Election Law Changes.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 6
HOUSE BILL 958
Committee Substitute Favorable 6/26/25
Committee Substitute #2 Favorable 7/31/25
Committee Substitute #3 Favorable 6/16/26
Committee Substitute #4 Favorable 6/24/26
Sixth Edition Engrossed 6/30/26

Short Title: Election Law Changes. (Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:
April 14, 2025
*H958-v-6*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES REGARDING ELECTION LAWS. 2
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 3
4
PART I. REVISIONS TO BALLOT COUNTING PROCEDURE 5
SECTION 1.1.(a) G.S. 163-182.2(a)(4) is recodified as G.S. 163-182.2(a2). 6
SECTION 1.1.(b) G.S. 163-182.2(a)(6) is recodified as G.S. 163-182.2(a3). 7
SECTION 1.1.(c) G.S. 163-182.2, as amended by this section, reads as rewritten: 8
"§ 163-182.2. Initial counting of official ballots. 9
(a) The initial counting of official ballots cast at the precinct on election day and under 10
Part 5 of Article 14A of this Chapter shall be conducted according to the following principles: 11
(1) Vote counting of ballots cast at the precinct on election day shall occur 12
immediately after the polls close and shall be continuous until completed. If 13
ballots cast under Part 5 of Article 14A of this Chapter are counted 14
electronically, that count shall commence at the time the polls close. If ballots 15
cast under Part 5 of Article 14A of this Chapter are paper ballots coun ted 16
manually, that count shall commence at the same time as mail -in absentee 17
ballots cast under Article 20 or Article 21A of this Chapter are counted. 18
(2) Vote counting at the precinct shall be conducted with the participation of 19
precinct officials of all political parties then present. Vote counting at the 20
county board of elections shall be conducted in the presence or under the 21
supervision of board members of all political parties then present. 22
(3) Any member of the public wishing to witness the vote count at any level shall 23
be allowed to do so. No witness shall interfere with the orderly counting of 24
the official ballots. Witnesses shall not participate in the official counting of 25
official ballots. 26
(4) Recodified. 27
(5) Precinct officials shall provide a preliminary report of the vote counting on 28
election day to the county board of elections as quickly as possible. The 29
preliminary report shall be unofficial, has no binding effect upon the official 30
county canvass to follow, and shall include the number of provisional ballots 31
cast in that precinct. 32
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 958-Sixth Edition
(6) Recodified. 1
(a1) The initial counting of official ballots cast under Part 5 of Article 14A of this Chapter 2
shall be conducted according to the following principles: 3
(1) Vote counting shall occur at the time and place stated in a resolution adopted 4
by the county board at least two weeks prior to election day, provided that the 5
time stated in the resolution is between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. o n election 6
day. The county board shall not reveal the result of the count prior to the close 7
of polls on election day. 8
(2) Vote counting shall be conducted in the presence or under the supervision of 9
county board members of all political parties then present. 10
(3) Any member of the public wishing to witness the vote count shall be allowed 11
to do so. No witness shall interfere with the orderly counting of the official 12
ballots. Witnesses shall not participate in the counting of official ballots. 13
(4) County boards may review for approval any provisional official ballots and 14
may take preparatory steps for the count of such ballots at a meeting held by 15
the county board prior to election day, pursuant to a resolution adopted by the 16
county board at least two weeks in advance of the meeting , as long as the 17
preparatory steps do not reveal the result of the count prior to the close of polls 18
on election day. 19
(a2) If the county board finds that an individual voting a provisional official ballot (i) was 20
registered in the county as provided in 163 -82.1, ( ii) voted in the proper precinct under 21
G.S. 163-55 and G.S. 163-57, and (iii) was otherwise eligible to vote, the provisional official 22
ballots shall be counted by the county board no later than 5:00 P.M. on the third fifth business 23
day after the election. Except as provided in G.S. 163-82.15(e), if the county board finds that an 24
individual voting a provisional official ballot (i) did not vote in the proper precinct under 25
G.S. 163-55 and G.S. 163-57, (ii) is not registered in the county as provided in G.S. 163-82.1, or 26
(iii) is otherwise not eligible to vote, the ballot shall not be counted. If a voter was properly 27
registered to vote in the election by the county board, no mistake of an election official in giving 28
the voter a ballot or in failing to comply wi th G.S. 163-82.15 or G.S. 163-166.11 shall serve to 29
prevent the counting of the vote on any ballot item the voter was eligible by registration and 30
qualified by residency to vote. When an individual has voted a provisional official ballot after 31
completing an affidavit under G.S. 163-166.16(d), and the county board has determined that there 32
are grounds to believe the affidavit is false within five business days after the election, the county 33
board shall determine whether to count the provisional official ballot by the date of the county 34
canvass. 35
(a3) In counties that use any certified mechanical or electronic voting system, subject to 36
the sample counts under G.S. 163-182.1 and subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section, and 37
of a hand-to-eye recount under G.S. 163-182.7 and G.S. 163-182.7A, a county board of elections 38
shall rely in its canvass on the mechanical or electronic count of the vote rather than the full 39
hand-to-eye count of the paper ballots or records. In the event of a material discrepancy between 40
the electronic or mechanical count and a hand-to-eye count or recount, the hand-to-eye count or 41
recount shall control, except where paper ballots or records have been lost or destroyed or where 42
there is another reasonable basis to conclude that the hand-to-eye count is not the true count. 43
(a4) Any resolution required by this section shall be published once a week for two weeks 44
prior to the election in a newspaper having general circulation in the county. Notice may 45
additionally be made on a radio or television station or both, but the notice shall be in addition to 46
the newspaper and other required notice. 47
(b) The State Board shall promulgate rules for the initial counting of all official ballots. 48
All election officials shall be governed by those rules. In promulgating those rules, the State 49
Board shall adhere to the following guidelines: 50
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House Bill 958-Sixth Edition Page 3
(1) For each voting system used, the rules shall specify the role of precinct 1
officials and of the county board of elections in the initial counting of official 2
ballots. 3
(2) For optical scan and direct record electronic voting systems, and for any other 4
voting systems in which ballots are counted other than on paper by hand and 5
eye, those rules shall provide for a sample hand -to-eye count of the paper 6
ballots of a sampling of a statewide ballot item in every county. The 7
presidential ballot item shall be the subject of the sampling in a presidential 8
election. If there is no statewide ballot item, the State Board shall provide a 9
process for selecting district or local ballot items to adequately sample the 10
electorate. The State Board shall approve in an open meeting the procedure 11
for random sampling for each election. The random sampling for any county 12
shall be done publicly after the initial count of election returns for that county 13
is publicly released or 24 hours after the polls close on election day, whichever 14
is earlier. The sample chosen by the State Board shall be of one or more full 15
precincts, full counts of mailed absentee ballots, and full counts of one or more 16
early voting sites. The size of the sample of each category shall be chosen to 17
produce a statistically significant result and shall be chosen after consultation 18
with a statistician. The actual units shall be chosen at random. In the event of 19
a material di screpancy between the electronic or mechanical count and a 20
hand-to-eye count, the hand -to-eye count shall control, except where paper 21
ballots have been lost or destroyed or where there is another reasonable basis 22
to conclude that the hand-to-eye count is not the true count. If the discrepancy 23
between the hand -to-eye count and the mechanical or electronic count is 24
significant, a complete hand -to-eye count shall be conducted. The sample 25
count need not be done on election night. 26
(3) The rules shall provide for accurate unofficial reporting of the results from the 27
precinct to the county board of elections with reasonable speed on the night 28
of the election. 29
(4) The rules shall provide for the prompt and secure transmission of official 30
ballots from the voting place to the county board of elections.board. 31
(c) The State Board shall direct the county boards of elections in the application of the 32
principles and rules in individual circumstances." 33
SECTION 1.2.(a) G.S. 163-82.4(f) reads as rewritten: 34
"(f) Correcting Registration Forms. – If the voter fails to complete any required item on 35
the voter registration form but provides enough information on the form to enable the county 36
board to identify and contact the voter, the voter shall be notified of the om ission and given the 37
opportunity to complete the form at least by 12:00 P.M. on the third fifth business day after the 38
election. If the voter corrects that omission within that time and is determined by the county 39
board to be eligible to vote, the county board shall permit the voter to vote. If the information is 40
not corrected by election day, the voter shall be allowed to vote a provisional official ballot. If 41
the correct information is provided to the county board by at least 12:00 P.M. on the third fifth 42
business day after the election, the county board shall count any portion of the provisional official 43
ballot that the voter is eligible to vote." 44
SECTION 1.2.(b) G.S. 163-166.12(d) reads as rewritten: 45
"(d) Voting When Identification Numbers Do Not Match. – Regardless of whether an 46
individual has registered by mail or by another method, if the individual has provided with the 47
registration form a drivers license number or last four digits of a Social Security number but the 48
computer validation of the number as required by G.S. 163-82.12 did not result in a match, and 49
the number has not been otherwise validated by the county board, in the first election in which 50
the individual votes that individual shall submit with the ballot the form of identification 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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described in subsection (a) or subsection (b) of this section, depending upon whether the ballot 1
is voted in person or absentee. If that identification is provided no later than 12:00 P.M. on the 2
third fifth business day after the election and the county board does not determine that the 3
individual is otherwise ineligible to vote a ballot, the failure of identification numbers to match 4
shall not prevent that individual from registering to vote and having that individual's vote 5
counted." 6
SECTION 1.2.(c) G.S. 163-166.16(c) reads as rewritten: 7
"(c) Provisional Ballot Required Without Photo Identification. – If the registered voter 8
cannot produce the identification as required in subsection (a) of this section, the registered voter 9
may cast a provisional ballot that is counted only if the registered voter brings an acceptable form 10
of photograph identification listed in subsection (a) of this section to the county board no later 11
than 12:00 P.M. on the third fifth business day after the election. The State Board shall provide 12
the registered voter casting a provisional ballot due to failure to provide photo identification an 13
information sheet on the deadline to return to the county board to present photo identification, 14
and what forms of photo identification are acceptab le, in order for the voter's provisional ballot 15
to be counted." 16
SECTION 1.2.(d) G.S. 163-230.1(e1) reads as rewritten: 17
"(e1) Curable Deficiencies. – If a container-return envelope contains a curable deficiency, 18
the county board shall promptly notify the voter of the deficiency and the manner in which the 19
voter may cure the deficiency. Curable deficiencies are deficiencies that can be cured with 20
supplemental documentation or attestation provided by the voter, including when any of the 21
following occurs: 22
(1) The voter did not sign the voter certification as required by 23
G.S. 163-231(a)(4). 24
(2) The voter signed the application in the wrong place on the application. 25
(3) The voter failed to include with the container-return envelope a photocopy of 26
identification described in G.S. 163-166.16(a) or an affidavit as described in 27
G.S. 163-166.16(d)(1), (d)(2), or (d)(3), as required by subsection (f1) of this 28
section. 29
The identification of the two persons witnessing the casting of the absentee ballot in 30
accordance with G.S. 163-231(a) is not a curable deficiency. Any container-return envelope with 31
a curable deficiency that is transmitted to the county board shall be considered timely if cure 32
documentation is received no later than 12:00 P.M. on the third fifth business d ay after the 33
election. Cure documentation may be transmitted via email to the county board if the deficiency 34
is one described in subdivision (3) of this subsection. The notification of voters regarding curable 35
deficiencies is an administrative task that ma y be performed by county board staff and is not 36
required to be performed at an absentee meeting as provided for in subsection (f) of this section. 37
The voter shall be notified of curable deficiencies no later than the close of business on the next 38
business day following the county boards' review of the ballot by mail, and by telephone or email 39
email, if the telephone number or email address was provided by the voter on the request form 40
for absentee ballots." 41
SECTION 1.3.(a) G.S. 163-166.11 reads as rewritten: 42
"§ 163-166.11. Provisional voting requirements. 43
(a) If an individual seeking to vote claims to be a registered voter in a jurisdiction as 44
provided in G.S. 163-82.1 and though eligible to vote in the election does not appear on the 45
official list of eligible registered voters in the voting place, that individual may cast a provisional 46
official ballot as follows: 47
(1) An election official at the voting place shall notify the individual that the 48
individual may cast a provisional official ballot in that election. 49
(2) The individual may cast a provisional official ballot at that voting place upon 50
executing a written affirmation before an election official at the voting place, 51
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House Bill 958-Sixth Edition Page 5
stating that the individual is a registered voter in the jurisdiction as provi ded 1
in G.S. 163-82.1 in which the individual seeks to vote and is eligible to vote 2
in that election. 3
(3) A voter who has moved within the county more than 30 days before election 4
day but has not reported the move to the county board of elections shall not 5
be required to vote a provisional official ballot at the early voting site, as long 6
as the early voting site has available all the information necessary to determine 7
whether a voter is registered to vote in the county and which ballot the voter 8
is eligible to vote based on the voter's proper residence address. The voter with 9
that kind of unreported move shall be allowed to vote the same kind of 10
absentee ballot as other early voters as provided in G.S. 163-166.40. 11
(4) At the time the individual casts the pro visional official ballot, the election 12
officials shall provide the individual written information stating that anyone 13
casting a provisional official ballot can ascertain whether and to what extent 14
the ballot was counted and, if the ballot was not counted i n whole or in part, 15
the reason it was not counted. The State Board or the county board of elections 16
shall establish a system for so informing a provisional voter, which shall be 17
available to every provisional voter without charge and contain reasonable 18
procedures to protect the security, confidentiality, and integrity of the voter's 19
personal information and vote. 20
(5) The cast provisional official ballot and the written affirmation shall be secured 21
by election officials at the voting place according to guidelines and procedures 22
adopted by the State Board. At the close of the polls, election officials shall 23
transmit the provisional official ballots cast at that voting place to the county 24
board of elections for prompt verification according to guidelines and 25
procedures adopted by the State Board. No later than 12:00 P.M. two days 26
after the close of the polls, the county board of elections shall publish the 27
number of provisional official ballots cast on election day, cast by early 28
voting, cast by mail -in absentee ballots received as of election day, and cast 29
