Automatic Voter Registration.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 457

Short Title: Automatic Voter Registration. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Meyer, Chitlik, and Batch (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 25, 2025
*S457-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FO R AUTOMATIC VOTER RE GISTRATION AT DRIVER S 2
LICENSE OFFICES, PUB LIC AGENCIES, COMMUN ITY COLLEGES, AND 3
COLLEGES AND UNIVERS ITIES OF THE UNIVERS ITY OF NORTH CAROLIN A 4
AND TO REQUIRE THE S TATE BOARD OF ELECTI ONS TO IMPLEMENT AN 5
OUTREACH CAMPAIGN IN FORMING CITIZENS ABO UT AUTOMATIC VOTER 6
REGISTRATION. 7
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 8
SECTION 1. G.S. 163-82.3 reads as rewritten: 9
"§ 163-82.3. Voter registration application forms.forms; automatic voter registration at 10
certain agencies. 11
(a) Form Developed by State Board of Elections. – The State Board of Elections shall 12
develop an application form for voter registration. Any person may use the form to apply to do 13
any of the following: 14
… 15
(c) Agency Application Form. Application. – The county board of elections where an 16
applicant resides shall accept as application for any of the purposes set out in subsection (a) of 17
this section a form automatic voter registration developed pursuant to G.S. 163-82.19 or 18
G.S. 163-82.20." 19
SECTION 2. G.S. 163-82.6 reads as rewritten: 20
"§ 163-82.6. Acceptance of application forms. 21
(a) How the Form May Be Submitted. – The county board of elections shall accept any 22
form described in G.S. 163-82.3 if the applicant submits the form by mail, facsimile transmission, 23
transmission of a scanned document, or in person. person or by automatic voter registration 24
pursuant to G.S. 115D-5, 116 -11, 163-82.19, or 163-82.20. The applicant may delegate the 25
submission of the form to another person. Any person who communicates to an applicant 26
acceptance of that delegation shall deliver that form so that it is received by the appropriate 27
county board of elections in time to satisf y the registration deadline in subdivision (1) or (2) of 28
subsection (d) of this section for the next election. It shall be a Class 2 misdemeanor for any 29
person to communicate to the applicant acceptance of that delegation and then fail to make a 30
good faith effort to deliver the form so that it is received by the county board of elections in time 31
to satisfy the registration deadline in subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (d) of this section for 32
the next election. It shall be an affirmative defense to a char ge of failing to make a good faith 33
effort to deliver a delegated form by the registration deadline that the delegatee informed the 34
applicant that the form would not likely be delivered in time for the applicant to vote in the next 35
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 457-First Edition
election. It shall be a C lass 2 misdemeanor for any person to sell or attempt to sell a completed 1
voter registration form or to condition its delivery upon payment. 2
… 3
(d) Registration Deadlines for a Primary or Election. – In order to be valid for a primary 4
or election, the form:form must comply with one of the following: 5
(1) If submitted by mail, must be postmarked at least 25 days before the primary 6
or election, except that any mailed application on which the postmark is 7
missing or unclear is validly submitted if received in the mail not later than 20 8
days before the primary or election,election. 9
(2) If submitted in person, by facsimile transmission, or by transmission of a 10
scanned document, or by automatic voter registration, must be received by the 11
county board of elections by a time established by that board, but no earlier 12
than 5:00 P.M., on the twenty-fifth day before the primary or election,election. 13
(3) If submitted through a delegatee who violates the duty set forth in subsection 14
(a) of this section, must be signed by the applicant and given to the delegatee 15
not later than 25 days before the primary or election, except as provided in 16
subsection (f) of this section. 17
…." 18
SECTION 3. G.S. 163-82.19 reads as rewritten: 19
"§ 163-82.19. Voter Automatic voter registration at drivers license offices; coordination on 20
data interface. 21
(a) Automatic Voter Registration at Drivers License Offices. – The Beginning January 1, 22
2026, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall, pursuant to the rules adopted by in consultation with 23
the State Board of Elections, modify its forms so that implement a method by which any eligible 24
person who applies for original issuance, renewal or correction of a drivers license, or special 25
identification card issued under G.S. 20-37.7 may, on a part of the form, complete an application 26
to register shall be automatically registered to vote, or able to update the voter's registration if 27
