G.S. 163-278.12C, the top three 33
donors shall be the three original sources who have donated the highest 34
aggregate amounts to the sponsor in the election cycle." 35
36
PART XI. TRANSPARENCY FOR DIGITAL CAMPAIGN ADS 37
SECTION 11.1. G.S. 163-278.6 reads as rewritten: 38
"§ 163-278.6. Definitions. 39
When used in this Article: 40
… 41
(28a) The term "digital communication " means any communication , for a fee, 42
placed or promoted on a public-facing website, web application, or digital 43
application, including a social network, advertising network, or search engine. 44
… 45
(41) The term "electioneering communication" means any broadcast, cable, or 46
satellite communication, or mass mailing, or telephone bank bank, or digital 47
communication that has all the following characteristics: 48
a. Refers to a clearly identified candidate for elected office. 49
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 788-First Edition Page 27
b. In the case of the general election in November of the even-numbered 1
year is aired or transmitted within 60 days of the election for that 2
office. 3
c. May be received by either: 4
1. 50,000 or more individuals in the State in an election for 5
statewide office or 7,500 or more individuals in any other 6
election if in the form of broadcast, cable, or satellite 7
communication. 8
2. 20,000 or more households, cumulative per election, in a 9
statewide election or 2,500 households, cumulative per 10
election, in any other election if in the form of mass mailing or 11
telephone bank. 12
…." 13
SECTION 11.2. G.S. 163-278.38Z(1) reads as rewritten: 14
"(1) "Advertisement" means any message appearing in the print media, on 15
television, or on radio television or radio, or throu gh digital communication 16
that constitutes a contribution or expenditure under this Article." 17
SECTION 11.3. G.S. 163-278.39 reads as rewritten: 18
"§ 163-278.39. Basic disclosure requirements for all political advertisements. 19
(a) Basic Requirements. – It sha ll be unlawful for any sponsor to sponsor an 20
advertisement in the print media or media, on radio or television television, or through digital 21
communication that constitutes an expenditure, independent expenditure, electioneering 22
communication, or contribution required to be disclosed under this Article unless all the 23
following conditions are met: 24
(1) It bears the legend or includes the statement: "Paid for by ____ [Name of 25
candidate, candidate campaign committee, political party organization, 26
political action committee, referendum committee, individual, or other 27
sponsor]." In television or digital communicati on advertisements, this 28
disclosure shall be made by visual legend. 29
… 30
If an advertisement described in this section is jointly sponsored, the di sclosure statement 31
shall name all the sponsors. 32
(b) Size Requirements. – The following shall apply to the various forms of advertisement: 33
(1) In a print media advertisement covered by subsection (a) of this section, the 34
height of all disclosure statements required by that subsection shall constitute 35
at least five percent (5%) of the height of the printed space of the 36
advertisement, provided that the type shall in no event be less than 12 points 37
in size. In an advertisement in a newspaper or a newspaper inse rt, the total 38
height of the disclosure statement need not constitute five percent of the 39
printed space of the advertisement if the type of the disclosure statement is at 40
least 28 points in size. If a single advertisement consists of multiple pages, 41
folds, or faces, the disclosure requirement of this section applies only to one 42
page, fold, or face. 43
(2) In a television advertisement covered by subsection (a) of this section, the 44
visual disclosure legend shall constitute four percent (4%) of vertical picture 45
height in size, and where the television advertisement that appears is paid for 46
by a candidate or candidate campaign committee, the visual disclosure legend 47
shall appear simultaneously with an easily identifiable photograph of the 48
candidate for at least two seconds. 49
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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(3) In a radio advertisement covered by subsection (a) of this section, the 1
disclosure statement shall last at least two seconds, provided the statement is 2
spoken so that its contents may be easily understood. 3
(4) In a digital communication advertisement covered by subsection (a) of this 4
section, the disclosure statement shall appear (i) in letters at least as large as 5
the smallest text in the digital communication or (ii) in a heading or similar 6
section of text displayed above or within the digital communication that is 7
visually distinct from the text of the digital communication and shall have a 8
reasonable degree of color contrast between the background and the disclosure 9
statement. If the digital communication is disseminated through a medium in 10
which the provision of the disclosure statement is not possible, the digital 11
communication shall, in a clear and conspicuous manner, include the 12
following: 13
a. The name of the person who paid for the digital communication. 14
b. A means for the recipient of the digital communication to obtain the 15
remainder of the information required by this section with minimal 16
effort and without receiving or viewing any additional material other 17
than the disclosure statement. 18
(c) Misrepresentation of Authorization. – Notwithstanding G.S. 163-278.27(a), any 19
candidate, candidate campaign committee, political party organization, political action 20
committee, referendum committee, individual, or other sponsor making an advertisement in the 21
print media or media, on radio or television television, or through digital communication bearing 22
any legend required by subsection (a) of this section that misrepresents the sponsorship or 23
authorization of the advertisement is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor." 24
SECTION 11.4. G.S. 163-278.39C reads as rewritten: 25
"§ 163-278.39C. Scope of disclosure requirements. 26
The disclosure requirements of this Part apply to any sponsor of an advertisement in the print 27