by military and overseas absentee ballots cast under Article 21A of this 30
Chapter and received as of election day. 31
(b) If a provisional official ballot cast under this section fails to contain the voter 's 32
signature on the affidavit to certify the voter's identity and eligibility to vote , the county board 33
shall notify the voter of the lack of signature on the provisional official ballot no later than the 34
close of business on the next business day following r eview of the ballot and shall provide the 35
voter an opportunity to cure the lack of signature on the affidavit. The voter shall be notified by 36
mail and by telephone or email, if the telephone number or email address was provided by the 37
voter. The notification of voters regarding curing the lack of signature is an administrative task 38
that may be performed by county board staff and is not required to be performed at a meeting of 39
the county board. If the lack of signature on the affidavit is cured by at least 12:00 P.M. on the 40
fifth business day after the election, the county board shall count any portion of the provisional 41
official ballot that the voter is eligible to vote." 42
SECTION 1.3.(b) G.S. 163-166.16, as amended by Section 1.2 of this act, is 43
amended by adding a new subsection to read: 44
"(e1) If any provisional ballot cast under this section fails to contain the signature of t he 45
registered voter casting a ballot on the affidavit, the county board shall notify the voter of the 46
lack of signature on the provisional ballot no later than the close of business on the next business 47
day following review of the ballot and shall provide the voter an opportunity to cure the lack of 48
signature on the affidavit. The voter shall be notified by mail a nd by telephone or email, if the 49
telephone number or email address was provided by the voter. The notification of voters 50
regarding curing the lack of signature is an administrative task that may be performed by county 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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board staff and is not required to be performed at a meeting of the county board. If the lack of 1
signature on the affidavit is cured by at least 12:00 P.M. on the fifth busines s day after the 2
election, the county board shall count any portion of the provisional official ballot that the voter 3
is eligible to vote." 4
SECTION 1.4. G.S. 163-231 reads as rewritten: 5
"§ 163 -231. Voting absentee ballots and transmitting them to the coun ty board of 6
elections.board. 7
(a) Procedure for Voting Absentee Ballots. – In the presence of two persons who are at 8
least 18 years of age, and who are not disqualified by G.S. 163-226.3(a)(4) or G.S. 163-237(c), 9
the voter shall do all of the following: 10
(1) Mark the voter's ballots, or cause them to be marked by that person in the 11
voter's presence according to the voter's instruction. 12
(2) Fold each ballot separately, or cause each of them to be folded in the voter's 13
presence. 14
(3) Place the folded ballots in the container-return envelope and securely seal it, 15
or have this done in the voter's presence. 16
(4) Make the application printed on the container -return envelope according to 17
the provisions of G.S. 163-229(b) and make the certificate printed on the 18
container-return envelope according to the provisions of G.S. 163-229(b). 19
(5) Require those two persons in whose presence the voter marked that voter's 20
ballots to sign and print their names on the application and certificate as 21
witnesses and to indicate those pers ons' addresses. Failure to list a ZIP code 22
does not invalidate the application and certificate. Failure to include a printed 23
witness name does not invalidate the application and certificate if the identity 24
of an individual can solely be ascertained by the witness's signature. 25
(6) Do one of the following: 26
a. Have the application notarized. The notary public may be the person 27
in whose presence the voter marked that voter's ballot. 28
b. Have the two persons in whose presence the voter marked that voter's 29
ballots to certify that the voter is the registered voter submitting the 30
marked ballots. 31
Alternatively to the prior paragraph of this subsection, any requirement for two witnesses 32
shall be satisfied if witnessed by one notary public, who shall comply with all the other 33
requirements of that paragraph. The notary shall affix a valid notarial seal to the envelope, and 34
include the word "Notary Public" below his or her signature. 35
The persons in whose presence the ballot is marked shall at all times respect the secrecy of 36
the ballot and the privacy of the absentee voter, unless the voter requests assistance and that 37
person is otherwise authorized by law to give assistance. When thus executed, the sealed 38
container-return envelope, with the ballots enclosed, shall be transmitted in accordance with the 39
provisions of subsection (b) of this section to the county board of elections which issued the 40
ballots. 41
(b) Transmitting Executed Absentee Ballots to County Board of Elections. Board. – The 42
sealed container-return envelope in which executed absentee ballots have been placed shall be 43
transmitted to the county board of elections who issued those ballots as follows: 44
(1) All ballots issued under the provisions of this Article and Article 21A of this 45
Chapter shall be transmitted by one of the following means: 46
a. Mail or commercial courier service, at the voter's expense, and 47
received by the county board not later than 7:30 P.M. on the day of the 48
statewide primary or general election or county bond election. 49
b. Delivered in person, by the voter or the voter's near relative or 50
verifiable legal guardian, to the county board not later than 7:30 P.M. 51
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on the day of the statewide primary or general election or county bond 1
election. 2
c. Electronically transmitted to the county board, if the ballot was issued 3
under the provisions of Article 21A of this Chapter. 4
d. Submitted through the accessible absentee portal, if the ballot was 5
issued to a visually impaired voter who requested an accessible ballot. 6
(2) If ballots are received later than the hour stated in subdivision (1) of this 7
subsection, those ballots shall not be accepted unless required by federal law 8
or the ballots are received in accordance with Article 21A of this Chapter or 9
the State Board or court order extended the closing time of the polls for every 10
poll in the county in accordance with G.S. 163-166.25. If the State Board or 11
court order so extended the closing time of the polls, the ballots shall be 12
received by the closing time as extended by the State Board or court order in 13
order to be counted. 14
(c) Delivering Executed Absentee Ballots in Person. – For purposes of this section, 15
"Delivered in person" includes shall mean the voter or the voter's near relative or verifiable legal 16
guardian physically handing the voted executed absentee ballot to an election official at the 17
county board office or at an early voting site under Part 5 of Article 14A of this Chapter during 18
any time that early voting site is open for voting, but does not include depositing the voted 19
executed absentee ballot in a drop box or other location designated for the return of voted 20
executed absentee ballots. The voted If the executed absentee ballot is physically handed to an 21
election official by an individual other than the voter, that individual shall complete an affidavit 22
under penalty o f perjury as to how that individual is eligible to return the voter's executed 23
absentee ballot as the voter's near relative or verifiable legal guardian, as defined in G.S. 163-226. 24
(c1) Custody of Executed Absentee Ballots Delivered to Early Voting Site. – Executed 25
absentee ballots delivered to the an early voting site under Part 5 of Article 14A of this Chapter 26
shall be kept securely and delivered by the election officials at that early voting site to the county 27
board of elections office for processing. 28
(d) State Board Rules. – The State Board shall adopt rules to implement this section , 29
including a form affidavit for delivery in person of executed absentee ballots which shall be used 30
by all county boards. 31
(e) Counting of Executed Absentee Ballots. – Only those executed absentee ballots 32
transmitted to a county board in accordance with this section shall be counted." 33
SECTION 1.5. G.S. 163-234 reads as rewritten: 34
"§ 163-234. Counting absentee ballots by county board. 35
All absentee ballots returned to the county board in the container -return envelopes shall be 36
retained by the county board to be counted by the county board as follows: 37
… 38
(2) The county board shall meet at 5:00 P.M. on election day in the county board 39
office or other public location in the county courthouse at the hour stated in a 40
resolution adopted by the county board at least two weeks prior to the time the 41
voting place opens in accordance with G.S. 163-166.25, provided that the time 42
stated in the resolution is between 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. , for the purpose 43
of counting all absentee ballots except those which have been challenged 44
before 5:00 P.M. 9:00 A.M. on election day and those received pursuant to 45
G.S. 163-231(b)(2). Any elector of the county shall be permitted to attend the 46
meeting and allowed to observe the counting process, so long as the elector 47
does not in any manner interfere with the election officials in the discharge of 48
their duties. The count of these absentee ballots shall be continu ous until 49
completed, and the members shall not separate or leave the counting place 50
except for unavoidable necessity. 51
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The county board may begin counting absentee ballots issued under 1
Article 21A of this Chapter between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. 2
and may begin counting all absentee ballots between the hours of 2:00 P.M. 3
and 5:00 P.M. upon the adoption of a resolution at least two weeks prior to the 4
election in which the hour and place of counting absentee ballots shall be 5
stated. A copy of the resolution shall be published once a week for two weeks 6
prior to the election, in a newspaper having general circulation in the county. 7
Notice may additionally be made on a radio or television station or both, but 8
the notice shall be in addition to the newspaper and other required notice. The 9
count shall be continuous until completed and the members shall not separate 10
or leave the counting place except for unavoidable necessity, except that if the 11
count has been completed prior to the time the polls close, it shall be 12
suspended until that time pending receipt of any additional ballots. The county 13
board may recess the meeting in accordance with G.S. 143-318.12(b)(1) prior 14
to completing the count of absentee ballots but shall not adjourn the meeting 15
until the count of the absentee ballots is complete. The State Board shall adopt 16
rules as to how county boards reflect any recesses in the full and accurate 17
minutes of the meeting such that a person not in attendance would have a 18
reasonable understanding of what transpired before and after any recess, 19
including the number of outstanding absentee ballots immediately before and 20
after any recess. 21
(2a) Nothing in this section prohibits a county board from taking preparatory steps 22
for the count earlier than the times specified in this section, as long as the 23
preparatory steps do not reveal to any individual not engaged in the actual 24
count election results before the times specified in this subdivision for the 25
count to begin. By way of illustration and not limitation, a preparatory step 26
for the count would be the entry of tally cards from direct record electronic 27
voting units into a computer for processing. The county board shall not 28
announce the result of the count before 7:30 P.M.prior to the close of polls on 29
election day. 30
… 31
(11) The county board shall may meet after the day of the election and prior to the 32
day of canvass to count absentee ballots receive d pursuant to 33
G.S. 163-231(b)(2) upon the adoption of a resolution pursuant to subdivision 34
(2) of this section. The county board shall comply with all other requirements 35
of this section and G.S. 163-230.1 for the counting of these absentee ballots. 36
(12) No later than 5:00 P.M. on the third fifth business day after the election, the 37
county board shall announce the tally of all absentee ballots, except those 38
subject to a challenge or those cast in accordance with Article 21A of this 39
Chapter." 40
SECTION 1.6. G.S. 163-275 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 41
"(15) For any person to knowingly reveal the result of any count of ballots prior to 42
the close of polls on election day in accordance with G.S. 163-182.2 or 43
G.S. 163-234." 44
SECTION 1.7. Section 1.4 of this Part becomes effective January 1, 2027, and 45
applies to elections conducted on or after that date. Section 1.6 of this Part is effective when it 46
becomes law and applies to offenses committed on or after that date. The remainder of this Part 47
is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections held on or after that date. 48
49
PART II. VARIOUS ELECTION ADMINISTRATION CHANGES 50
51
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PARTY DESIGNATIONS ON BALLOT 1
SECTION 2.1.(a) G.S. 163-165.5(a)(4) reads as rewritten: 2
"(4) Party designations in partisan ballot items. Party designations shall be printed 3
in the same font type and size as the name of the candidate." 4
SECTION 2.1.(b) This section becomes effective January 1, 2027, and applies to 5
elections held on or after that date. 6
7
SUSPENSION AND TRAINING OF PRECINCT OFFICIALS 8
SECTION 2.2.(a) Article 5 of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by 9
adding a new section to read: 10
"§ 163-41.3. Suspension or removal of precinct officials; vacancies." 11
SECTION 2.2.(b) G.S. 163-41(d) is recodified as G.S. 163-41.3. 12
SECTION 2.2.(c) G.S. 163-41, as amended by this section, reads as rewritten: 13
"§ 163 -41. Precinct chief judges and judges of election; appointment; terms of office; 14
qualifications; vacancies; oaths of office. 15
(a) Appointment of Chief Judge and Judges. – At the meeting required by G.S. 163-31 to 16
be held on the Tuesday following the third Monday in August of the year in which they are 17
appointed, the county board of elections shall appoint one person to act as chief judge and two 18
other persons to act as judges of election for each precinct in the county. Their terms of office 19
shall continue for two years from the specified date of appointment and until their successors are 20
appointed and qualified, except that if a nonresident of th e precinct is appointed as chief judge 21
or judge for a precinct, that person's term of office shall end if the county board of elections 22
appoints a qualified resident of the precinct of the same party to replace the nonresident chief 23
judge or judge. It shall be their the duty of the precinct officials to conduct the primaries and 24
elections within their respective precincts. Persons appointed to these offices must be registered 25
voters and residents of the county in which the precinct is located, of good repute, and able to 26
read and write. Not more than one judge in each precinct shall belong to the same political party 27
as the chief judge. 28
(b) The As used in this Article, the term "precinct official" shall mean chief judges and 29
judges appointed pursuant to this section, and all assistants appointed pursuant to G.S. 163-42, 30
unless the context of a statute clearly indicates a more restrictive meaning. 31
(b1) No person shall be eligible to serve as a precinct official, as that term is defined above, 32
who holds official if any of the following apply: 33
(1) The person holds any elective office under the government of the United 34
States, or of the State of North Carolina or any political subdivision thereof. 35
(2) No person shall be eligible to serve as a precinct official who is The person is 36
a candidate for nomination or election. 37
(3) No person shall be eligible to serve as a precinct official who holds The person 38
holds any office in a state, congressional district, county, or precinct political 39
party or political organization, or who is a manager or treasurer for any 40
candidate or political party, provided however that the position of delegate to 41
a political party convention shall not be considered an office for the purpose 42
of this subsection.subdivision. 43
(4) The person has been prohibited from serving as a precinct official in any 44
subsequent election in accordance with G.S. 163-41.3(a). 45
…." 46
SECTION 2.2.(d) G.S. 163-41.3, as enacted by this section, reads as rewritten: 47
"§ 163-41.3. Suspension or removal of precinct officials; vacancies. 48
(a) Any precinct official m ay be suspended or removed , including on the day of the 49
election or primary, for incompetency or failure to discharge the duties of office by the county 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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board in accordance with G.S. 163-33. The county board may prohibit a precinct official who 1
has been suspended or removed from serving as a precinct official in any subsequent election. 2
(b) 3
…." 4
SECTION 2.2.(e) G.S. 163-33(2) reads as rewritten: 5