the voter has changed his or her address or moved from one precinct to another or from one 28
county to another. The person taking the application shall ask if the applicant is a citizen of the 29
United States. If the applicant states that the applicant is not a citizen of the United States, or 30
declines to answer the question, the person taking the application shall inform the applicant that 31
it is a felony for a person who is not a citizen of the United States to apply to register to vote. The 32
application shall state in clear language the penalty for violation of this section. The necessary 33
forms shall be prescribed by the State Board of Elections. The form must ask for the previous 34
voter registration address of the voter, if any. If a previous address is listed, and it is not in the 35
county of residence of the applicant, the appropriate county board of elections shall treat the 36
application as an authorization to cancel the previous registration and also process it as such 37
under the procedures of G.S. 163-82.9. If a previous address is listed and that address is in the 38
county where the voter applies to register, the application shal l be processed as if it had been 39
submitted under G.S. 163-82.9.inform the applicant of the following: 40
(1) That the applicant shall be registered to vote or have the applicant 's voter 41
registration record updated, as applicable, unless the applicant declines. 42
(2) The qualifications to vote under G.S. 163-55. 43
(3) That the applicant should not register if the applicant does not meet the 44
qualifications described under subdivision (2) of this subsection. 45
(4) That any person who willfully and knowingly and with fraudulent intent gives 46
false information on the application is guilty of a Class I felony. 47
(5) That if the applicant declines to register to vote, the fact that the applicant has 48
declined to register will remain confidential and be used for voter registration 49
purposes only. 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 457-First Edition Page 3
(6) Information regarding the address confidentiality program under Chapter 15C 1
of the General Statutes, including how to register for the program and how 2
voter registration may impact participation in the program. 3
(a1) Requirements. – If the applicant does not decline voter registration, the person taking 4
the application shall require the applicant to provide all information requested of the applicant 5
under G.S. 163-82.4, including declaring a preference to be affiliated with a political party or a 6
preference to be an unaffiliated voter. If the applicant fails to declare a political party affiliation, 7
the applicant's political affiliation shall be designated as unaffiliated. The applicant shall provide 8
an electronic signature as required under G.S. 163-82.6(c), subject to the penalty of perjury, by 9
which the applicant attests that the information provided by the applicant is true and that the 10
applicant meets all qualifications to become a registered voter. 11
(a2) When Registration Effective. – Registration shall become effective as provided in 12
G.S. 163-82.7. Applications to register to vote accepted at a drivers license office under this 13
section until the deadline established in G.S. 163-82.6(d)(2) shall be treated as t imely made for 14
an election, and no person who completes an application at that drivers license office shall be 15
denied the vote in that election for failure to apply earlier than that deadline. 16
(a3) All applications shall be forwarded by the Transmittal fro m Department of 17
Transportation to Board of Elections. – The Department of Transportation shall electronically 18
transmit the applications of applicants who have not declined voter registration to the appropriate 19
board of elections not later than five business days after the date of acceptance, according to rules 20
which shall be promulgated by the State Board of Elections. Board. Those rules shall provide for 21
a paperless, instant, electronic transfer of applications to the appropriate board of elections. 22
(a4) Confidentiality of Declination to Register. – No information relating to a declination 23
to register to vote in connection with a voter registration application at a Division of Motor 24
Vehicles office may be used for any purpose other than voter registration. The State Board shall 25
ensure that information acquired for purposes of automatic voter registration under this section 26
is kept confidential in accordance with G.S. 163-82.4(c), including compliance with any voter 27
registration requirements under G.S. 163-82.10. 28
(b) Any Ineligible Applications Prohibited. – If a person who is ineligible to vote 29
becomes registered to vote pursuant to this section, the presumption shall be that the person 's 30
registration is deemed officially authorized and shall not be attributed to any fault of the person. 31
However, any person who willfully and knowingly and with fraudulent intent gives false 32