media or media, on radio or television television, or through digital communication the cost or 28
value of which constitutes an expenditure or contribution required to be disclosed under this 29
Article, except that the disclosure requirements of this Part: 30
(1) Do not apply to an individu al who makes uncoordinated independent 31
expenditures aggregating less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) in a political 32
campaign; and 33
(2) Do not apply to an individual who incurs expenses with respect to a 34
referendum. 35
The disclosure requirements of this Par t do not apply to any advertisement the expenditure 36
for which is required to be disclosed by G.S. 163-278.12A alone and by no other law." 37
SECTION 11.5. Part 1A of Article 22A of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is 38
amended by adding a new section to read: 39
"§ 163-278.39D. State Board of Elections to maintain records of digital communications 40
for political advertising. 41
Any person using digital communi cation, as defined under G.S. 163-278.6(28a), that is 42
covered by G.S. 163-278.39(a) shall submit that digital communication to the State Board of 43
Elections along with the disclosure information required under G.S. 163-278.39. The State Board 44
of Elections shall maintain the information submitted pursuant to this section on the State Board 45
of Elections website and the information shall be deemed public records and available for 46
inspection on the website. The State Board shall display the following information on its website 47
as related to the digital communication: 48
(1) The name of the person. 49
(2) The city and state where the entity is located. 50
(3) The amount spent by the person for each candidate. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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(4) A copy of the political advertisement. 1
(5) The dates or date range on which the political advertisement runs." 2
SECTION 11.6. This Part becomes effective September 1, 2025, and applies to 3
elections conducted on or after that date. 4
5
PART XII. PROTECTION AGAINST FOREIGN INTERFERENCE 6
SECTION 12.1. G.S. 163-278.39 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 7
"(a1) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary and in accordance with any 8
federal law, a foreign national expending funds for political advertising that addresses a specific 9
issue to influence State or local government policy, a State or local government officer, or an 10
election shall include a statement in the advertisement that identifies the foreign national and a 11
statement disclosing that the advertising is sponsored by the foreign national. The phrase "foreign 12
national" shall have the same meaning as defined in 52 U.S.C. § 30121(b)." 13
14
PART XIII. LIMITATIONS/SUPER PACS INFLUENCE 15
SECTION 13.1. Part 1 of Article 22A of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is 16
amended by adding a new section to read: 17
"§ 163-278.12B. Limitations on super political action committees' influence. 18
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any political committee 19
that makes only independent expenditures shall notify the State Board of Elections, in writing, 20
of any of the following: 21
(1) Any contribution in excess of one thousand dollars ( $1,000) received by the 22
committee before an election but after the period covered by the last report 23
due before that election. This notification shall be made within 48 hours after 24
the receipt of the contribution and shall include the name of the committee , 25
the contributor, and the date of receipt and amount of the contribution. 26
(2) Any contribution or donation in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000) made 27
by the committee before an election but after the period covered by the last 28
report due before that election. This notification shall be made within 48 hours 29
after the contribution or donation is made and shall include the name of the 30
committee and the recipient and the date and amount of t he contribution or 31
donation. 32
(b) Any person who receives, directly or indirectly, a contribution or donation subject to 33
subsection (a) of this section and who transfers more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) of the 34
funds to another person shall disclose to that person, in writing, at the time the transfer is made 35
each of the following: 36
(1) The identification of the political committee who made the contribution or 37
donation and the date and amount of the contribution or donation. 38
(2) The identification of any other person subject to this section, as either a prior 39
transferor or transferee of the funds from the political committee, and the date 40
and amount of the contribution or donation. 41
(c) For purposes of this section, a contribution or donation includes a pledge, promise, 42
understanding, or agreement to make a future contribution or donation." 43
44
PART XIV. REESTABLISH NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FUND 45
SECTION 14.1. G.S. 163-278.69 is recodified as G.S. 163-278.129. 46
SECTION 14.2. Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by adding the 47
following new Article to read: 48
"Article 22I. 49
"The North Carolina Public Campaign Fund. 50
"§ 163-278.120. Purpose of the North Carolina Public Campaign Fund. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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The purpose of this Article is to ensure the fairness of democratic elections in North Carolina 1
and to protect the constitutional rights of voters and candidates from the detrimental effects of 2
increasingly large amounts of money being raised and spent to influence the outcome of 3
elections, those effects being especially problematic in elections of the judiciary, since 4
impartiality is uniquely important to the integrity and credibility of the courts. Accordingly, this 5
Article reestablishes the North Carolin a Public Campaign Fund as an alternative source of 6
campaign financing for candidates who demonstrate public support and voluntarily accept strict 7
fundraising and spending limits. This Article is available to candidates for justice of the Supreme 8