"(2) To appoint all chief judges, judges, assistants, and other officers of elections, 6
and designate the precinct in which each shall serve; and, after notice and 7
hearing, to suspend or remove any chief j udge, judge of elections, assistant, 8
or other officer of election appointed by it for incompetency, failure to 9
discharge the duties of office, failure to qualify within the time prescribed by 10
law, fraud, or for any other satisfactory cause. cause, as provi ded in 11
G.S. 163-41.3. In exercising the powers and duties of this subdivision, the 12
board may act only when a majority of its members are present at any meeting 13
at which such powers or duties are exercised." 14
SECTION 2.2.(f) G.S. 163-42(c) reads as rewritten: 15
"(c) In addition, a county board of elections by unanimous vote of all of its members may 16
appoint any registered voter in the county as an emergency election-day assistant, as long as that 17
voter is otherwise qualified to be a precinct official. The State Board of Elections shall determine 18
for each election the number of emergency election-day assistants each county may have, based 19
on population, expected turnout, and complexity of election duties. duties; however, each county 20
must have, at a mini mum, four emergency election -day assistants. The county board by 21
unanimous vote of all of its members may assign emergency election -day assistants on the day 22
of the election to any precinct in the county where the number of precinct officials is insufficient 23
because of an emergency occurring within 48 hours of the opening of the polls emergency, the 24
suspension or removal of a precinct official, or any other reason that prevents an appointed a 25
precinct official from serving. serving throughout the day of the primary or election. A person 26
appointed to serve as an emergency election-day assistant shall be trained and paid like other 27
precinct assistants in accordance with G.S. 163-46. A county board of elections shall apportion 28
the appointments as of emergency election-day assistant assistants among registrants of each 29
political party so as to make possible the staffing of each precinct with officials of more than one 30
party, and the county board shall make assignments so that no precinct has precinct officials 31
assistants all of whom are registered with the same party." 32
SECTION 2.2.(g) G.S. 163-82.24 reads as rewritten: 33
"§ 163-82.24. Statewide training and certification for election officials. 34
(a) Training. – The State Board of Elections shall conduct training programs in election 35
law and procedures. 36
(a1) Every county elections director shall receive training conducted by the State Board at 37
least as often as required in the following schedule: 38
(1) Once during each odd -numbered year before the municipal election held in 39
the county;county. 40
(2) Once during each even -numbered year before the first partisan primary; 41
andprimary. 42
(3) Once during each even-numbered year after the partisan primaries but before 43
the general election. 44
(a2) Every member of a county board of elections shall receive training conducted by the 45
State Board at least once during the six months after the member's initial appointment and at least 46
once again during the first two years of the member's service. If an election occurs prior to the 47
county board member's training, the State Board shall make available training materials for use 48
by that county board member until the training required by this subsection is completed. 49
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 958-Sixth Edition Page 11
(a3) The State Board of Elections shall promulgate adopt rules for the training of precinct 1
officials, which shall be followed by the county boards of elections.boards. At a minimum, the 2
training for all precinct officials shall include information regarding all of the following: 3
(1) The duties of the office of precinct official. 4
(2) How to confirm whether a person presenting to vote is registered in that 5
county. 6
(3) How to issue ballots. 7
(4) How to properly provide voter assistance, including how to provide assistance 8
to those curbside voting. 9
(5) The procedure for opening and closing of polls. 10
(6) The prohibition regarding election -related activity in the voting place and 11
buffer zone of the voting place. 12
(7) The potential for suspension or removal from office for failure to comply with 13
the provisions of this Chapter. 14
(b) Certification. – The State Board of Elections shall conduct a program for certification 15
of election officials. The program shall include training in election law and procedures. Before 16
issuing certification to an election official, the State Board shall administer an examinat ion 17
designed to determine the proficiency of the official in election law and procedures. The State 18
Board shall set adequate standards for the passage of the examination." 19
SECTION 2.2.(h) This section becomes effective January 1, 2027, and applies to 20
elections held on or after that date. 21
22
DISORDERLY CONDUCT AT VOTING PLACE 23
SECTION 2.3.(a) G.S. 14-132 reads as rewritten: 24
"§ 14-132. Disorderly conduct in and injuries to public buildings and facilities. 25
(a) It is a misdemeanor if for any person shall:to do any of the following: 26
(1) Make any rude or riotous noise, or be guilty of engage in any disorderly 27
conduct, in or near any public building or facility; orfacility. 28
(2) Unlawfully write or scribble on, mark, deface, besmear, or injure the walls of 29
any p ublic building or facility, or any statue or monument situated in any 30
public place; orplace. 31
(3) Commit any nuisance in or near any public building or facility. 32
(b) Any person in charge of any public building or facility owned or controlled by the 33
State, any subdivision of the State, or any other public agency shall have authority to arrest 34
summarily and without warrant for a violation of this section. 35
(c) The term "public building or facility" as used in this section includes any building or 36
facility together with the surrounding grounds and premises used in connection with the operation 37
or functioning of such public building or facility which is:is any of the following: 38
(1) One to which the public or a portion of the public has access and is owned or 39
controlled by the State, any subdivision of the State, any other public agency, 40
or any private institution or agency of a charitable, educational, or 41
eleemosynary nature; orphilanthropic nature. 42
(2) Dedicated to the use of the general public for a purpose which is primarily 43
concerned with public recreation, cultural activities, and other events of a 44
public nature or character. 45
(3) Designated by the Director of the State Bureau of Investigation in accordance 46
with G.S. 143B-987. 47
(4) One temporarily in use as a voting place under Chapter 163 of the General 48
Statutes throughout each calendar day that the public building or facility is 49
either used as a voting place or is being prepared for use as a voting place. 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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The term "building or facility" as used in this section also includes the surrounding grounds and 1
premises of any building or facility used in connection with the operation or functioning of such 2
building or facility. 3
(c1) Evidence of making or causing noise outside of a public building or facility that is 4
described in subdivision (4) of subsection (c) of this section with the intent to disrupt or disturb 5
voting or other election-related activities occurring at the voting place, other than noise made for 6
emergency purposes or noise made in the normal operations for that public building or facility, 7
may be used to prove a violation of this section. 8
(d) Unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing greater 9
punishment, any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 2 10
misdemeanor." 11
SECTION 2.3.(b) G.S. 163-166.4(b) reads as rewritten: 12
"(b) Area for Election -Related Activity. – Except as provided in subsection (c) of this 13
section, the county board of elections shall also provide an area adjacent to the buffer zone for 14
each voting place in which persons or groups of persons may distribute campaign literature, place 15
political advertising, solicit votes, or otherwise engage in election -related activity. It shall be a 16
Class 3 misdemeanor for a person to steal, deface, vandalize, or unlawfully remove political 17
advertising that is lawfully placed under this subsection." 18
SECTION 2.3.(c) This section becomes effective October 1, 2026, and applies to 19
offenses committed on or after that date. 20
21
CHANGES TO ADDRESS VERIFICATION PROCESS 22
SECTION 2.4.(a) G.S. 163-82.7 reads as rewritten: 23
"§ 163-82.7. Verification of qualifications and address of app licant; denial or approval of 24
application. 25
(a) Tentative Determination of Qualification. – When a county board of elections 26
receives Within a reasonable time after receiving an application for registration submitted 27
pursuant to G.S. 163-82.6, the county board either:shall do one of the following: 28
(1) Shall make Make a determination that the applicant is not qualified to vote at 29
the address given, orgiven. 30
(2) Shall make Make a tentative determination that the applicant is qualified to 31
vote at the address given, subject to the mail verification notice procedure 32
outlined in subsection subsections (c) and (e) of this sectionsection. 33
within a reasonable time after receiving the application. 34
(a1) Distribution to County Boards. – If the State Board receives a voter registration 35
application, the State Board shall forward the application to the appropriate county board in a 36
timely manner. If the application is received by the State Boa rd within the 100 days prior to an 37
election, the State Board shall forward the application to the appropriate county board within two 38
business days of receipt. 39
(b) Denial of Registration. – If the county board of elections makes a determination 40
pursuant to subsection (a) of this section that the applicant is not qualified to vote at the address 41
given, the county board shall send, by certified mail, a notice of denial of registration. The notice 42
of denial shall contain the date on which registration was denied, and shall be mailed within two 43
business days after denial. The notice of denial shall inform the applicant of alternatives that the 44
applicant may pursue to exercise the franchise. If the applicant disagrees with the denial, the 45
applicant may appeal the decision under G.S. 163-82.18. 46
(c) Verification of Address by Mail. – If Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, 47
if the county board of elections tentatively determines that the applicant is qualified to vote at the 48
address given, then the county board shall send a notice to the applicant, by nonforwardable mail, 49
at the address the applicant provides on the application form. The notice shall state that the county 50
board will register the applicant to vote if the Postal Service does not return the notice as 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 958-Sixth Edition Page 13
undeliverable to the county board. The notice shall also inform the applicant of the precinct and 1
voting place to which the applicant will be assigned if registered. If the application is received 2
by the county board within the 100 days prior to an election, the county board shall mail the 3
notice required by this subsection within two business days of processing the application. 4
(d) Approval of Application. – If the Postal Service does not return the notice as 5
undeliverable, the county board shall register the applicant to vote. 6
(e) Second Notice if First Notice Is Returned as Undeliverable. – If the Postal Service 7
returns the notice as undeliverable, the county board shall send a second notice by 8
nonforwardable mail to the same addre ss to which the first was sent. If the second notice is not 9
returned as undeliverable, the county board shall register the applicant to vote. If the county board 10
receives a notice retu rned as undeliverable within the 100 days prior to an election, the coun ty 11
board shall mail the notice required by this subsection within one business day of receipt of the 12
return notice. 13
(f) Denial of Application Based on Lack of Verification of Address. – If the Postal 14
Service returns as undeliverable the notice sent by nonf orwardable mail pursuant to subsection 15
(e) of this section, the county board shall deny the application. The county board need not try to 16
notify the applicant further. 17
(g) Voting When Verification Process Is Incomplete. – In cases where an election occurs 18
before the process of verification outlined in this section has had time to be completed, the county 19
board of elections shall be guided by the following rules: 20
(1) If the county board has made a tentative determination that an applicant is 21
qualified to vote under subsection (a) of this section, then that person shall not 22
be denied the right to vote in person in an election unless the Postal Service 23
has returned as undeliverable two notices to the applicant: one mailed pursuant 24
to subsection (c) of this sect ion and one mailed pursuant to subsection (e) of 25
this section. This subdivision does not preclude a challenge to the voter's 26
qualifications under Article 8 of this Chapter. 27
(2) If the Postal Service has returned as undeliverable a notice sent within 25 days 28
before the election to the applicant under subsection (c) or subsection (e) of 29
this section, then the applicant may vote only in person in accordance with 30
Article 14A of this Chapter in that first election and may not vote by absentee 31
ballot. The county board of elections shall establish a procedure at the voting 32
site for doing both of the following: 33
a. Obtaining the correct address of any person described in this 34
subdivision who appears to vote in person. 35
b. Assuring that the person votes in the proper p lace and in the proper 36
contests. 37
If a notice mailed under subsection (c) or subsection (e) of this section is 38
returned as undeliverable after a person has already voted by absentee ballot, 39
then that person's ballot may be challenged in accordance with G.S. 163-89. 40
(3) If a notice sent pursuant to mailed under subsection (c) or subsection (e) of 41
this section is returned by the Postal Service as undeliverable after a person 42
has already voted in an election, then the county board shall treat the person 43
as a registered voter but shall send a confirmation mailing pursuant to 44
G.S. 163-82.14(d)(2) and remove or retain the person on the registration 45
records in accordance with that subdivision." 46
SECTION 2.4.(b) This section becomes effective January 1, 2027, and applies to 47
verification notices sent or received by a county board of elections on or after that date. 48
49
CLOSING OF EQUIPMENT FOLLOWING EARLY VOTING 50
SECTION 2.5.(a) G.S. 163-166.40 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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"(j) At the conclusion of t he early voting period provided for in subsection (b) of this 1
section, each county board shall comply with all of the following: 2
(1) All voting equipment used during the early voting period is rendered unable 3
to receive additional votes associated with the early voting period. 4
(2) All voting equipment used during the early voting period is maintained so that 5
the tally of the initial counting of early voting ballots is conducted in 6
accordance with G.S. 163-182.2(a1). 7
(3) The storage of any paper ballots cast during the early voting period are 8
preserved in a locked and secured space, access to which is controlled and the 9
chain of custody is limited and maintained, prior to the initial counting of early 10
voting ballots in accordance with G.S. 163-182.2(a1), which storage shall be 11
separate and apart from the storage of any electronic record of the votes cast 12
during the early voting period in accordance with subdivision (4) of this 13
subsection. 14
(4) Any electronic record of votes cast during the early voting pe riod shall be 15
secured and preserved in a lo cked and secured space , access to which is 16
controlled and the chain of custody is limited and maintained , prior to the 17
initial counting of early voting ballots in accordance with G.S. 163-182.2(a1). 18
The electronic record of votes cast during the early voting period may be 19
detached from the voting equipment for purposes of storage under this 20
subdivision." 21
SECTION 2.5.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to 22
elections held on or after that date. 23
24
APPOINTMENT OF OBSERVERS IN NONPARTISAN ELECTIONS 25
SECTION 2.6.(a) G.S. 163-45.1(b) reads as rewritten: 26
"(b) Observers may be appointed in accordance with the following: 27
(1) The chair of each political party in the county may designate t wo registered 28
voters of the county to serve as observers at each voting place in that county 29
in which the political party has a candidate appearing on the ballot. 30
(2) The chair of each political party in the county may designate up to 10 31
registered voters of the county to serve as observers at any voting place in the 32
county in which the political party has a candidate appearing on the ballot. 33
(3) The chair of each political party in the State may designate up to 100 registered 34
voters of the State to serve as observers at any voting place in the State in 35