information on the application described under this section is guilty of a Class I felony. 33
… 34
(d) No Requirement to Determine Eligibility. – Nothing in this section shall be construed 35
as requiring the Department of Transportation to determine eligibility for voter registration and 36
voting." 37
SECTION 4. G.S. 163-82.20 reads as rewritten: 38
"§ 163 -82.20. Voter registration at other public agencies.agencies; automatic voter 39
registration. 40
(a) Voter Registration Agencies. – Every office in this State which accepts: 41
… 42
(b) Duties of Voter Registration Agencies. – A Agencies; Automatic Voter Registration 43
Information. – Beginning January 1, 202 7, a voter registration agency described in subsection 44
(a) of this section shall, unless the applicant declines, in writing, to register to vote:in consultation 45
with the State Board, provide, with each application for service or assistance, and with each 46
recertification, renewal, or change of address relating to such service or assistance, an application 47
process for aut omatic voter registration. The person taking the application shall inform the 48
applicant of the following: 49
(1) Distribute with each application fo r service or assistance, and with each 50
recertification, renewal, or change of address relating to such service or 51
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 4 Senate Bill 457-First Edition
assistance:That the applicant shall be registered to vote or have the applicant's 1
voter registration record updated, as applicable, unless the applicant declines. 2
a. The voter registration application form described in G.S. 163-82.3(a) 3
or (b); or 4
b. The voter registration agency's own form, if it is substantially 5
equivalent to the form described in G.S. 163-82.3(a) or (b) and has 6
been approved b y the State Board of Elections, provided that the 7
agency's own form may be a detachable part of the agency's paper 8
application or may be a paperless computer process, as long as the 9
applicant is required to sign an attestation as part of the application to 10
register. 11
(2) Provide a form that contains the elements required by section 7(a)(6)(B) of 12
the National Voter Registration Act; and The qualifications to vote under 13
G.S. 163-55. 14
(3) Provide to each applicant who does not decline to register to vote the same 15
degree of assistance with regard to the completion of the registration 16
application as is provided by the office with regard to the completion of its 17
own forms.That the applicant should not register if the applicant does not meet 18
the qualifications described under subdivision (2) of this subsection. 19
(4) That any person who willfully and knowingly and with fraudulent intent gives 20
false information on the application is guilty of a Class I felony. 21
(5) That if the applicant declines to register to vote, the fact that the applicant has 22
declined to register will remain confidential and be used for voter registration 23
purposes only. 24
(6) Information regarding the address confidentiality program under Chapter 15C 25
of the General Statutes, including how to register for the program and how 26
voter registration may impact participation in the program. 27
(b1) Requirements. – If the applicant does not decline voter registration, the person taking 28
the application shall require the applicant to provide all information requested o f the applicant 29
under G.S. 163-82.4, including declaring a preference to be affiliated with a political party or a 30
preference to be an unaffiliated voter. If the applicant fails to declare a political party affiliation, 31
the applicant's political affiliation shall be designated as unaffiliated. The applicant shall provide 32
an electronic signature as required under G.S. 163-82.6(c), subject to the penalty of perjury, by 33
which the applicant attests that the information provided by the applicant is true and that the 34
applicant meets all qualifications to become a registered voter. 35
(c) Employment Security Law Applicants. – Provided that voter registration agencies 36
designated under subdivision (a)(3) of this section shall only be required to provide the services 37
set out in this subsection to applicants for new claims, reopened claims, and changes of address 38
under Chapter 96 of the General Statutes, the Employment Security Law. 39
(d) Home Registration for Disabled. – If a voter registration agency provides services to 40
a person with disability at the person's home, the voter registration agency shall provide the 41
services described in subsection (b) of this section at the person's home. However, the agency is 42
not required to provide automatic voter registration at the person's home. 43
… 44
(f) Confidentiality of Declination to Register. – No information relating to a declination 45
to register to vote in connection with an application made at a voter registration agency may be 46
