KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to North Carolina

S398 • 2025

Prohibit Weapons at Voting Place.

Prohibit Weapons at Voting Place.

Elections Firearms
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Mayfield, Applewhite, Chaudhuri, Garrett, Grafstein, Mohammed, Murdock, Salvador, Smith, Theodros, Waddell
Last action
2025-03-25
Official status
Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Prohibit Weapons at Voting Place.

Prohibit Weapons at Voting Place.

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibit Weapons at Voting Place.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-03-25 Senate

    Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate

  2. 2025-03-25 Senate

    Passed 1st Reading

  3. 2025-03-24 Senate

    Filed

Official Summary Text

Prohibit Weapons at Voting Place.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 398

Short Title: Prohibit Weapons at Voting Place. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Mayfield (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 25, 2025
*S398-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE POSSESSION OR CARRYING OF A DANGEROUS WEAPON 2
AT OR WITHIN A CERTAIN DISTANCE OF A VOTING PLACE. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. Article 35 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding 5
a new section to read: 6
"§ 14-269.5. Weapons at voting place. 7
(a) Definition. – For purposes of this section, the term (i) "dangerous weapon " is as 8
defined in G.S. 14-277.2 and (ii) "voting place" is as defined in G.S. 163-165. 9
(b) Prohibition. – Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, it shall be 10
unlawful for any person to possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, any dangerous weapon 11
(i) at a location used as a voting place, (ii) within 100 feet from the door of entrance to a location 12
used as a voting place, or (iii) while in line to vote at a location used as a voting place . The 13
prohibition set forth in this subsection only applies while the location is open and being used as 14
a voting place. 15
(c) Punishment. – Any person who violates the prohibition set forth in subsection (b) of 16
this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. 17
(d) Exception. – The prohibition in subsection (b) of this section does not apply to a law 18
enforcement officer acting in discharge of the officer's official duties." 19
SECTION 2. This act becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to offenses 20
committed on or after that date. 21