which the political party has a candidate appearing on the ballot. 36
(4) An unaffiliated candidate or the unaffiliated candidate's campaign manager 37
may designate up to two observers registered voters to serve as observers at 38
each voting place in which that unaffiliated candidate appears on the ballot. 39
(5) A nonpartisan candidate in a municipal election , special district election, or 40
board of education election or the nonpartisan candidate's campaign manager 41
may designate up to one registered voter to serve as an observer at each voting 42
place in which that nonpartisan candidate appears on the ballot." 43
SECTION 2.6.(b) This section becomes effective January 1, 2027, and applies to 44
elections held on or after that date. 45
46
REVISIONS TO LIST MAINTENANCE 47
SECTION 2.7.(a) G.S. 163-82.14 reads as rewritten: 48
"§ 163-82.14. List maintenance. 49
… 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 958-Sixth Edition Page 15
(a1) Methods of List Maintenance; Cross State Checks. – List maintenance efforts under 1
this section shall be nondiscriminatory and shall comply with the provisions of the Voting Rights 2
Act of 1965, as amended, and with the provisions of the National Voter Registration Act. The 3
State Board, in addition to the methods set forth in this section, may use other methods toward 4
the ends set forth in subsection (a) of this section, including address-updating services provided 5
by the Postal Service and entering into data sharing agreements with other states to cross -check 6
information on voter registration and voting records. Any data sharing ag reement shall require 7
the other state or states to comply with G.S. 163-82.10 and G.S. 163-82.10B.G.S. 163-82.10B 8
with respect to voter registration data of this State. Notwithstanding G.S. 163-82.10, disclosure 9
of any voter registration data received from other states pursuant to a data sharing agreement 10
with that state shall be controlled by the data sharing agreement , provided that the data sharing 11
agreement is not more restrictive than the other states' public record laws. 12
(b) Death. – In order to remove the names of deceased persons from the list of eligible 13
voters in this State, the following shall occur: 14
(1) At a minimum of once per week, the Department of Health and Human 15
Services shall furnish free of charge to the Executive Director, in a format 16
prescribed by the State Board, the names of deceased persons who were 17
residents of the State. Upon receipt of the list from the Department of Health 18
and Human Services, the On a weekly basis, the Executive Director shall 19
distribute to each county board of elections the names on that the list received 20
from the Department of Health and Human Services of deceased persons who 21
were residents of that county. Upon the receipt of those names, each county 22
board of elections shall remove from its voter registration records any person 23
the list shows to be deceased each week. The State Board shall confirm that 24
each county board has removed the names of deceased persons from the list 25
of eligible voters in this State. 26
(2) Upon receipt of a signed statement of a near relative or personal representative 27
of the estate of a deceased voter indicating that the person has died, a county 28
board of elections shall remove the person identified as deceased from its 29
voter registration records within one week of receipt of the signed statement. 30
The county board does not need to send any notice to the address of the person 31
before removing the person from its voter registration records. 32
(3) If the State Board requests and receives any information from a federal agency 33
pertaining to death records of registered voters in this State , the Executive 34
Director shall determine whether any person identified in the information as 35
deceased is a registered voter in this State. Within one week of receipt of the 36
information, the Executive Director shall distribute to each county board the 37
names of those registered voters who were residents of that county. Upon 38
receipt of those names, the chair of each county board shall initiate a challenge 39
proceeding unde r G.S. 163-85, with the burden of proof remaining on the 40
challenger pursuant to G.S. 163-90.1. Any hearing on a challenge under this 41
subdivision shall be conducted pursuant to G.S. 163-86. 42
…." 43
SECTION 2.7.(b) G.S. 20-7(b2) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 44
"(9) To the State Board of Elections for the purpose of voter registr ation and list 45
maintenance. The Division shall furnish the State Board of Elections with 46
each month's data on a routine schedule of no later than the fifteenth day of 47
each month." 48
SECTION 2.7.(c) If the State Board of Elections received information regarding 49
potential ineligible voters appearing on the State's voter registration records from a federal 50
database on or after January 1, 2026, and a ch allenge has not been entered against a voter 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 16 House Bill 958-Sixth Edition
appearing on the information from the federal database and the voter has not otherwise been 1
removed from the list of eligible voters in the State, then the State Board shall create a process 2
for removing such vo ters from the State's voter registration records by August 1, 2026. The 3
process created by the State Board pursuant to this subsection for removing any potential 4
ineligible voters from the State's voter registration records shall comply with the following: 5
(1) The Executive Director of the State Board shall distribute to each county 6
board the names of the individuals registered to vote in that county whose 7
name appears on the information received from a federal database as a 8
potential ineligible voter. 9
(2) Upon receipt of the names from the Executive Director of the State Board, the 10
chair of the county board shall initiate a challenge proceeding under 11
G.S. 163-85, with the burden of proof remaining on the challenger pursuant 12
to G.S. 163-90.1. 13
(3) The registered voter shall be sent notice that the chair of the county board 14
initiated a challenge proceeding on the registered voter's eligibility due to the 15
fact that the State Board of Elections received information from a federal 16
database calling into question the eligibility of the registered voter. 17
(4) Any hearing on the challenge shall be conducted pursuant to G.S. 163-86. 18
SECTION 2.7.(d) Subsection (a) of this section becomes effective January 1, 2027. 19
The remainder of this section is effective when it becomes law. 20
21
CHANGES TO VOTER AND BALLOT CHALLENGES 22
SECTION 2.8.(a) Article 8 of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by 23
adding a new section to read: 24
"§ 163-90.4. Audit and challenge of ineligible votes cast. 25
(a) After each primary or election, the State Board shall conduct a uniform statewide 26
audit to identify any ballots cast under Part 5 of Article 14A of this Chapter and ballots cast under 27
Article 20 of this Chapter that are ineligible to be counted in that primary or election for one of 28
the reasons identified in G.S. 163-87, as evidenced by official government database records. The 29
State Board shall distribute the results of this audit to the county boards no later than 5:00 P.M. 30
on the third business day after the election. 31
(b) No later than 5:00 P.M. on the sixth business day after the election, each county board 32
shall review the results of the audit conducted by the State Board under subsection (a) of this 33
section, analyze the records of voters identified in the audit from the respective county , and, if 34
determined by the county board that any vote cast was ineligible to be counted, the chair of the 35
county board shall serve a challenge on the voter casting that ballot. The county board shall 36
conduct the challenge procee dings under the applicable provisions of G.S. 163-89. The county 37
board's staff shall present evidence in support of the challenge and shall bear the burden of proof. 38
(c) For purposes of this Article, the chair of the coun ty board shall be deemed to be a 39
registered voter of the same county as the challenged voter." 40
SECTION 2.8.(b) G.S. 163-89 reads as rewritten: 41
"§ 163-89. Procedures for challenging ballots cast during early voting and absentee ballots. 42
(a) Time for Challenge. – The absentee ballot of any voter Ballots cast under Part 5 of 43
Article 14A of this Chapter may be challenged no later than the close of polls on the day of the 44
primary or general election or county bond election. B allots cast under Article 20 and Article 45
21A of this Chapter that are received by the county board of elections pursuant to 46
G.S. 163-231(b)(1) may be challenged no later than 5:00 P.M. on the fifth business day after the 47
primary or general election or county bond election. The absentee ballot of any voter Ballots cast 48
under Article 20 and Article 21A of this Chapter that are received by the county board of elections 49
pursuant to G.S. 163-231(b)(2) may be challenged no later than 5:00 P.M. on the next business 50
day following the deadline for receipt of such absentee ballots. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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(b) Who May Challenge. – Any registered voter of the same county as the absentee 1
challenged voter may challenge that voter's absentee ballot. 2
(c) Form and Nature of Challenge. – Each challenged absentee ballot shall be challenged 3
separately. The burden of proof shall be on the challenger. Each challenge shall be made in 4
writing and, if they are available, shall be made on forms prescribed by the State Board of 5
Elections. Board. Each challenge shall specify the reasons why the ballot does not comply with 6
the provisions of this Article Chapter or why the absentee challenged voter is not legally entitled 7
to vote in the particular primary or election. The challenge shall be signed by the challenger. 8
(d) To Whom Challenge Addressed; to Whom Challenge Delivered. – Each challenge 9
shall be addressed to the county board of elections. board. It may be filed with the county board 10
at its offices or with the chief judge of the precinct in which the challenger and absentee 11
challenged voter are is registered. If it is delivered to the chief judge, the chief judge shall 12
personally deliver the challenge to the chairman chair of the county board of elections on the day 13
of the county canvass.board. 14
(e) Hearing Procedure. – All challenges filed under this section shall be heard by the 15
county board of elections on the day set for the canvass of the returns. All members of the county 16
board shall attend the canvass and all members shall be present for the hearing of challenges to 17
absentee challenged ballots. The hearing of challenges shall be audio and video recorded. 18
Before the board hears a challenge to an absentee ballot, the chairman shall mark the word 19
"challenged" after the voter's name in the register of absentee ballot applications and ballots 20
issued and in the pollbook of absentee voters. 21
The county board then shall hear the challenger's reasons for the challenge, and it challenge. 22
For challenges to ballots cast under Article 20 of this Chapter, the county board shall make its 23
decision without opening the container-return envelope or removing the ballots from it. 24
The county board shall have authority to administer the necessary oaths or affirmations to all 25
witnesses brought before it to testify to the qualifications of the voter challenged or to the validity 26
or invalidity of the ballot. 27
If the challenge is sustained, the chairman shall mark the word "sustained" after th e word 28
"challenged" following the voter's name in the register of absentee ballot applications and ballots 29
issued and in the pollbook of absentee voters; the voter's ballots shall not be counted;and the 30
container-return envelope shall not be opened but sha ll be marked "Challenge Sustained." All 31
envelopes so marked shall be preserved intact by the chairman for a period of six months from 32
canvass day or longer if any contest then is pending concerning the validity of any absentee 33
ballot.then the challenged ballot shall be counted for any ballot items for which the challenged 34
voter is eligible to vote, as if it were a provisional official ballot under the provisions of 35
G.S. 163-166.11(4). 36
If the challenge is overruled, the absentee ballots shall be removed from the container-return 37
envelopes and counted by the board of elections, county board, and the county board shall adjust 38
the appropriate abstracts of returns to show that the ballots have been counted and tallied in the 39
manner provided for unchallenged absentee ballots.tallied. 40
If the challenge was delivered to the county board by the chief judge of the precinct and was 41
sustained, the county board shall reopen the appropriate ballot boxes, remove such ballots, 42
determine how those ballots were voted, deduct su ch ballots from the returns, and adjust the 43
appropriate abstracts of returns. 44
Any voter whose ballots have been challenged may, either personally or through an 45
authorized representative, appear before the county board at the hearing on the challenge and 46
present evidence as to the validity of the ballot. 47
(f) Notations on Absentee Ballots. – For ballots cast under Article 20 of this Chapter, the 48
following shall occur during and after the hearing process: 49
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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(1) Before the county board hears the challenge , the chair shall mark the word 1
"challenged" after the voter 's name in the register of absentee ballot 2
applications and ballots issued and in the pollbook of absentee voters. 3
(2) If the challenge is sustained, the chair shall mark the word "sustained" after 4
the word "challenged" following the voter's name in the register of absentee 5
ballot applications and ballots issued and in the pollbook of absentee voters , 6
and the container return envelope shall not be opened but shall be marked 7
"Challenge Sustained." All envelopes so marked shall be preserved intact by 8
the chair for a period of six months from canvass day or longer if any contest 9
then is pending concerning the validity of any challenged ballot." 10
SECTION 2.8.(c) G.S. 163-90.2 reads as rewritten: 11
"§ 163-90.2. Action when challenge sustained, overruled, or dismissed. 12
(a) When any challenge is sustained for any cause listed under G.S. 163-85(c), the county 13
board shall mark the word "sustained" after the word "challenged" in the registration records of 14
the voter challenged as required by G.S. 163-85(b) and indicate the reason for the sustained 15
challenge. The county board shall cancel or correct the voter registration of the voter. The county 16
board shall maintain such record for at least six months and during the pendency of any appeal. 17
The challenged ballot shall be counted for any ballot items for which the challenged voter is 18
eligible to vote, as if it were a provisional official ballot unde r the provisions of 19
G.S. 163-166.11(4).For any challenge sustained for death of the voter under G.S. 163-85(c)(6), 20
the challenged ballot shall not be counted if the voter died between the time the challenged ballot 21
was cast and 11:59 P.M. on the day before the election. 22
(b) When any challenge made under G.S. 163-85 is overruled or dismissed, the county 23
board shall erase the word "challenged" which appears on the person's registration records. 24
(c) A decision by a county board of elections on any challenge made under the provisions 25
of this Article shall be appealable to the Superior Court of the county in which the offices of that 26
county board are located within 10 days. If the appeal is made by the State Board, that appeal 27
shall be to the Superior Court of the county in which the challenge originated. Only those persons 28
against whom a challenge is sustained or persons who have made a challenge which is overruled 29
shall have standing to file such appeal." 30
SECTION 2.8.(d) This section becomes effective Ja nuary 1, 2027, and applies to 31
challenges filed on or after that date. 32
33
APPLY TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE EXPIRATION OF CERTAIN CLASS 34
C DRIVERS LICENSES TO PHOTO IDENTIFICATION PRESENTED FOR VOTING 35
SECTION 2.9.(a) During the time period that a Class C driv ers license expiration 36
date is extended in accordance with Section 18 of S.L. 2025-47, that Class C drivers license shall 37
be deemed valid and unexpired for the purposes of G.S. 163-166.16. 38
SECTION 2.9.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law and shall expire 39
December 31, 2027. 40
41
VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS INDICATING LACK OF CITIZENSHIP 42
SECTION 2.10.(a) G.S. 163-82.19(a) reads as rewritten: 43
"(a) Voter Registration at Drivers License Offices. – The Division of Motor Vehicles 44
shall, pursuant to the rules adopted by the State Board of Elections, Board, modify its forms so 45
that any eligible person who applies for original issuance, renewal or correction of a drivers 46
license, or s pecial identification card issued under G.S. 20-37.7 may, on a part of the form, 47
complete an application to register to vote, or to update the voter's registration if the voter has 48
changed his or her address or moved from one precinct to another or from one county to another. 49