used for any purpose other than voter registration. The State Board shall ensure that information 47
acquired for purposes of automatic voter registration under this section is kept confidential in 48
accordance with G.S. 163-82.4(c), including compliance with any voter registration requirements 49
under G.S. 163-82.10. 50
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Senate Bill 457-First Edition Page 5
(g) Transmittal From Agency to Board of Elections. – Any voter registration application 1
completed at a voter registration agency shall be accepted by that agency in lieu of the applicant's 2
mailing the application. Any such application so received shall be transmitted The agency shall 3
electronically transmit the applications of applicants who did not decline voter registration to the 4
appropriate board of elections not later than five business days after acceptance, according to 5
rules which shall be promulgated by the State Board of Elections. 6
… 7
(i) Ineligible Applications Prohibited. – No person shall make application to register to 8
vote under this section if that person is ineligible on account of age, citizenship, lack of residence 9
for the period of time provided by law, or because of conviction of a felony. However, if a person 10
who is ineligible to vote becomes registered to vote pursuant to this section, the presumption 11
shall be that the person 's registration is deemed officially authorized and shall not be attributed 12
to any fault of the person. 13
(j) No Requirement to Determine Eligibility. – Nothing in this section shall be construed 14
as requiring agencies to determine eligibility for voter registration and voting." 15
SECTION 5.(a) G.S. 163-82.20A reads as rewritten: 16
"§ 163-82.20A. Voter registration upon restoration of citizenship. 17
The State Board of Elections, the Division of Prisons of the Department of Adult Correction, 18
and the Administrative Office of the Courts shall jointly develop and implement e ducational 19
programs and procedures for persons to apply to register to vote at the time they are restored to 20
citizenship and all filings required have been completed under Chapter 13 of the General Statutes. 21
Those procedures shall be designed to do both of the following: 22
(1) Inform the person that the restoration of rights removes the person's 23
disqualification from voting, but that in order to vote the person must register 24
to vote.vote, including informing the person of automatic voter registration in 25
accordance with G.S. 163-82.19. 26
(2) Provide an opportunity to that person to register to vote. 27
At a minimum, the program shall include a written notice to the person whose citizenship has 28
been restored, informing that person that the person may now register to vote, with a voter 29
registration form enclosed with the notice." 30
SECTION 5.(b) G.S. 163-82.20A, as amended by subsection (a) of this section, 31
reads as rewritten: 32
"§ 163-82.20A. Voter registration upon restoration of citizenship. 33
The State Board of Elections, the Division of Prisons of the Department of Adult Correction, 34
and the Administrative Office of the Courts shall jointly develop and implement educational 35
programs and procedures for persons to apply to register to vote at the time they are restored to 36
citizenship and all filings required have been completed under Chapter 13 of the General Statutes. 37
Those procedures shall be designed to do both of the following: 38
(1) Inform the person that the restoration of rights removes the person's 39
disqualification from voting, but that in order to vote the person must register 40
to vote, including informing the person of automatic voter registration in 41
accordance with G.S. 163-82.19.G.S. 115D-5, 116 -11, 163-82.19, or 42
163-82.20. 43
(2) Provide an opportunity to that person to register to vote. 44
At a minimum, the program shall include a written notice to the person whose citizenship has 45
been restored, informing that person that the person may now register to vote, with a voter 46
registration form enclosed with the notice." 47
SECTION 5.(c) Subsection (a) of this section becomes effective January 1, 2026. 48
Subsection (b) of this section becomes effective January 1, 2027. 49
SECTION 6. G.S. 115D-5 reads as rewritten: 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 6 Senate Bill 457-First Edition
"§ 115D -5. Administration of institutions by State Board of Communit y Colleges; 1
personnel exempt from North Carolina Human Resources Act; extension 2
courses; tuition waiver; in -plant training; contracting, etc., for establishment 3
and operation of extension units of the community college system; use of existing 4
public school facilities.facilities; automatic voter registration. 5
(a) The State Board of Community Colleges may adopt and execute such policies, 6
regulations and standards concerning the establishment, administration, and operation of 7
institutions as the State Board may deem necessary to insure the quality of educational programs, 8