Court and judge of the Court of Appeals in elections to be held in 2026 and thereafter. 9
"§ 163-278.121. Definitions. 10
The following definitions apply in this Article: 11
(1) Board. – The State Board of Elections. 12
(2) Candidate. – An individual who becomes a candidate as described in 13
G.S. 163-278.6. The term includes a political committee authorized by the 14
candidate for that candidate's election. 15
(3) Certified candidate. – A candidate running for office who chooses to receive 16
campaign funds from the Fund and who is certified under 17
G.S. 163-278.123(c). 18
(4) Contested primary and contested general election. – An election in which 19
there are more candidates than the number to be elected. A distribution from 20
the Fund pursuant to this Article is not a "contribution" and is not subject to 21
the limitations of G.S. 163-278.13 or the prohibitions of G.S. 163-278.15 or 22
G.S. 163-278.19. 23
(5) Contribution. – Defined in G.S. 163-278.6. A distribution from the Fund 24
pursuant to this Article is not a "contribution" and is not subject to the 25
limitations of G.S. 163-278.13 or the prohibitions of G.S. 163-278.15 or 26
G.S. 163-278.19. 27
(6) Electioneering communication. – As defined in G.S. 163-278.6, except that it 28
is made during the period beginning 30 days before absentee ballots become 29
available for a primary and ending on primary election day and during the 30
period 60 days before absentee ballots become available for a general election 31
and ending on general election day. 32
(7) Expenditure. – Defined in G.S. 163-278.6. 33
(8) Fund. – The North Carolina Public Campaign Fund established in 34
G.S. 163-278.122. 35
(9) Independent expenditure. – Defined in G.S. 163-278.6. 36
(10) Maximum qualifying contributions. – An amount of qualifying contributions 37
equal to 60 times the filing fee for candidacy for the office. 38
(11) Minimum qualifying contributions. – An amount of qualifying contributions 39
equal to 30 times the filing fee for candidacy for the office. 40
(12) Nonparticipating candidate. – A candidate running for office who is not 41
seeking to be certified under G.S. 163-278.123(c). 42
(13) Office. – A position on the North Carolina Court of Appeals or North Carolina 43
Supreme Court. 44
(14) Participating candidate. – A candidate for office who has filed a declaration 45
of intent to participate under G.S. 163-278.123. 46
(15) Political committee. – Defined in G.S. 163-278.6. 47
(16) Qualifying contribution. – A contribution of not less than ten dollars ($10.00) 48
and not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) in the form prescribed for 49
noncash monetary contributions in G.S. 163-278.14(b) to the candidate or the 50
candidate's committee that meets both of the following conditions: 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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a. Made by an individual who is a registered voter in this State at the time 1
of the submittal of the report specified in G.S. 163-278.123(c). 2
b. Made during the qualifying period and obtained with the approval of 3
the candidate or the candidate's committee. 4
(17) Qualifying period. – The period beginning September 1 in the year before the 5
election and ending on the day of the primary of the election year. 6
(18) Referendum committee. – Defined in G.S. 163-278.6. 7
(19) Trigger for matching funds. – The dollar amount at which matching funds are 8
released for certified candidates. In the case of a primary, the trigger equals 9
the maximum qualifying contributions for participating candidates. In the case 10
of a contested genera l election, the trigger equals the base level of funding 11
available under G.S. 163-278.125(b)(4). 12
"§ 163-278.122. North Carolina Public Campaign Fund established; sources of funding. 13
(a) Establishment of Fund. – The North Carolina Public Campaign Fund is established to 14
finance the election campaigns of certified candidates for office and to pay administrative and 15
enforcement costs of the Board related to this Article. The Fund is a special, dedicated, 16
nonlapsing, nonreverting fund. All expenses of administe ring this Article, including production 17
and distribution of the Voter Guide required by G.S. 163-278.129 and personnel and other costs 18
incurred by the Board, including public education about the Fund, shall be paid from the Fund 19
and not from the General Fund. Any interest generated by the Fund is credited to the Fund. The 20
Board shall administer the Fund. 21
(b) Sources of Funding. – Money received from all of the following sources shall be 22
deposited in the Fund: 23
(1) Designations made to the Fund by individual taxpayers pursuant to 24
G.S. 105-159.2. 25
(2) Fund revenues distributed for an election that remain unspent or uncommitted 26
at the time the recipient is no longer a certified candidate in the election. 27
(3) Money ordered returned to the Fund in accordance with G.S. 163-278.128. 28
(4) Voluntary donations made directly to the Fund. Corporations, other business 29
entities, labor unions, and professional associations may make donations to 30
the Fund. 31
(5) Money collected from the fifty dollar ($50.00) surcharge on attorney 32
membership fees in G.S. 84-34. 33
(c) Determination of Fund Amount. – By October 1, 2026, and every two years thereafter, 34
the State Board shall prepare and provide to the Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee 35
a report documenting, evaluating, and making recommendations relating to the administration, 36
implementation, and enforcement of this Article. In its report, the Board shall set out the funds 37
received to date and the expected needs of the Fund for the next election. 38
"§ 163-278.123. Requirements for participation; certification of candidates. 39
(a) Declaration of Intent to Participate. – Any individual choosing to receive campaign 40
funds from the Fund shall first file with the Board a declaration of intent to participate under this 41
Article as a candidate for a stated office. The declaration of intent shall be filed before or during 42
the qualifying period and before collecting any qualifying contributions. In the declaration, the 43