The person taking the application shall ask if the applicant is a citizen of the United States. If the 50
applicant states that the applicant is not a citizen of the United States, or declines to answer the 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 958-Sixth Edition Page 19
question, the person taking the application shall inform the applicant that it is a felony for a 1
person who is not a citizen of the United States to apply to register to vote. The application shall 2
state in clear language the penalty for violation of this section. The person taking an application 3
to register to vote or to update the voter 's registration shall proceed with the application only if 4
the applicant affirmatively states that the applicant is a citizen of the United States. The necessary 5
forms shall be prescribed by the State Board of Elections. Board. The form must ask for the 6
previous voter registration address of the voter, if any. If a previous address is listed, and it is not 7
in the county of residence of the applicant, the appropriate county board of elections shall treat 8
the application as an authorization to cancel the previous registration and also process it as such 9
under the procedures of G.S. 163-82.9. If a previous address is listed and that address is in the 10
county where the voter applies to register, the applicati on shall be processed as if it had been 11
submitted under G.S. 163-82.9. 12
(a1) Timely Registration at Drivers License Offices. – Registration shall become effective 13
as provided in G.S. 163-82.7. Applications to register to vote accepted at a drivers license office 14
under this section until the deadline established in G.S. 163-82.6(d)(2) shall be treated as timely 15
made for an election, and no person who completes an application at that drivers license office 16
shall be denied the vote in that election for failure to apply earlier than that deadline. 17
(a2) Forwarding Voter Registrations at Drivers License Offices. – All applications shall 18
be forwarded by the Department of Transportation to the appropriate county board of elections 19
not later than five business days after the date of acceptance, according to rules which shall be 20
promulgated by the State Board of Elections. Board. Those rules shall provide for a paperless, 21
instant, electronic transfer of applications to the appropriate board of elections.county board." 22
SECTION 2.10.(b) G.S. 163-82.20(e) reads as rewritten: 23
"(e) Prohibitions. – Any person providing any service under subsection (b) of this section 24
shall not:not do any of the following: 25
(1) Seek to influence an applicant' s political preference or party registration, 26
except that this shall not be construed to prevent the notice provided by 27
G.S. 163-82.4(d) to be given if the applicant refuses to declare his party 28
affiliation;affiliation. 29
(2) Display any such political preference or party allegiance;allegiance. 30
(3) Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of 31
which is to discourage the applicant from registering to vote; orvote. 32
(4) Make any statement to an applicant or take any action the purpose or effect of 33
which is to lead the applicant to believe that a decision to register or not to 34
register has any bearing on the availability of services or benefits. 35
(5) Proceed with any voter registration application if the applicant does not 36
affirmatively indicate the applicant is a citizen of the United States." 37
SECTION 2.10.(c) Article 7A of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by 38
adding a new section to read: 39
"§ 163-83. Requirement for citizenship on voter registration applications. 40
(a) When making the tent ative determination of qualification in accordance with 41
G.S. 163-82.7(a), the county board shall process the voter registration application in accordance 42
with this Article only if the voter registration application affirmatively indicates that the applicant 43
is a citizen of the United States. 44
(b) If a county board receives a voter registration application in which no answer is 45
indicated as to the question of whether the applicant is a citizen of the United States, then the 46
county board shall se nd a notice to the applicant that the voter registration application must 47
indicate whether the applicant is a citizen of the United States in order to be processed, and the 48
applicant must provide a statem ent under penalty of perjury concerning citizenship. The notice 49
sent from the county board shall include a form for the applicant to fill out answering the question 50
of whether the applicant is a citizen of the United States and shall indicate that the form must be 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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mailed or hand-delivered to the county board within 30 days from the date the notice was sent in 1
order for the applicant's voter registration application to be processed. If the form is received by 2
the county board within 30 days from the date the notice was mailed, the county board shall 3
proceed with the voter registration application accordingly. If the form is not receive d by the 4
county board within 30 days from the date the notice was mailed, the county board shall not 5
approve the voter registration application , shall not add the individual to the list of registered 6
voters of the State, and shall notify the voter of the denial in accordance with G.S. 163-82.7(b)." 7
SECTION 2.10.(d) G.S. 163-82.18(a) reads as rewritten: 8
"(a) Right to Appeal. – Any applicant who receives notice of denial of registration 9
pursuant to G.S. 163-82.7 or G.S. 163-83 may appeal the denial within five days after receipt of 10
the notice of denial. The county board of elections shall promptly set a date for a public hearing. 11
The notice of appeal shall be in writing and shall be signed by the appealing party, shall include 12
the appealing party's name, date of birth, address, and reasons for the appeal." 13
SECTION 2.10.(e) This section becomes effective January 1, 2027, and applies to 14
voter registration applications processed on or after that date. 15
16
POST-ELECTION AUDITS BY STATE AUDITOR 17
SECTION 2.11. Article 5A of Chapter 147 of the General Statutes is amended by 18
adding a new section to read: 19
"§ 147-64.6Q. Audit of general elections. 20
(a) In addition to any authority granted in G.S. 147-64.7, after the certification of each 21
general election under Chapter 163 of the General Statutes , the Auditor shall randomly select 22
counties of the State in which to conduct post -election audits of election system and controls. 23
The number of audits to be conducted is at the discretion of the Auditor, but all county boards of 24
elections must be audited at least once every six years. 25
(b) No county audit under this section shall occur until after the election is certified 26
pursuant to G.S. 163-182.15. Nothing in this section supersedes, overrides, or replaces any 27
procedures in Article 15A of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. No findings in audits under 28
this section shall be used as grounds to challenge the final result of an election. Audits under this 29
section are in addition to audits conducted under G.S. 163-182.12A. 30
(c) In conducting audits under this section, the Auditor may examine all of the following 31
areas: 32
(1) The accuracy of voter rolls and compliance with list maintenance 33
requirements in State and federal law. 34
(2) Procedures for testing voting equipment before counting ballots, including the 35
ballots used for testing the equipment and the storage and maintenance of the 36
equipment. 37
(3) Records of ballots distributed, ballots voted, poll book records, and ballots 38
tabulated. 39
(4) Chain of custody and seal documentation. 40
(5) Absentee ballots, absentee ballot applications, and absentee ballot 41
container-return envelopes to ensure appropriate processing and counting of 42
absentee ballots. 43
(6) Provisional ballots, provisional ballot envelopes, and reco rds regarding 44
provisional ballots. 45
(7) Compliance with all State and federal laws regarding contact with voters and 46
voter assistance. 47
(8) Any areas of concern regarding election accuracy, security, or credibility 48
uncovered over the course of the audit. 49
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 958-Sixth Edition Page 21
(d) Election officials of the county under audit may be present during a county audit under 1
this section and shall preserve chain of custody of cast ballots and other documents, when 2
applicable. 3
(e) The Auditor shall produce annual reports of the audits conducted under this section 4
and make them accessible on the Office of the State Auditor 's website in perpetuity. The report 5
shall include details of which areas listed in subsection (c) of this section were examined and the 6
Auditor's findings related to those areas. The report may include recommendations for best 7
practices, additional training, oversight, or changes to election administration. Before submitting 8
the report, the Auditor shall allow a board of elections for any county di scussed in the report to 9
review the report and provide comments to be submitted along with it in accordance with 10
G.S. 147-64.6(c)(13). The reports shall not violate any applicable confidentiality laws. 11
(f) If the Auditor receives or collects information during an audit under this section that 12
the Auditor believes may be evidence of a violation of State or federal law, the Auditor shall 13
refer this evidence in accordance with G.S. 147-64.6B. 14
(g) If an error, i nefficiency, or vulnerability in a county 's election system or controls is 15
uncovered in an audit under this section, the county board of elections shall submit a report to 16
the Auditor, the State Board of Elections, and the county board of commissioners out lining its 17
plan to fix the error, inefficiency, or vulnerability. 18
(h) The Auditor, in collaboration with the State Board of Elections, shall develop an audit 19
manual that details the policies and procedures guiding audits under this section. This manual 20
shall not have the force of law. The manual shall not be altered within the 90 days preceding an 21
election in which the manual is utilized to conduct an audit under this section." 22
23
CHANGE DATE FOR WHEN CERTAIN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS HELD 24
SECTION 2.12.(a) G.S. 163-279(a) reads as rewritten: 25
"(a) Primaries and elections for offices filled by election of the people in cities, towns, 26
incorporated villages, and special districts shall be held in 1973 and every two or four years 27
thereafter as provided by municipal charter on the following days: 28
(1) If the election is nonpartisan and decided by simple plurality, the election shall 29
be held on Tuesday after the first Monday in November. 30
(2) If the election is partisan, the election shall be held on Tuesday after the fir st 31
Monday in November, the first primary shall be held on the second Tuesday 32
after Labor Day, and the second primary, if required, shall be held on the 33
fourth Tuesday before the election. 34
(3) If the election is nonpartisan and the nonpartisan primary metho d of election 35
is used, the election shall be held on Tuesday after the first Monday in 36
November and the nonpartisan primary shall be held on the fourth Tuesday 37
before the election.second Tuesday after Labor Day. 38
(4) If the election is nonpartisan and the e lection and runoff election method of 39
election is used, the election shall be held on the fourth Tuesday before the 40
Tuesday after the first Monday in November, second Tuesday after Labor 41
Day, and the runoff election, if required, shall be held on Tuesday a fter the 42
first Monday in November." 43
SECTION 2.12.(b) This section becomes effective January 1, 2027, and applies to 44
elections held on or after that date. 45
46
ELIGIBILITY TO FILE AS CANDIDATE IN PARTY PRIMARY 47
SECTION 2.13.(a) G.S. 163-106.1 reads as rewritten: 48
"§ 163-106.1. Eligibility to file. 49
(a) No person shall be permitted to file as a candidate in a party primary unless that person 50
has been affiliated with that party for at least 90 365 days as of the date of that person filing such 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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notice of candidacy. A person registered as "unaffiliated" shall be ineligible to file as a candidate 1
in a party primary election. 2
(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, a person who has been affiliated with 3
a party for less than 365 days may file as a candidate in that party's primary if the State executive 4
committee of the political party with which the candidate is affiliated grants the person a waiver. 5
The State executive committee of the political party may, in its sole discretion, grant or deny a 6
waiver request. The waiver mus t be submitted to the board of elections which has jurisdiction 7
over the ballot item under G.S. 163-182.4 by the close of the filing period for that office. 8
(c) This section shall not apply to any of the following: 9
(1) Candidates selected by party convention or political party caucus. 10
(2) Political parties that have been recognized under Article 9 of this Chapter for 11
two continuous years or less." 12
SECTION 2.13.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to 13
candidates filing in a party primary on or after that date. 14
15
PART III. DUTY & STR UCTURE OF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS & 16
COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS 17
18
AUTHORITY IN ELECTION LITIGATION 19
SECTION 3.2.(a) G.S. 163-25 reads as rewritten: 20
"§ 163-25. Authority of State Board to assist in litigation. 21
(a) The State Board shall possess authority to assist any county board of elections in any 22
matter in which litigation is contemplated or has been initiated, provided, the in accordance with 23
all of the following: 24
(1) The county board of elections in such county petitions, requests, by majority 25
resolution, for such assistance from the State Board and, provided further, that 26
the Board. 27
(2) The State Board determines, in its sole discretion by majority vote, to assist in 28
any such the matter. 29
(3) It is further stipulated that the The State Board shall does not be authorized 30
under this provision to enter into any litigation in assistance to counties, any 31
county board or county boards except in those instances where the uniform 32
administration of this Chapter has been, or would be threatened. 33
(b) The Attorney General shall provide the State Board with legal assistance in execution 34
of its authority under this section or, in the Attorney General's discretion, recommend that may 35
employ staff counsel or retain private counsel be employed.to provide legal services. Private 36
counsel may be retained for any of the following matters: 37
(1) Any matter in which litigation is contemplated or has been initiated. 38
(2) Any matter in which the State Board is assisting in litigation in accordance 39
with subsection (a) of this section. 40
(3) Any matter arising in connection with the State Board 's actions under this 41
Chapter. 42
(4) Any matter arising in connection with the Exe cutive Director's actions under 43
this Chapter. 44
(c) If the Attorney General recommends employment State Board determines retention 45
of private counsel, counsel is necessary, the State Board may employ counsel with the approval 46
of the General Assembly. use funds available to the State Board to retain private counsel under 47
this section. The State Board shall supervise and manage counsel retained under this section. 48
(d) G.S. 114-2.3 and G.S. 147-17 shall not apply to counsel employed or retained under 49
this section." 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 958-Sixth Edition Page 23
SECTION 3.2.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to 1
counsel employed on, retained on, or hired or retained after that date. 2
3
VENUE FOR JUDICIAL REVIEW OF DECISIONS OF THE STATE BOARD OF 4
ELECTIONS 5
SECTION 3.3.(a) G.S. 163-22(l) reads as rewritten: 6
"(l) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in order to obtain judicial review of any 7
decision of the State Board rendered in the performance of its duties or in the exercise of its 8
powers under this Chapter, the person seeking review must file a petition in either the Superior 9
Court of Wake County.County or the superior court of the county in which the person seeking 10
review resides." 11
SECTION 3.3.(b) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to 12
actions filed on or after that date. 13
14
INCREASE COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS OF COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS 15
SECTION 3.4.(a) G.S. 163-32 reads as rewritten: 16
"§ 163-32. Compensation of members of county boards of elections.county boards. 17
In full compensation of their services, members of the county board of elections (including 18
the chairman) chair) shall be paid by the county twenty-five dollars ($25.00) one hundred dollars 19
($100.00) per meeting for the time they are actually engaged in the discharge of their duties, 20
together with reimbursement of expendit ures necessary and incidental to the discharge of their 21
duties; provided that members are not entitled to be compensated for more than one meeting held 22
in any one 24 -hour period. In its discretion, the board of county commissioners of any county 23
may pay th e chairman chair and members of the county board of elections compensation in 24