to promote the systematic meeting of educational needs of the State, and to provide for the 9
equitable distribution of State and federal funds to the several institutions. 10
… 11
(aa) Automatic Vo ter Registration. – Beginning January 1, 20 27, the State Board of 12
Community Colleges, in consultation with the State Board of Elections, shall provide each person 13
who is enrolled and registering for courses as a student in a State community college the option 14
for automatic voter registration as follows: 15
(1) Information provided to student. – In providing an automatic voter registration 16
application process, the person taking the application shall inform the student 17
of the following: 18
a. That the student shall be registered to vote or have the student's voter 19
registration record updated, as applicable, unless the student declines. 20
b. The qualifications to vote under G.S. 163-55. 21
c. That the student should not register if the student does not meet the 22
qualifications described under sub-subdivision b. of this subdivision. 23
d. That any person who willfully and knowingly and with fraudulent 24
intent gives false information on the application is guilty of a Class I 25
felony. 26
e. That if the student declines to register to vote, the fact that the student 27
has declined to register will remain confidential and be used for voter 28
registration purposes only. 29
f. Information regarding the address confidentiality program under 30
Chapter 15C of the General Statutes, including how to register for the 31
program and how voter registration may impact participation in the 32
program. 33
(2) Requirements. – If the student does not decline voter registration, the person 34
taking the application shall require the student to provide all information 35
requested of the student under G.S. 163-82.4, including declaring a preference 36
to be affiliated with a political party or a preference to be an unaffiliated voter. 37
If the student fails to declare a political party affiliation, the student's political 38
affiliation shall be designated as unaffiliated. The student shall provide an 39
electronic signature as required under G.S. 163-82.6(c), subject to the penalty 40
of perjury, by which the student attests that the information provided by the 41
student is true and the student meets all qualifications to become a registered 42
voter. 43
(3) Confidentiality of declination to register. – No information relating to a 44
declination to register to vote in connection with an application made at a State 45
community college may be used for any purpose other than voter registration. 46
The State Board shall ensure that information acquired for purposes of 47
automatic voter registration under this section is kept confidential in 48
accordance with G.S. 163-82.4, inclu ding compliance with any voter 49
registration requirements under G.S. 163-82.10. 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Senate Bill 457-First Edition Page 7
(4) Transmittal from State community college to board of elections. – The State 1
community college shall electronically transmit the applications of students 2
who did not decline voter registration to the appropriate board of elections not 3
later than five business days after acceptance, according to rules which shall 4
be promulgated by the State Board. 5
(5) Twenty-five–day deadline for an election. – Applications to register accepted 6
by a State community college shall entitle a registrant to vote in any primary, 7
general, or special election unless the registrant shall have made application 8
later than the twenty-fifth calendar day immediately preceding the primary, 9
general, or special election, provided that nothing shall prohibit State 10
community colleges from continuing to accept applications during that period. 11
(6) Ineligible applications prohibited. – No person shall make application to 12
register to vote under this subsection if that person is ineligible because of age, 13
citizenship, lack of residence for the period of time provided by law, or 14
conviction of a felony. However, if a person who is ineligible to vote becomes 15
registered to vote pursuant to this subsection, the presumption shall be that the 16
person's registration is deemed officially authorized and shall not be attributed 17
to any fault of the person. 18
(7) No requirement to determine eligibility. – Nothing in this subsection shall be 19
construed as requiring State community colleges to determine eligibility for 20
voter registration and voting." 21
SECTION 7. G.S. 116-11 reads as rewritten: 22
"§ 116-11. Powers and duties generally. 23
The powers and duties of the Board of Governors shall include the following: 24
… 25
(15) Automatic voter registration. – Beginning January 1, 20 27, the Board of 26
Governors, in consultation with the State Board of Elections, shall provide 27
each person who is enrolled and registering for courses as a student in a State 28