candidate shall swear or affirm that only one political committee, identified with its treasurer, 44
shall handle all contributions, expenditures, and obl igations for the participating candidate and 45
that the candidate will comply with the contribution and expenditure limits set forth in subsection 46
(d) of this section and all other requirements set forth in this Article or adopted by the Board. 47
Failure to comply is a violation of this Article. 48
(b) Demonstration of Support of Candidacy. – Participating candidates who seek 49
certification to receive campaign funds from the Fund shall first, during the qualifying period, 50
obtain qualifying contributions from at lea st 350 registered voters in an aggregate sum that at 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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least equals the amount of minimum qualifying contributions described in G.S. 163-278.121(11) 1
but that does not exceed the amount of maximum qualifying contributions described in 2
G.S. 163-278.121(10). 3
No payment, gift, anything of value, or the opportunity to win anything of value shall be 4
given in exchange for a qualifying contribution. 5
(c) Certification of Candidates. – Upon receipt of a submittal of the record of 6
demonstrated support by a participating candidate, the Board shall determine whether or not the 7
candidate has complied with all of the following requirements: 8
(1) Signed and filed a declaration of intent to participate in this Article. 9
(2) Submitted a report itemizing the appropriate number of qualifying 10
contributions received from registered voters, which the Board shall verify 11
through a random sample or other means it adopts. The report shall include 12
the county of residence of each registered voter listed. 13
(3) Filed a valid notice of candidacy pursuant to Article 26 of this Chapter. 14
(4) Otherwise met the requirements for participation in this Article. 15
The Board shall certify candidates complying with the requirements of this section as soon 16
as possible and no later than five business days after receipt of a satisfactory record of 17
demonstrated support. 18
(d) Restrictions on Contributions and Expenditures for Participating and Certified 19
Candidates. – The following restrictions shall apply to contributions and expenditures with 20
respect to participating and certified candidates: 21
(1) Beginning January 1 of the year before the election and before the filing of a 22
declaration of intent, a candidate for office may accept in contributions up to 23
ten thousand dollars ($10,000) from sources and in amounts permi tted by 24
Article 2 2A of this Chapter and may expend up to ten thousand dollars 25
($10,000) for any campaign purpose. A candidate who exceeds either of these 26
limits shall be ineligible to file a declaration of intent or receive funds from 27
the Fund. 28
(2) From the filing of a declaration of intent through the end of the qualifying 29
period, a candidate may accept only qualifying contributions, contributions 30
under ten dollars ($10.00) from North Carolina voters, and personal and 31
family contributions permitted under s ubdivision (4) of this subsection. The 32
total contributions the candidate may accept during this period shall not 33
exceed the maximum qualifying contributions for that candidate. In addition 34
to these contributions, the candidate may only expend during this p eriod the 35
remaining money raised pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection and 36
possible matching funds received pursuant to G.S. 163-278.127. Except for 37
personal and family contributions permitted under subdivision (4) of this 38
subsection, multiple con tributions from the same contributor to the same 39
candidate shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00). 40
(3) After the qualifying period and through the date of the general election, the 41
candidate shall expend only the funds the candidate receives from the Fund 42
pursuant to G.S. 163-278.125(b)(4) plus any funds remaining from the 43
qualifying period and possible matching funds. 44
(4) During the qualifying period, the candidate may contribute up to one thousand 45
dollars ($1,000) of that candidate's own money to the campaign. Debt incurred 46
by the candidate for a campaign expenditure shall count toward that limit. The 47
candidate may accept in contributions one thousand dollars ($1,000) from 48
each member of that candidate 's family consisting of spouse, parent, child, 49
brother, and sister. Up to five hundred dollars ($500.00) of a contribution from 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 788-First Edition Page 33
the candidate's family member may be treated as a qualifying contribution if 1
it meets the requirements of G.S. 163-278.121(16)a. and b. 2
(5) A candidate and the candidate's committee shall limit the use of all revenues 3
permitted by this subsection to expenditures for campaign -related purposes 4
only. The Board shall publish guidelines outlining permissible 5
campaign-related expenditures. In establishing those guidelines, the Board 6
shall differentiate expenditures that reasonably further a candidate's campaign 7
from expenditures for personal use that would be incurred in the absence of 8
the candidacy. In establishing the guidelines, the Board shall review relevant 9
provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act, and rules adopted pursuant 10
to it, and similar provisions in other states. 11
(6) Any contribution received by a participating or certified candidate that falls 12
outside that permitted by this subsection shall be returned to the donor as soon 13
as practicable. Contributions intentionally made, solicited, or accepted in 14
violation of this Article are subject to civil penalties as specified in 15
G.S. 163-278.128. The funds involved shall be forfeited to the Civil Penalty 16
and Forfeiture Fund. 17
(7) A candidate shall return to the Fund any amount distributed for an election 18
that is unspent and uncommitted at the date of the election, or at the time the 19
individual ceases to be a certified candidate, whichever occurs first. For 20
accounting purposes, all qualifying, personal, and family contributions shall 21