addition to the per meeting and expense allowance provided in this paragraph. 25
In all counties the county board of elections shall pay its clerk, assistant clerks, and other 26
employees such compensation as it shall fix within budget appropriations. Counties which adopt 27
full-time and permanent registration shall have authority to pay directors of elections whatever 28
compensation they may fix within budget appropriations." 29
SECTION 3.4.(b) This section becomes effective July 1, 2027. 30
31
EXEMPT POSITIONS AT THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS 32
SECTION 3.5.(a) Section 2E.3(a) of S.L. 2025-89 reads as rewritten: 33
"SECTION 2E.3.(a) There is appropriated from the General Fund to the State Board of 34
Elections the sum of one million one hundred ninety -three thousand nine hundred seventy-nine 35
dollars ($1,193,979) in recurring funds for each fiscal year of the 2025 -2027 fiscal biennium to 36
provide funds for the following seven new exempt positions, including salaries, benefits, and 37
operating costs: 38
(1) Administrative Officer III. 39
(2) Agency General Counsel II. 40
(3) Agency HR Director II. 41
(4) Assistant General Counsel II. 42
(5) Internal Auditor. 43
(6) Legislative Affairs Manager. 44
(7) Public Information Manager." 45
SECTION 3.5.(b) G.S. 126-5(c1) is amended by adding the following new 46
subdivisions to read: 47
"(43) The Executive Director of the State Board of Elections. 48
(44) Employees of the State Board of Elections, that the Executive Director of the 49
State Board of Elections, at any time, in the Executive Director of the State 50
Board of Elections ' discretion, exempts from the application of this Chapter 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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by means of a letter to the Director of the Office of State Human Resources 1
designating these employees. The Executive Director of the State Board of 2
Elections may exempt no more than seven employees under the authorization 3
set forth in this subdivision. Any exemptions under this subdivision shall not 4
affect, or be counted against, the number of exempt positions the Auditor may 5
designate in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section." 6
SECTION 3.5.(c) G.S. 126-5(c14) reads as rewritten: 7
"(c14) Notwithstanding any provision of this Chapter to the contrary, each Council of State 8
agency, agency and the Office of the State Controller, and the Executive Director of the State 9
Board of Elections Controller has the sole authority to set the salary of its exempt policymaking 10
and exempt managerial positions within the minimum rates, and the maximum rates plus ten 11
percent (10%), established by the State Human Resources Commission under G.S. 126-4(2)." 12
SECTION 3.5.(d) G.S. 126-5(d)(2) reads as rewritten: 13
"(2) Exempt Positions in Council of State Departments and Offices, the Office of 14
the State Controller, and the State Board of Elections. – The Secretary of State, 15
the Auditor, the Treasurer, the Attorney General, the Superintendent of Public 16
Instruction, the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Commissioner of Insurance, 17
the Labor Commissioner, and the State Controller, and the Executive Director 18
of the State Board of Elections Controller may designate exempt positions. 19
The number of exempt policymaking positions in each department headed by 20
an elected department head listed in this subdivision is limited to 25 exempt 21
policymaking positions or two percent (2%) of the total number of full -time 22
positions in the department, whichever is greater. The total number of 23
full-time positions in the Department of the State Auditor shall not include 24
employees of the State Board of Elections. The number of exempt managerial 25
positions is limited to 25 positions or two percent (2%) of the total number of 26
full-time positions in the d epartment, whichever is greater. The number of 27
exempt policymaking positions designated by the Superintendent of Public 28
Instruction is limited to 70 exempt policymaking positions or two percent 29
(2%) of the total number of full -time positions in the departm ent, whichever 30
is greater. The number of exempt managerial positions designated by the 31
Superintendent of Public Instruction is limited to 70 exempt managerial 32
positions or two percent (2%) of the total number of full-time positions in the 33
department, which ever is greater. The total number of exempt positions, 34
policymaking and managerial, designated by the Office of the State Controller 35
is limited to 10. The total number of exempt positions designated by the 36
Executive Director of the State Board of Elections is limited to the following 37
seven positions: Agency Human Relations Director II, Agency General 38
Counsel II, Assistant General Counsel II, Public Information Manager, 39
Legislative Affairs Manager, Internal Auditor, and Administrative Officer 40
III." 41
SECTION 3.5.(e) G.S. 126-5(d)(4) reads as rewritten: 42
"(4) Vacancies. – In the event of a vacancy in the Office of Governor, the office of 43
a member of the Council of State, or the Office of the State Controller, or the 44
Executive Director of the State Board of Elect ions, the person who succeeds 45
to or is appointed or elected to fill the unexpired term shall make designations 46
in a letter to the Director of the Office of State Human Resources, the Speaker 47
of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate within 180 48
days after the oath of office is administered to that person." 49
50
PART IV. REVISIONS TO UNIFORM MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS ACT 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 958-Sixth Edition Page 25
SECTION 4.1. G.S. 163-258.2 reads as rewritten: 1
"§ 163-258.2. Definitions. 2
As used in this Article: 3
(1) "Covered voter" means any of the following: 4
a. A uniformed-service voter or an overseas voter who is registered to 5
vote in this State. 6
b. A uniformed-service voter defined in subdivision (7) of this section 7
whose voting residence is in this State and who otherwise satisfies this 8
State's voter eligibility requirements. 9
c. An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, was last 10
eligible to vote in this State and, except for a State residency 11
requirement, otherwise satisfies this State's voter eligibility 12
requirements. 13
d. An overseas voter who, before leaving the United States, would have 14
been last eligible to vote in this State had the voter then been of voting 15
age and, except for a State residency requirement, otherwise satisfies 16
this State's voter eligibility requirements. 17
e. An overseas voter who was born outside the United States, is not 18
described in sub -subdivision c. or d. of this subdivision, and, except 19
for a State residency requirement, otherwise satisfies this State's voter 20
eligibility requirements, if: 21
1. The last place where a parent or legal guardian of the voter 22
was, or under this Article would have been, eligible to vote 23
before leaving the United States is within this State; and 24
2. The voter has not previously registered to vote in any other 25
state. 26
(2) "Dependent" means an individual recognized as a dependent by a uniformed 27
service. 28
(3) "Military-overseas ballot" means any of the following: 29
a. A federal write -in absentee ballot described in the Uniformed and 30
Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, sec tion 103, 42 U.S.C. § 31
1973ff-2. 32
b. A ballot specifically prepared or distributed for use by a covered voter 33
in accordance with this Article. 34
c. A ballot cast by a covered voter in accordance with this Article. 35
(4) "Overseas voter" means a United States cit izen who is outside the United 36
States. 37
(5) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto 38
Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession 39
subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. 40
(6) "Uniformed service" means any of the following: 41
a. Active and reserve components of the United States Army, Navy, Air 42
Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard. 43
b. The Merchant Marine, the commissioned corps of the Public Health 44
Service, and the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and 45
Atmospheric Administration of the United States. 46
c. The National Guard and state militia units. 47
(7) "Uniformed-service voter" means an individual who is qualified to vote and 48
is one of the following: 49
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 26 House Bill 958-Sixth Edition
a. A member of the active or reserve components of the United States 1
Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard 2
who is on active duty. 3
b. A member of the Merchant Marine, the commissioned corps of the 4
Public Health Service, or the commissioned corps of the National 5
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States. 6
c. A member of the National Guard or State militia unit who is on 7
activated status. 8
d. A spouse or dependent of a member referred to in this subdivision. 9
(8) "United States ," used in the territorial sense, means the several states, the 10
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and any 11
territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States." 12
SECTION 4.2. G.S. 163-258.5 reads as rewritten: 13
"§ 163-258.5. Overseas voter's registration address. 14
In registering to vote, an overseas voter who is eligible to vote in this State shall use and shall 15
be assigned to the precinct of the address of the last place of residence of the vote r in this State, 16
or, in the case of a voter described by G.S. 163-258.2(1)e., the address of the last place of 17
residence in this State of the parent or legal guardian of the voter. State. If that address is no 18
longer a recognized residential address, the v oter shall be assigned an address for voting 19
purposes.purposes that is in the same precinct or an adjacent precinct to the address of the last 20
place of residence of the voter." 21
SECTION 4.3. G.S. 163-258.10 reads as rewritten: 22
"§ 163-258.10. Timely casting Casting of ballot. 23
(a) To be valid, a military -overseas ballot shall either be received by the appropriate 24
county board of elections no later than the close of the polls, or the covered voter shall submit 25
the ballot for mailing, electronic t ransmission, or other authorized means of delivery not later 26
than 12:01 A.M., at the place where the voter completes the ballot, on the date of the election. 27
(b) Covered voters shall submit the military -overseas ballot with a photocopy of 28
identification de scribed in G.S. 163-166.16(a) or an affidavit as described in 29
G.S. 163-166.16(d)(1), (d)(2), or (d)(3). 30
(c) The State Board shall provide the means for any photographic identification 31
electronically submitted in accordance with this section to be submitted in a secure manner." 32
SECTION 4.4. Article 21A of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by 33
adding a new section to read: 34
"§ 163-258.21. Curable deficiencies. 35
(a) If a ballot cast under this Article contains a curable deficiency, the county board shall 36
notify the vot er of the curable deficiency and the manner in which the voter may cure the 37
deficiency no later than the close of business on the next business day following review of the 38
ballot. For purposes of this section, a curable def iciency is when the voter fail s to include a 39
photocopy of identification described in G.S. 163-258.10(b). 40
(b) Any ballot cast under this Article with a curable deficiency that is transmitted to the 41
county board shall be considered timely if cure documentation is received by 11:00 A.M. on the 42
day of the county canvass. Cure documentation may be transmitted through any of the following 43
methods: 44
(1) Mailing cure documentation to the appropriate county board. 45
(2) Transmitting cure documentation to the appropriate county board through the 46
electronic transmission system developed by the State Board. 47
(3) Transmitting cure documentation via email to the appropriate county board." 48
SECTION 4.5. This Part becomes effective January 1, 2027, and applies to elections 49
held on or after that date. 50
51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 958-Sixth Edition Page 27
PART V. CAMPAIGN FINANCE REVISIONS 1
2
INCREASE THRESHOLD FOR REPORTING CERTAIN CONTRIBUTIONS 3
SECTION 5.1.(a) G.S. 163-278.10A reads as rewritten: 4
"§ 163-278.10A. Threshold of $1,000 $3,000 for financial reports for certain candidates. 5
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, a candidate for a county office, 6
municipal office, local school board office, soil and water conservation district board of 7
supervisors, or sanitary district board shall be exempted from the reports of contributions, loans, 8
and expenditures required in G.S. 163-278.9(a), 163-278.40B, 163-278.40C, 163-278.40D, and 9
163-278.40E if to further the candidate's campaign that candidate:candidate complies with all of 10
the following: 11
(1) Does not receive more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) three thousand 12
dollars ($3,000) in contributions, andcontributions. 13
(2) Does not receive more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) three thousand 14
dollars ($3,000) in loans, andloans. 15
(3) Does not spend more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). three thousand 16
dollars ($3,000). 17
To qualify for the exemption from those reports, the candidate's treasurer shall file a certification 18
that the candidate does not intend to receive in contributions or loans or expend more than one 19
thousand dollars ($1,000) three thousand dollars ($3,000) to further the candidate's campaign. 20
The certification shall be filed with the Board at the same time the candidate files the candidate's 21
Organizational Report as required in G.S. 163-278.7, G.S. 163-278.9, and G.S. 163-278.40A. If 22
the candidate's campaign is being conducted by a political committee which is handling all 23
contributions, loans, and expenditures for the candidate's campaign, the treasurer of the political 24
committee shall file a certification of intent to stay within the threshold amount. If the intent to 25
stay within the threshold changes, or if the one-thousand-dollar ($1,000) three thousand dollar 26
($3,000) threshold is exceeded, the treasurer shall immediately notify the Board and shall be 27
responsible for filing all reports required in G.S. 163-278.9 and 163 -278.40B, 163 -278.40C, 28
163-278.40D, and 163 -278.40E; provided that any contribution, loan, or expenditure which 29
would have been required to be reported on an earlier report but for this section shall be included 30
on the next report required after the intent changes or the threshold is exceeded. 31
…." 32
SECTION 5.1.(b) G.S. 163-278.12 reads as rewritten: 33
"§ 163-278.12. Special reporting of contributions and independent expenditures. 34
(a) Subject to G.S. 163-278.39 and G.S. 163-278.14, individuals and other entities not 35
otherwise prohibited from doing so may make independent expenditures. In the event an 36
individual, person, or other entity making independ ent expenditures but not otherwise required 37
to report them makes independent expenditures in excess of one hundred dollars ($100.00), 38
thousand dollars ($1,000), that individual, person, or entity shall file a statement of such 39
independent expenditure with the appropriate board of elections in the manner prescribed by the 40
State Board of Elections.Board. 41
(b) Any person or entity other than an individual that is perm itted to make contributions 42
but is not otherwise required to report them shall report each contribution in excess of one 43
hundred dollars ($100.00) thousand dollars ($1,000) with the appropriate board of elections in 44
the manner prescribed by the State Board of Elections.Board. 45
(c) In assuring compliance with subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the State Board of 46
Elections shall require the identification of each person or entity making a donation of more than 47
one hundred dollars ($100.00) thousand do llars ($1,000) to the entity filing the report if the 48
donation was made to further the reported independent expenditure or contribution. If the donor 49
is an individual, the statement shall also contain the principal occupation of the donor. The 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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"principal occu pation of the donor" shall mean the same as the "principal occupation of the 1
contributor" in G.S. 163-278.11. 2
(d) Contributions or independent expenditures required to be reported under this section 3
shall be reported within 30 days after they exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00) thousand dollars 4
($1,000) or 10 days before an election the contributions or independent expenditures affect, 5
whichever occurs earlier. 6
… 7
(h) Statements filed under this section in connection with an independent expenditure or 8
contribution regarding a referendum shall include a certification by the filer that it has not 9
knowingly or willfully accepted funds aggregating in excess of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) 10
from one or more foreign nationals within the four -year period immediately preceding the date 11
on which the expenditure or contribution was made and that it will not do so through the date of 12
the election in which the referendum will appear on the ballot." 13
SECTION 5.1.(c) This section becomes effective January 1, 2027. 14