college or university in The University of North Carolina System the option 29
for automatic voter registration as follows: 30
a. Information provided to student. – In providing an automatic voter 31
registration application process, the person taking the application shall 32
inform the student of the following: 33
1. That the student shall be registered to vote or have the student's 34
voter registration record updated, as applica ble, unless the 35
student declines. 36
2. The qualifications to vote under G.S. 163-55. 37
3. That the student should not register if the student does not meet 38
the qualifications described under sub -sub-subdivision 2. of 39
this sub-subdivision. 40
4. That any person who willfully and knowingly and with 41
fraudulent intent gives false information on the application is 42
guilty of a Class I felony. 43
5. That if the student declines to register to vote, the fact that the 44
student has declined to register will remain confidential and be 45
used for voter registration purposes only. 46
6. Information regarding the address confidentiality program 47
under Chapter 15C of the General Statutes, including how to 48
register for the program and how voter registration may impact 49
participation in the program. 50
General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 8 Senate Bill 457-First Edition
b. Requirements. – If the student does not decline voter registration, the 1
person taking the application shall require the student to provide all 2
information requested of the student under G.S. 163-82.4, including 3
declaring a preference to be affiliated with a political party or a 4
preference to be an unaffiliated voter. If the student fails to declare a 5
political party affiliation, the student's political affiliation shall be 6
designated as unaffiliated. The student s hall provide an electronic 7
signature as required under G.S. 163-82.6(c), subject to the penalty of 8
perjury, by which the student attests that the information provided by 9
the student is true and the student meets all qualifications to become a 10
registered voter. 11
c. Confidentiality of declination to register. – No information relating to 12
a declination to register to vote in connection with an application made 13
at a State college or university in The University of North Carolina 14
System may be used for any purpose other than voter registration. The 15
State Board shall ensure that information acquired for purposes of 16
automatic voter registration under this section is kept confidential in 17
accordance with G.S. 163-82.4, including compliance wi th any voter 18
registration requirements under G.S. 163-82.10. 19
d. Transmittal from State college or university to board of elections. – 20
The State college or university in The University of North Carolina 21
System shall electronically transmit the applications of students who 22
did not decline voter registration to the appropriate board of elections 23
not later than five business days after acceptance, according to rules 24
which shall be promulgated by the State Board. 25
e. Twenty-five–day deadline for an election. – Applications to register 26
accepted by a State college or university in The University of North 27
Carolina System shall entitle a registrant to vote in any primary, 28
general, or special election unless the registrant shall have made 29
application later than the twenty-fifth calendar day immediately 30
preceding the primary, general, or special election, provided that 31
nothing shall prohibit State colleges or universities in The University 32
of North Carolina System from continuing to accept applications 33
during that period. 34
f. Ineligible applications prohibited. – No person shall make application 35
to register to vote under this subdivision if that person is ineligible 36
because of age, citizenship, lack of residence for the period of time 37
provided by law, or conviction of a felony. However, if a person who 38
is ineligible to vote becomes registered to vote pursuant to this 39
subdivision, the presumption shall be that the person 's registration is 40
deemed officially authorized and shall not be attributed to any fault of 41
the person. 42
g. No requirement to determine eligibility. – Nothing in this subdivision 43
shall be construed as requiring State colleges or universities in The 44
University of North Carolina System to determine eligibility for voter 45
registration and voting." 46
SECTION 8. The State Board of Elections shall establish and implement an 47
education and outreach campaign to inform voters of the automatic voter registration procedures 48
established pursuant to this act. 49
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SECTION 9. Sections 1 through 3 of this act become effective January 1, 2026. 1
Sections 4, 6, and 7 of this act become effective January 1, 2027. Except as otherwise provided, 2
the remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law. 3