be considered spent before revenue from the Fund is spent or committed. 22
(e) Revocation. – A candidate may revoke, in writing to the Board, a decision to 23
participate in the Fund at any time befo re the deadline set by the Board for the candidate 's 24
submission of information for the Voter Guide described in G.S. 163-278.129. After a timely 25
revocation, that candidate may accept and expend outside the limits of this Article without 26
violating this Article. Within 10 days after revocation, a candidate shall return to the State Board 27
all money received from the Fund. 28
"§ 163-278.124. Special participation provisions for candidates in vacancy elections. 29
(a) Participation Provisions Modified. – Candidates involved in elections described in 30
G.S. 163-358 may participate in the Fund subject to the provisions of G.S. 163-278.123 as 31
modified by this section. The Board shall adapt other provisions of this Article, i ncluding 32
G.S. 163-278.127, to those elections. 33
(b) Qualifying. – The Board shall designate a special qualifying period of no less than 34
four weeks for these candidates, beginning at the close of the notice -of-candidacy filing period. 35
To receive certification, a participating candidate shall raise at least 225 qualifying contributions, 36
totaling at least 20 times the amount of the filing fee for the office, for a four -week qualifying 37
period. If the Board sets a longer qualifying period, then for each additiona l week that the 38
qualifying period extends beyond four weeks, the minimum number of qualifying contributions 39
required for certification shall increase by 25 and the minimum amount of the qualifying 40
contributions shall increase by two times the filing fee. T he minimum qualifying contributions 41
shall not exceed the limit set by G.S. 163-278.123(b). 42
(c) Allocations. – Certified candidates shall receive one percent (1%) of the funding to 43
which they would be eligible under G.S. 163-278.125 times the number of calendar days between 44
the end of the special qualifying period and the day of the general election. That amount shall 45
not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the funding to which they would be eligible under 46
G.S. 163-278.125. 47
"§ 163-278.125. Distribution from the Fund. 48
(a) Timing of Fund Distribution. – The Board shall distribute to a certified candidate 49
revenue from the Fund in an amount determined under subdivision (b)(4) of this section within 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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five business days after the certified candidate's name is approved to appear on the ballot in a 1
contested general election but no earlier than five business days after the primary. 2
(b) Amount of Fund Distribution. – By August 1, 2026, and no less frequently than every 3
two years thereafter, the Board shall determine the amount of funds, rounded to the nearest one 4
hundred dollars ($100.00), to be distributed to certified candidates as follows: 5
(1) Uncontested primaries. – No funds shall be distributed. 6
(2) Contested primaries. – No funds shall be distributed except as provided in 7
G.S. 163-278.127. 8
(3) Uncontested general elections. – No funds shall be distributed. 9
(4) Contested general elections. – Funds shall be distributed to a certified 10
candidate for a po sition on the Court of Appeals in an amount equal to 125 11
times the candidate 's filing fee as set forth in G.S. 163-353. Funds shall be 12
distributed to a certified candidate for a position on the Supreme Court in an 13
amount equal to 175 times the candidate 's filing fee as set forth in 14
G.S. 163-353. 15
(c) Method of Fund Distribution. – The Board, in consultation with the State Treasurer 16
and the State Controller, shall develop a rapid, reliable method of conveying funds to certified 17
candidates. In all cases, the Board shall distribute funds to certified candidates in a manner that 18
is expeditious, ensures accountability, and safeguards the integrity of the Fund. If the money in 19
the Fund is insufficient to fully fund all certified candidates, then the available mone y shall be 20
distributed proportionally, according to each candidate's eligible funding, and the candidate may 21
raise additional money in the same manner as a noncertified candidate for the same office up to 22
the unfunded amount of the candidate's eligible funding. 23
"§ 163-278.126. Reporting requirements. 24
(a) Reporting by Noncertified Candidates and Other Entities. – Any noncertified 25
candidate with a certified opponent shall report total contributions received to the Board by 26
facsimile machine or electronically within 24 hours after the total amount of contributions 27
received exceeds eighty percent (80%) of the trigger for matching funds as defined in 28
G.S. 163-278.121(19). Any entity making independent expenditures in support of or opposition 29
to a certified candidate or in support of a candidate opposing a certified candidate, or paying for 30
electioneering communications, referring to one of those candidates, shall report the total 31
expenditures or payments made to the Board by facsimile machine or electronically wi thin 24 32
hours after the total amount of expenditures or payments made for the purpose of making the 33
independent expenditures or electioneering communications exceed five thousand dollars 34
($5,000). After the initial 24-hour filing, the noncertified candidate or other reporting entity shall 35
comply with an expedited reporting schedule. The schedule and forms for reports required by 36
this subsection shall be supplied by the Board. 37
(b) Reporting by Participating and Certified Candidates. – Notwithstanding other 38
provisions of law, participating and certified candidates shall report any money received, 39
including all previously unreported qualifying contributions, all campaign expenditures, 40
obligations, and related activities to the Board according to procedures developed by the Board. 41
A certified candidate who ceases to be certified or ceases to be a candidate or who loses an 42
election shall file a final report with the Board and return any unspent revenues received from 43