15
48-HOUR REPORT REQUIREMENTS 16
SECTION 5.2.(a) G.S. 163-278.9 reads as rewritten: 17
"§ 163-278.9. Statements filed with Board. 18
(a) Except as provided in G.S. 163-278.10A, the treasurer of each candidate and of each 19
political committee shall file with the Board under certification of the treasurer as true and correct 20
to the best of the knowledge of that officer the following reports: 21
… 22
(2) 48-Hour Report. – A political committee, political party or affiliated party 23
committee that receives a contribution or transfer of funds shall disclose 24
within 48 hours of receipt a contribution or transfer of one two thousand 25
dollars ($1,000) ($2,000) or more received before an election but after the 26
period covered by the last report due before that election. The disclosure shall 27
be by report to the State Board identifying the source and amount of the funds. 28
The State Board shall specify the form and ma nner of making the report, 29
including the reporting of in -kind contributions. The State Board shall 30
increase the dollar amount of the reporting threshold effective each election 31
cycle beginning on the period from January 1 of an odd -numbered year 32
through December 31 of the next even-numbered year based on the Consumer 33
Price Index as provided in G.S. 163-278.13(b). The State Board shall set the 34
revised threshold in October of the even -numbered year, publish the revised 35
threshold in the North Carolina Register , and notify the Revisor of Statutes 36
who shall adjust the dollar amount in this subdivision. 37
… 38
(a1) Subdivision (a)(2) of this section shall not apply to any candidate campaign 39
committee, as defined by G.S. 163-278.38Z, in a primary election in which the c andidate is 40
unopposed on that ballot. 41
…." 42
SECTION 5.2.(b) G.S. 163-278.9A(a)(3) reads as rewritten: 43
"(3) 48-Hour Report. – A referendum committee that receives a contribution or 44
transfer of funds shall disclose within 48 hours of receipt a contribution or 45
transfer of one two thousand dollars ($1,000) ($2,000) or more received before 46
a referendum but after the period covered by the last report due before that 47
referendum. The disclosure shall be by report to the State Board of Elections 48
identifying the source and amount of such funds. The State Board of Elections 49
shall specify the form and manner of making the report, including the 50
reporting of in -kind contributions. The State Board shall increase the dollar 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 958-Sixth Edition Page 29
amount of the reporting threshold effective each election cycle beginning the 1
period from January 1 of an odd-numbered year through December 31 of the 2
next even-numbered year based on the Consumer Price Index as provided in 3
G.S. 163-278.13(b). The State Board shall set the revised threshold in October 4
of the even-numbered year, publish the revised threshold in the North Carolina 5
Register, and notify the Revisor of Statutes who shall adjust the dollar amount 6
in this subdivision." 7
SECTION 5.2.(c) No earlier than October 1, 2026, the State Board of Elections shall 8
adjust the thresholds imposed by G.S. 163-278.9(a)(2) and G.S. 163-278.9A(a)(3), as enacted by 9
this section, effective for the election cycle beginning January 1, 2027. 10
11
CONTRIBUTIONS BY FOREIGN NATIONALS 12
SECTION 5.3.(a) G.S. 163-278.6 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 13
"(52) The term "foreign national" means any of the following: 14
a. An individual who is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the 15
United States. 16
b. A government of a foreign country, or any political subdivision 17
thereof. 18
c. A foreign political party. 19
d. Any person that is organized under the law of, or has its principal place 20
of business in, a foreign country. 21
e. Any person organized and operating in the United States that is wholly 22
or majori ty-owned by a foreign national or combination of foreign 23
nationals unless both of the following apply: 24
1. Any contribution or expenditure the person law fully makes 25
derives entirely from funds generated by operations in the 26
United States. 27
2. All decisions concerning the contribution or expenditure are 28
made by individuals who are United States citizens or lawful 29
permanent residents, except for setting overall budget 30
amounts." 31
SECTION 5.3.(b) G.S. 163-278.9A, as amended by Section 5.2 of this act, reads as 32
rewritten: 33
"§ 163-278.9A. Statements filed by referendum committees. 34
(a) The treasurer of each referendum committee shall file under verification with the 35
Board the following reports: 36
… 37
(1a) Organizational Funding Certification. – The treasurer shall file a signed 38
statement with the Board no later than the tenth day following the organization 39
of a referendum committee affirming that no preliminary activity was funded 40
by one or more foreign nationals and that the committee has not and will not 41
knowingly or willfully receive, solicit, or accept contributions, directly or 42
indirectly, from one or more foreign nationals . Preliminary activity includes 43
conducting a poll, public opinion survey, or focus group; drafting referendum 44
language; telephone calls; and travel. 45
… 46
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Article, each report shall be current within seven 47
days prior to the date the report is due and shall list all contributions received and expenditures 48
made which have not been previously reported. 49
(c) Any report disclosing contributions required by this section shall include an 50
affirmation by the treasurer that the donor associated with each contribution is not a foreign 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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national and the donor has not knowingly or willfully received, solicited, or accepted 1
contributions, directly or indirectly, from one or more foreign nationals aggregating in excess of 2
ten thousand dollars ($10,000) within the four-year period immediately preceding the date of the 3
contribution. 4
(d) For purposes of this section, "directly or indirectly " means actin g either alone or 5
jointly with, through, or on behalf of any other referendum committee, political committee, 6
organization, person, individual, or other entity." 7
SECTION 5.3.(c) G.S. 163-278.15(a) reads as rewritten: 8
"(a) No candidate, political committee, political party, affiliated party committee, or 9
treasurer shall solicit or accept any contribution made by any of the following: 10
(1) A corporation, foreign or domestic, regardless of whether such corporation 11
does business in the State of North Carolina, or made by any Carolina. 12
(2) Any business entity, labor union, professional association, or insurance 13
company. 14
(3) Any foreign national. 15
(a1) This section does not apply with regard to entities permitted to make contributions by 16
G.S. 163-278.19(h)." 17
SECTION 5.3.(d) G.S. 163-278.19 reads as rewritten: 18
"§ 163-278.19. Violations by foreign nationals, corporations, business entities, labor unions, 19
professional associations and insurance companies. 20
(a) Except as provided in subsections (c), (d), (f), (g), (h), and (i) of this section it shall 21
be unlawful for any foreign national, corporation, business entity, labor union, professional 22
association or insurance company directly or indirectly do any of the following: 23
(1) To make any contribution to a candidate or political committee. 24
(2) To pay or use or offer, consent or agree to pay or use any of its money or 25
property for any contribution to a candidate or political committee. 26
(3) To compensate, reimburse, or indemnify any person or individual for money 27
or property so used or for any contribution or expenditure so made. 28
(a1) It shall also be unlawful for any officer, director, stockholder, attor ney, agent or 29
member of any foreign national, corporation, business entity, labor union, professional 30
association or insurance company to aid, abet, advise or consent to any such contribution, or for 31
any person or individual to solicit or knowingly receive any such contribution. Supporting or 32
opposing the election of clearly identified candidates includes supporting or opposing the 33
candidates of a clearly identified political party. Any officer, director, stockholder, attorney, 34
agent or member of any foreign national, corporation, business entity, labor union, professional 35
association or insurance company aiding or abetting in any contribution made in violation of this 36
section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor, and shall in addition be liable to such foreign 37
national, corporation, business entity, labor union, professional association or insurance company 38
for the amount of such contribution and the same may be recovered of him upon suit by any 39
stockholder or member thereof.thereof against the aiding or abetting officer, director, 40
stockholder, attorney, agent, or member. 41
(b) A transfer of funds shall be deemed to have been a contribution made indirectly if it 42
is made to any committee, affiliated party committee, or political party account, whether inside 43
or outside this State, with the intent or purpose of being exchanged in whole or in part for any 44
other funds to be contributed or expended in an election for North Carolina office or to offset any 45
other funds contributed or expended in an election for North Carolina office. 46
(c) Proceeds of loans made in the ordinary course of business by financial institutions 47
may be used for contributions made in compliance with this Subchapter. Financial institutions 48
may also grant revolving credit to political committee s and referendum committees in the 49
ordinary course of business. 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 958-Sixth Edition Page 31
(d) It shall, however, be lawful for any corporation, business entity, labor union, 1
professional association or insurance company to communicate do any of the following: 2
(1) Communicate with its employees, stockholders or members and their families 3
on any subject; to conduct subject. 4
(2) Conduct nonpartisan registration and get -out-the-vote campaigns aimed at 5
their employees, stockholders, or members and their families; or for families. 6
(3) For officials and employees of any corporation, insurance company or 7
business entity or the officials and members of any labor union or professional 8
association to establish, administer, contribute to, and to receive and solicit 9
contributions to a separ ate segregated fund to be utilized for political 10
purposes, and those individuals shall be deemed to become and be a political 11
committee as that term is defined in G.S. 163-278.6(74) or a referendum 12
committee as defined in G.S. 163-278.6(84); provided, however, that it shall 13
be unlawful for any such fund to make a contribution or expenditure by 14
utilizing contributions secured by physical force, job discrimination, financial 15
reprisals or the threat of force, job discrimination or financial reprisals, or by 16
dues, fees, or other moneys required as a condition of membership or 17
employment or as a requirement with respect to any terms or conditions of 18
employment, including, without limitation, hiring, firing, transferring, 19
promoting, demoting, or granting seniority or employment-related benefits of 20
any kind, or by moneys obtained in any commercial transaction whatsoever. 21
(e) A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. In addition, the acceptance of 22
any contribution, reimbursement, or indemnification under subsection (a) shall be a Class 2 23
misdemeanor. 24
(f) Whenever a candidate or treasurer is an officer, director, stockholder, attorney, agent, 25
or employee of any corporation, business entity, labor union, professional association or 26
insurance company, and by virtue of his the position therewith uses office space and 27
communication facilities of the corporation, business entity, labor union, professional association 28
or insurance company in the normal and usual scope of his employment, the fact that the 29
candidate or treasurer receives telephone calls, mail, or visits in such office which relates to 30
activities prohibited by this Article shall not be considered a violation under this section. 31
(g) Notwithstanding the prohibitions specified in this Article and Article 22 of this 32
Chapter, a political committee organized under provisions of this Article shall be entitled to 33
receive and the corporation, business entity, labor union, professional association, or insurance 34
company designated on the political committee's organizational report as the parent entity of the 35
employees or members who organized the political committee is authorized to give reasonable 36
administrative support that shall include record keeping, computer services, billings, mailings to 37
members of the political committee, membership development, fund -raising activities, office 38
supplies, office space, and such other support as is reasonably necessary for the administration 39
of the political committee. 40
The approximate cost of any reasonable administrative sup port shall be submitted to the 41
political committee, in writing, and the political committee shall include that cost on the report 42
required by G.S. 163-278.9(a)(4). Also included in the report shall be the approximate allocable 43
portion of the compensation of any officer or employee of the corporation, business entity, labor 44
union, professional association, or insurance company who has devoted more than thirty -five 45
percent (35%) of his that employee 's time during normal business hours of the corporation, 46
business entity, labor union, professional association, or insurance company during the period 47
covered by the required report. The approximate cost submitted by the parent corporation, 48
business entity, labor union, professional association, or insurance compan y shall be entered on 49
the political committee's report as the final entry on its list of "contributions" and a copy of the 50
written approximate cost received by it shall be attached. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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The reasonable administrative support given by a corporation, business ent ity, labor union, 1
professional association, or insurance company shall be designated on the books of the 2
corporation, business entity, labor union, professional association, or insurance company as such 3
and may not be treated by it as a business deduction for State income tax purposes. 4
(h) This section does not prohibit a contribution by an [a] a person or entity that:that 5
meets all of the following criteria: 6
(1) Has as an express purpose promoting social, educational, or political ideas and 7
not to generate business income;income. 8
(2) Does not have shareholders or other persons which have an economic interest 9
in its assets and earnings; andearnings. 10
(3) Was not established by a business corporation, by an insurance company, by 11
a business entity, including, but not limited to, those chartered under Chapter 12
55, Chapter 55A, Chapter 55B, or Chapter 58 of the General Statutes, by a 13
professional association, or by a labor union and does not receive substantial 14
revenue from such entities. Substantial revenue is rebuttably presumed to be 15
more than ten percent (10%) of total revenues in a calendar year. 16
(4) Is not a foreign national. 17
(i) If a political committee has as its o nly purpose accepting contributions and making 18
expenditures to influence elections, and that political committee incorporates as a nonprofit 19
corporation to shield its participants from liability created outside this Subchapter, that political 20
committee is not considered to be a corporation for purposes of this section. Incorporation of a 21
political committee does not relieve any individual, person, or other entity of any liability, duty, 22
or obligation created pursuant to any provision of this Subchapter. To obtain the benefits of this 23
subsection, an incorporating political committee must state exactly the following language as the 24
only purpose for which the corporation can be organized: "to accept contributions and make 25
expenditures to influence elections as a political committee pursuant to G.S. 163-278.6(74) 26
only." No political committee shall do business as a political committee after incorporation unless 27
it has been certified by the State Board as being in compliance with this subsection. 28
(j) For purposes of this section, "directly or indirectly " means acting either alone or 29
jointly with, through, or on behalf of any other referendum committee, political committee, 30
organization, person, individual, or other entity." 31
SECTION 5.3.(e) G.S. 163-278.19B(a) reads as rewritten: 32
"(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 163-278.19, G.S. 163-278.19 and except for 33
a foreign national, a person prohibited by that section from making a contribution may donate to 34
political parties, and affiliated party committees a nd political parties and affiliated party 35
committees may accept from such a person, money and other things of value donated to a political 36
party headquarters building fund. A foreign national shall not make any contribution or donation 37
to a political party or affiliated party committee." 38
SECTION 5.3.(f) Article 22A of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by 39
adding a new section to read: 40