the Fund. In developing these procedures, the B oard shall utilize existing campaign reporting 44
procedures whenever practical. 45
(c) Timely Access to Reports. – The Board shall ensure prompt public access to the 46
reports received in accordance with this Article. The Board may utilize electronic means of 47
reporting and storing information. 48
"§ 163-278.127. Matching funds. 49
(a) When Matching Funds Become Available. – When any report or group of reports 50
shows that "funds in opposition to a certified candidate or in support of an opponent to that 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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candidate" as described in this section exceed the trigger for matching funds as defined in 1
G.S. 163-278.121(19), the Board shall issue immediately to that certified candidate an additional 2
amount equal to the reported excess within the limits set forth in this section. "Funds in opposition 3
to a certified candidate or in support of an opponent to that candidate " shall be equal to the sum 4
of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection as follows: 5
(1) The greater of the following: 6
a. Campaign expenditures or obligation s made, or funds raised or 7
borrowed, whichever is greater, reported by any one nonparticipating 8
candidate who is an opponent of a certified candidate. Where a 9
certified candidate has more than one nonparticipating candidate as an 10
opponent, the measure shal l be taken from the nonparticipating 11
candidate showing the highest relevant dollar amount. 12
b. The funds distributed in accordance with G.S. 163-278.125(b) to a 13
certified opponent of the certified candidate. 14
(2) The aggregate total of all expenditures and payments reported in accordance 15
with G.S. 163-278.126(a) of entities making independent expenditures or 16
electioneering communications in opposition to the certified candidate or in 17
support of any opponent of that certified candidate. 18
(b) Limit on Matching Funds Before Date of Primary. – Total matching funds to a 19
certified candidate before the date of the primary shall be limited to an amount equal to two times 20
the maximum qualifying contributions for the office so ught. Matching funds are available to a 21
certified candidate with an opponent in the primary or to a certified candidate who is clearly 22
referred to in expenditures reportable under G.S. 163-278.125 made in opposition to that 23
candidate. 24
(c) Limit on Matching Funds in Contested General Election. – Total matching funds to a 25
certified candidate in a contested general election shall be limited to an amount equal to two 26
times the amount described in G.S. 163-278.125(b)(4). 27
(d) Expedited Distribution of Matching Fu nds. – When a candidate becomes entitled to 28
any amount of matching funds under subsection (a) of this section, the Board shall authorize the 29
issuance of that amount to the candidate as soon as practicable. The Department of 30
Administration shall transfer that amount to the candidate as soon as practicable and in no event 31
later than 12 hours after receiving notice from the Board that the candidate has become entitled 32
to it. The Department of Administration shall develop a method of rapidly transferring funds to 33
a candidate or otherwise fulfilling the requirements of this subsection in conjunction with the 34
Board. The candidate shall return to the Board as soon as practicable any amount of the matching 35
funds that the candidate has not spent at the date of the el ection or at the time the individual 36
ceases to be a certified candidate, whichever occurs first. 37
(e) Determinations by Board. – In the case of electioneering communications, the Board 38
shall determine which candidate, if any, is entitled to receive matching funds as a result of the 39
communication. The Board shall issue matching funds based on the communication only if it 40
ascertains that the communication is susceptible of no reasonable interpretation other than as an 41
appeal to vote for or against a specific c andidate. In making its determination, the Board shall 42
not consider evidence external to the communication itself of the intent of the sponsor or the 43
effect of the communication. The Board shall notify each candidate it determines is entitled to 44
receive matching funds based on those communications, the sponsor of those communications, 45
and any candidate who is an opponent of the candidate it determines is entitled to the matching 46
funds. The Board shall give the sponsor of the communication and any opposing c andidate an 47
adequate opportunity to rebut the determination of the Board. In considering the rebuttal, all 48
candidates in the race and the sponsor shall be given adequate and equal opportunity to be heard. 49
The Board shall adopt procedures for implementing t his subsection, balancing in those 50
procedures adequacy of opportunity to rebut and adequacy and equality of opportunity to be 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 36 House Bill 788-First Edition
heard on the rebuttal with the need to expedite the decision on awarding matching funds. The 1
Board shall distribute the matching funds, if any, at the conclusion of its process. 2
(f) Proportional Measuring of Multicandidate Communications. – In calculating the 3
amount of matching funds a certified candidate is eligible to receive under this section, the Board 4
shall include the proporti on of expenditures, obligations, or payments for multicandidate 5
communications that pertain to the candidate. 6
(g) No Matching Funds for Certain Communications Involving All Candidates. – No 7
matching funds are available under this section as a result of an expenditure that supports all 8
candidates for the same office or opposes all candidates for the same office. No matching funds 9
are available under this section as a result of an electioneering communication that the Board 10
ascertains is susceptible of no rea sonable interpretation other than as an appeal to vote for all 11
candidates for the same office or to vote against all candidates for the same office. 12
"§ 163-278.128. Civil penalty. 13
In addition to any other penalties that may be applicable, any individual, political committee, 14
or other entity that violates any provision of this Article is subject to a civil penalty of up to ten 15
thousand dollars ($10,000) per violation or three times the amount of any financial transactions 16
involved in the violation, whichever is greater. In addition to any fine, for good cause shown, a 17
candidate found in violation of this Article may be required to return to the Fund all amounts 18
distributed to the candidate from the Fund. If the Board makes a determination that a violation 19
of this Article has occurred, the Board shall calculate and assess the amount of the civil penalty 20
and shall notify the entity that is assessed the civil penalty of the amount that has been assessed. 21
The Board shall then proceed in the manner prescribed in G.S. 163-278.34. In determining 22
whether or not a candidate is in violation of this Article, the Board may consider as a mitigating 23
factor any circumstances out of the candidate's control." 24
SECTION 14.3. G.S. 84-34 reads as rewritten: 25
"§ 84-34. Membership fees and list of members. 26
(a) Every active member of the North Carolina State Bar shall, prior to the first day of 27
July of each year, pay to the secretary -treasurer an annual membership fee in an amount 28
determined by the Council but not to exceed three hun dred twenty -five dollars 29
($325.00).($325.00), plus a surcharge of fifty dollars ($50.00) for the implementation of Article 30
22I of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. 31
… 32
(c) The fees shall be disbursed by the secretary-treasurer on the order of the Council. The 33
fifty dollar ($50.00) surcharge shall be sent on a monthly schedule to the State Board of Elections. 34
The secretary-treasurer shall annually, at a time and in a law magazine or daily newspaper to be 35
prescribed by t he Council, publish an account of the financial transactions of the Council in a 36
form to be prescribed by it. The secretary-treasurer shall compile and keep currently correct from 37
the names and mailing addresses forwarded to the secretary -treasurer and fro m any other 38
available sources of information a list of members of the North Carolina State Bar and furnish to 39
the clerk of the superior court in each county, not later than the first day of October in each year, 40
a list showing the name and address of each attorney for that county who has not complied with 41
the provisions of this Article. The name of each of the active members who are in arrears in the 42
payment of membership fees shall be furnished to the presiding judge by the clerk of the superior 43
court of each county wherein the member or members reside, and the court shall thereupon take 44
action that is necessary and proper. The names and addresses of attorneys so certified shall be 45
kept available to the public. The Secretary of Revenue is hereby directed to supply the 46
secretary-treasurer, from records of license tax payments, with any information for which the 47
secretary-treasurer may call in order to enable the secretary -treasurer to comply with this 48
requirement. 49
The list submitted to several clerks of the superior court shall also be submitted to the Council 50
and it shall take the action thereon that is necessary and proper." 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 788-First Edition Page 37
SECTION 14.4. G.S. 105-159.2 is reenacted as it existed immediately before its 1
repeal and reads as rewritten: 2
"§ 105-159.2. Designation of tax to North Carolina Public Campaign Fund. 3
(a) Allocation to the North Carolina Public Campaign Fund. – To ensure the financial 4
viability of the North Carolina Public Campaign Fund established in Article 22D 22I of Chapter 5
163 of the General Statutes, the Department must allocate to that Fund three dollars ($3.00) from 6
the income taxes paid each year by each individual with an income tax liability of at least that 7
amount, if the individual agrees. A taxpayer must be given the opportunity to indicate an 8
agreement or objection to that allocation in the manner described in subsection (b) of this section. 9
In the case of a married couple filing a joint return, each individual must have the option of 10
agreeing or objecting to the allocation. The amounts allocated under this subsection to the Fund 11
must be credited to it on a monthly basis. 12
…." 13
SECTION 14.5. G.S. 163-278.5 reads as rewritten: 14
"§ 163-278.5. Scope of Article; severability. 15
The provisions of this Article apply to primaries and elections for North Carolina offices and 16
to North Carolina referenda and do not apply to primaries and elections for federal offices or 17
offices in other States or to non -North Carolina referenda. Any provision in this Article that 18
regulates a non -North Carolina entity does so only to the extent that the entity's actions affect 19
elections for North Carolina offices or North Carolina referenda. 20
The provisions of this Article are severable. If any provision is held invalid by a court of 21
competent jurisdiction, the invalidity doe s not affect other provisions of the Article that can be 22
given effect without the invalid provision. 23
This section applies to Articles and [Article] 22I and 22M of the General Statutes to the same 24
extent that it applies to this Article." 25
SECTION 14.6. G.S. 163-278.13 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 26
"(k) In order to make meaningful the provisions of Article 2 2I of this Chapter, the 27
following provisions shall apply with respect to candidates for justice of the Supreme Court and 28
judge of the Court of Appeals: 29
(1) No candidate shall accept, and no contributor shall make to that candidate, a 30
contribution in any election exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) , except 31
as provided for elsewhere in this subsection. 32
(2) A candidate may accept, and a family contributor may make to that candidate, 33
a contribution not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000) in an election if 34
the contributor is that candidate's parent, child, brother, or sister. 35
As used in this subsection, "candidate" is also a politic al committee authorized by the 36