"§ 163-278.19C. Contributions by foreign nationals. 41
(a) A foreign national shall not direct, dictate, control, or directly or indirectly participate 42
in the decision-making process of any individual's, person's, or referendum committee's activities 43
to influence a referendum, including the making of contributions or independent expenditures. A 44
foreign national shall not coordinate with any individual, person, or referendum committee to 45
influence a referendum. 46
(b) A foreign national may not solicit, directly or indirectly, the making of a contribution, 47
expenditure, or other monetary or in-kind donation by another individual or person to influence 48
a referendum. 49
(c) A referendum committee shall not knowingly receive, solicit, or accept any 50
contribution from a foreign national, whether directly or indirectly. 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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(d) Upon a referendum committee re ceiving a contribution, the treasurer of such 1
committee shall obtain from the donor an affirmation that the donor is not a foreign national and 2
the donor has not knowingly or willfully accepted funds aggregating in excess of ten thousand 3
dollars ($10,000) from one or more foreign national within the four -year period immediately 4
preceding the date the contribution is made. The treasurer of a referendum committee shall 5
include records of such donor affirmations in the detailed account records required by 6
G.S. 163-278.8. 7
(e) Any investigation and enforcement proceeding for alleged violations of this section 8
shall strictly comply with the confidentiality procedures and requirements laid out in this 9
Chapter, including, but not limited to, G.S. 163-278.22 and G.S. 163-278.27. 10
(f) Nothing in this section shall create or eliminate any donor disclosure rights or duties 11
except as provided in this Chapter. 12
(g) Any individual or person who makes an intentional disclosure of confidential 13
materials or information relat ed to any investigation or enforcement action under this section 14
when such disclosure is not authorized by this Chapter shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. 15
The statute of limitations, as stated in G.S. 15-1, for a violation of this subsection shall run from 16
the date that the unauthorized disclosure first occurred. 17
(h) For purposes of this section, "directly or indirectly " means acting either alone or 18
jointly with, through, or on behalf of any other referendum committee, political committee, 19
organization, person, individual, or other entity." 20
SECTION 5.3.(g) G.S. 163-278.19A reads as rewritten: 21
"§ 163-278.19A. Contributions allowed. 22
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter, Except as provided in 23
G.S. 163-278.19C, it is lawful for any person as defined in G.S. 163-278.6(72) to contribute to a 24
referendum committee." 25
SECTION 5.3.(h) G.S. 163-278.27(a) reads as rewritten: 26
"(a) Any individual, candidate, political committee, referendum committee, treasurer, 27
person or media who intentionally violates the applicable provisions of G.S. 163-278.7, 28
163-278.8, 163 -278.9, 163 -278.10, 163 -278.11, 163 -278.12, 163 -278.13, 163 -278.13B, 29
163-278.14, 163 -278.16, 163 -278.16B, 163 -278.17, 163 -278.18, 163 -278.19, 163-278.19C, 30
163-278.20, 163-278.39, 163-278.40A, 163-278.40B, 163-278.40C, 163-278.40D, 163-278.40E, 31
or 163 -278.40J is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. The statute of limitations as stated in 32
G.S. 15-1 shall run from the day the last report is due to be filed with the appropriate board of 33
elections for the election cycle for which the violation occurred." 34
SECTION 5.3.(i) Subsection (f) of this section becomes effective December 1, 2026, 35
and applies to offenses committed on or after that date. The remainder of this section becomes 36
effective January 1, 2027. 37
38
EXEMPT POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTEES FROM CAMPAIGN SALES 39
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 40
SECTION 5.4.(a) G.S. 163-278.8A reads as rewritten: 41
"§ 163-278.8A. Campaign sales by political party executive committees.committees, and 42
affiliated party committees, and other political party committees. 43
(a) Exempt Purchase Price Not Treated as "Contribution." – Notwithstanding the 44
provisions of G.S. 163-278.6(13), the purchase price of goods or services sold by a political party 45
executive committee or affiliated party committee committee, an affiliated party committee, or 46
other political party committees as provided in subsection (b) of this section shall not be treated 47
as a "contribution" for purposes of account -keeping under G.S. 163-278.8, for purposes of the 48
reporting of contributions under G.S. 163-278.11, or for the purpose of the limit on contributions 49
under G.S. 163-278.13. The treasurer is not required to obtain, maintain, or report the name or 50
other identifying information of the p urchaser of the goods or services, as long as the 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
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requirements of subsection (b) of this section are satisfied. However, the proceeds from the sales 1
of those goods and services shall be treated as contributions for other purposes, and expenditures 2
of those proceeds shall be reported as expenditures under this Article. For purposes of this 3
section, "political party committees" includes, but is not limited to, men, women, college, teen, 4
senior, young, African American, or Hispanic clubs or organizations. 5
(b) Exempt Purchase Price. – A purchase price for goods or services sold by a political 6
party executive committee or affiliated party committee committee, an affiliated party 7
committee, or other political party committees qualifies for the exemption provided in subsection 8
(a) of this section as long as the sale of the goods or services adheres to a plan that the treasurer 9
has submitted to and that has been approved in writing by the Executive Director of the State 10
Board of Elections. The Executive Director shall approve the treasurer's plan upon and only upon 11
finding that all the following requirements are satisfied: 12
(1) That the price to be charged for the goods or services is reasonably close to 13
the market price for the goods or services. 14
(2) That the total amount to be raised from sales under all plans by the committee 15
does not exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) per election cycle. 16
(3) That no purchaser makes total purchases under the plan that exceed fifty 17
dollars ($50.00). 18
(4) That the treasurer includ e in the report under G.S. 163-278.11, covering the 19
relevant time period, all of the following: 20
a. A description of the plan. 21
b. The amount raised from sales under the plan. 22
c. The number of purchases made. 23
(5) That the treasurer shall include in the appro priate report under 24
G.S. 163-278.11 any in -kind contribution made to the political party in 25
providing the goods or services sold under the plan and that no in -kind 26
contribution accepted as part of the plan violates any provision of this Article. 27
The Executive Director may require a format for submission of a plan, but that format shall 28
not place undue paperwork burdens upon the treasurer. As used in this subdivision, the term 29
"election cycle" has the same meaning as in G.S. 163-278.6(32)." 30
SECTION 5.4.(b) This section becomes effective January 1, 2027. 31
32
INCREASE THRESHOLD FOR NONCASH REPORTING REQUIREMENTS 33
SECTION 5.5.(a) G.S. 163-278.8(d) reads as rewritten: 34
"(d) All expenditures for nonmedia expenses (except postage) of more than fifty dollars 35
($50.00) one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be made by a verifiable form of payment. The State 36
Board of Elections shall prescribe methods to ensure an audit trail for every expenditure so that 37
the identity of each payee can be determined. All expenditures for nonm edia expenses of fifty 38
dollars ($50.00) one hundred dollars ($100.00) or less may be made by check or by cash payment. 39
All nonmedia expenditures of more than fifty dollars ($50.00) one hundred dollars ($100.00) 40
shall be accounted for and reported individually and separately with a specific description to 41
provide a reasonable understanding of the expenditure, but expenditures of fifty dollars ($50.00) 42
one hund red dollars ($100.00) or less may be accounted for and reported in an aggregated 43
amount, but in that case the treasurer shall account for and report that the treasurer made 44
expenditures of fifty dollars ($50.00) one hundred dollars ($100.00) or less each, the amounts, 45
dates, and the purposes for which made. In the case of a nonmedia expenditure required to be 46
accounted for individually and separately with a specific description to provide a reasonable 47
understanding of the expenditure by this subsection, if the expenditure was to an individual, the 48
report shall list the name and address of the individual." 49
SECTION 5.5.(b) G.S. 163-278.11(b) reads as rewritten: 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 958-Sixth Edition Page 35
"(b) Threshold for Reporting Identity of Contributor. – A treasurer shall not be required 1
to report the name, address, or principal occupation of any individual who contributes fifty dollars 2
($50.00) one hundred dollars ($100.00) or less to the treasurer's committee during an election as 3
defined in G.S. 163-278.13. The State Board of Elections shall provide on its reporting forms for 4
the reporting of contributions below that threshold. On those reporting forms, the State Board 5
may require date and amount of contributions below the threshold, but may treat differently for 6
reporting purposes contr ibutions below the threshold that are made in different modes and in 7
different settings." 8
SECTION 5.5.(c) G.S. 163-278.14(b) reads as rewritten: 9
"(b) No entity shall make, and no candidate, committee or treasurer shall accept, any 10
monetary contribution in excess of fifty dollars ($50.00) one hundred dollars ($100.00) unless 11
such contribution is in the form of a check, draft, money order, credit card charge, debit, or other 12
noncash method that can be subject to written verification. No contribution in the form of check, 13
draft, money order, credit card charge, debits, or other noncash method may be made or accepted 14
unless it contains a specific designation of the intended contributee chosen by the contributor. 15
The State Board may prescribe guidelines as to th e reporting and verification of any method of 16
contribution payment allowed under this Article. For contributions by money order, the State 17
Board of Elections shall prescribe methods to ensure an audit trail for every contribution so that 18
the identity of th e contributor can be determined. For a contribution made by credit card, the 19
credit card account number of a contributor is not a public record." 20
SECTION 5.5.(d) This section becomes effective January 1, 2027, and applies to 21
monetary contributions and expenditures made, reported, or accepted on or after that date. 22
23
PART VI. REQUIRE USE OF FEDERAL DECENNIA L CENSUS DATA WHEN 24
ESTABLISHING DISTRICT BOUNDARIES 25
SECTION 6.(a) G.S. 153A-22 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 26
"(h) In establishing district boundaries, the board of commissioners shall use data derived 27
from the most recent federal decennial census and shall not use any other population estimates." 28
SECTION 6.(b) G.S. 160A-23 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 29
"§ 160A-23. District map; reapportionment. 30
(a) If the city is divided into electoral districts for the purpose of electing the members of 31
the council, the map or description required by G.S. 160A-22 shall also show the boundaries of 32
the several districts. 33
(b) The council shall have authority to revise electoral district boundaries from time to 34
time. If district boundaries are set out in the city charter and the charter does not provide a method 35
for revising them, the council may revise them only for the purpose of (i) accounting for territory 36
annexed to or excluded from the city, and (ii) correcting population imbalances among the 37
districts shown by a new federal decennial census or caused by exclusions or annexations. When 38
district boundaries have been established in conformity with the federal Constitution, the council 39
shall not be required to revise them again until a new federal decennial census of population is 40
taken or territory is annexed to or excluded from the city, whichever event first occurs. 41
(c) In establishing district boundaries, the council may shall use data derived from the 42
most recent federal decennial census and shall not be required to use any other population 43
estimates." 44
SECTION 6.(c) G.S. 115C-37(i) reads as rewritten: 45
"(i) The local board of education shall revise electoral district boundaries from time to 46
time as provided by this subsection. If district boundaries are set by local act or court order and 47
the act or order does not provide a method for revising them, the local boar d of education shall 48
revise them only for the purpose of (i) accounting for territory annexed to or excluded from the 49
school administrative unit, and (ii) correcting population imbalances among the districts shown 50
by a new federal decennial census or cause d by exclusions or annexations. After the General 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 36 House Bill 958-Sixth Edition
Assembly has ratified an act establishing district boundaries, the local board of education shall 1
not revise them again until a new federal decennial census of population is taken or territory is 2
annexed to or excluded from the school administrative unit, whichever event first occurs. After 3
the local board of education has revised district boundaries in conformity with this act, 4
subsection, the local board of education shall not revise them again until a new federal decennial 5
census of population is taken or territory is annexed to or excluded from the school administrative 6
unit, whichever event occurs first, except that the board may make an earlier rev ision of district 7
boundaries it has drawn if it must do so to comply with a court order or to gain approval of a 8
district-revision plan by the U.S. Justice Department under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act. 9
In establishing district boundaries, the local board of education shall use data derived from the 10
most recent federal census.decennial census and shall not use any other population estimates." 11
SECTION 6.(d) This section is effective when it becomes law and applies to the 12
establishment of district boundaries by a county, city, or local board of education on or after that 13
date. 14
15
PART VII. SIGNATURE VERIFICATION STUDY 16
SECTION 7.(a) The State Board of Elections shall study and report on the 17
feasibility, costs, and technical considerations of using signatu re verification technology. The 18
State Board of Elections may seek feedback from other stakeholders, including the county boards 19
of elections, and the study shall evaluate all of the following: 20
(1) The use of signature verification software in other states for the purposes of 21
voter registration, absentee ballot signatures, and other uses in elections 22
administration. This may include information about error rates in other states 23
across potential vendors, any discontinuation of vendor contracts in other 24
states, and any cost-saving measures implemented by other states. 25
(2) The cost and logistics of implementing a signature verification component for 26
absentee ballot verification, including any training requirements, equipment 27
needs, or costs incurred by county boards of elections. 28
(3) Any foreseen challenges related to voter signature retention under the current 29
elections management infrastructure and possible technology solutions to 30
minimize error rates under a statewide signature verification program. 31
SECTION 7.(b) The State Board of Elections shall report its findings, including any 32
recommendations or proposed legislation, to the Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee 33
on or before May 1, 2027. 34
35
PART VIII. TRAINING FOR COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS 36
SECTION 8.1. The School of Government at the University of North Carolina at 37
Chapel Hill shall work jointly with the State Board of Elections to develop a uniform curriculum 38
to provide trainings for county directors of elections and employees of county boards of elections 39
on the election laws and procedures as provided for in Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. 40
SECTION 8.2. The State Board of Elections shall partner with local community 41
colleges to provide a location in which any training conducted by the State Board of Elections or 42
a county board of elections may be held. 43
44
PART IX. SEVERABILITY CLAUSE 45
SECTION 9. If any provision of this act or its application to any person, group of 46
persons, or circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect othe r provisions or 47
applications of this act that can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application and, 48
to this end, the provisions of this act are severable. 49
50
PART X. EFFECTIVE DATE 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
House Bill 958-Sixth Edition Page 37
SECTION 10. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 1
law. 2