candidate for that candidate 's election. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a candidate or 37
the spouse of that candidate from making a contribution or loan secured entirely by that 38
individual's assets to that candidate's own campaign." 39
SECTION 14.7. Section 38.1(a) of S.L. 2013-381 reads as rewritten: 40
"SECTION 38.1.(a) Article 22D of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is repealed, except 41
that G.S. 163-278.69 is repealed effective upon exhaustion of the funds for publi cation of the 42
Judicial Voter Guide.repealed." 43
SECTION 14.8. Sections 21.1(i), 21.1(j), and 21.1(l) of S.L. 2013-360 and Sections 44
38.1(l), 38.1(m), and 38.1(o) of S.L. 2013-381 are repealed. 45
SECTION 14.9. Sections 14.1, 14.2, and 14.5 through 14.8 of this Part are effective 46
when this Part becomes law, provided that distributions from the Fund shall begin in the 2026 47
election year. G.S. 163-278.152(b)(5), as enacted by Section 14.2 of this Part, and Sectio n 14.3 48
of this Part become effective January 1, 2026, and apply to the membership fees due for 2026. 49
Section 14.4 of this Part is effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. The 50
remainder of this Part is effective when it becomes law. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 38 House Bill 788-First Edition
1
PART XV. CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS' VOTING RIGHTS RESTORED 2
SECTION 15.1. G.S. 13-1 reads as rewritten: 3
"§ 13-1. Restoration of citizenship. 4
Any person convicted of a crime, whereby the rights of citizenship are forfeited, shall have 5
such rights automatically restored upon the occurrence of any one of the following conditions: 6
(1) The unconditional discharge of an inmate, of a probationer, or of a parolee by 7
the agency of the State having jurisdiction of that person or of a defendant 8
under a suspended sentence by the court.release from active punishment to a 9
period of post-release supervision or parole of a person whose sentence was 10
not suspended by the court. 11
(1a) Upon the suspension of an active sentence resulting in the imposition of an 12
intermediate or community punishment. 13
…." 14
SECTION 15.2. G.S. 13-2(a) reads as rewritten: 15
"(a) The agency, department, or court having jurisdiction over the inmate, probationer, 16
parolee or defendant person at the time his the person's rights of citizenship are restored under 17
the provisions of G.S. 13-1(1) or (1a) shall immediately issue a certificate or order in duplicate 18
evidencing the offender's unconditional person's discharge and specifying the restoration of his 19
the person's rights of citizenship. 20
The original of such certificate or order shall be promptly transmitted to the clerk of the 21
General Court of Justice in the county where the official record of the case from which the 22
conviction arose is filed. The clerk shall then file the certificate or order without charge with the 23
official record of the case." 24
SECTION 15.3. G.S. 163-82.14(c) reads as rewritten: 25
"(c) Conviction of a Felony. – In order to remove the names of ineligible individuals from 26
the list of eligible voters in this State, the following shall occur: 27
(1) At a minimum of once per week, the Executive Director shall compile a list 28
of individuals against whom a final judgment of conviction of a felony within 29
this State has been entered. The Executive Director shall report to each 30
appropriate county board of elections the names of individuals from that 31
county appearing on such list each week.week and whose rights have been 32
forfeited and not yet restored under G.S. 13-1. 33
(2) At a minimum of once per week, the Executive Direc tor shall compile a list 34
of individuals against whom a federal conviction has been reported, based on 35
a notice of conviction sent by a United States Attorney pursuant to section 36
8(g) of the National Voter Registration Act. The Executive Director shall 37
report to each appropriate county board of elections the names of individuals 38
from that county appearing on such list each week.week and whose rights have 39
been forfeited and not yet restored under G.S. 13-1. 40
(3) When a county board of elections receives a notice pursuant to subdivision (1) 41
or (2) of this subsection relating to a resident of that county and that person is 42
registered to vote in that county, the county board of elections shall, after 43
giving 30 days' written notice to the voter at the address assoc iated with that 44
voter registration, and if the voter makes no objection, remove the person's 45
name from its registration records. If the voter notifies the county board of 46
elections of his objection to the removal within 30 days of the notice, the chair 47
of the county board of elections shall enter a challenge under 48
G.S. 163-85(c)(5), and the notice the county board of elections received 49
pursuant to this subsection shall be prima facie evidence for the preliminary 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 788-First Edition Page 39
hearing that the registrant was convicted of a felony.felony and the registrant's 1
citizenship rights have not been restored." 2
3
PART XV-A. REPEAL OF CERTAIN ELECTION LAWS 4
SECTION 15A.1. S.L. 2023-140 is repealed. 5
SECTION 15A.2. Subpart III-A of S.L. 2024-57 is repealed. 6
7
PART XVI. PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF THIS ACT 8
SECTION 16.1. It is unlawful to try to evade the reporting and disclosure 9
requirements of Parts X through XIII of this act by structuring, or attempting to structure, any 10
solicitation, contribution, donation, expenditure, disbursement, or other transaction. The penalty 11
for any violation of these Parts of the act shall be not less than the amount contributed or 12
undisclosed or greater than double that amount contributed or undisclosed. 13
14
PART XVII. SEVERABILITY 15
SECTION 17.1. If any pro vision of this act or its application is held invalid, the 16
invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this act that can be given effect 17
without the invalid provisions or application and, to this end, the provisions of this act are 18
severable. 19
20
PART XVIII. EFFECTIVE DATE 21
SECTION 18.1. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 22
law. 23