reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.4 - Role of State Board of Elections.

§ 163-258.4. Role of State Board of Elections.
(a) The State Board of Elections is the State official responsible for implementing this Article and the State's responsibilities under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1973ff, et seq.
(b) The State Board of Elections shall make available to covered voters information regarding voter registration procedures for covered voters and procedures for casting military-overseas ballots. The State Board of Elections may delegate the responsibility under this subsection only to the State office designated in compliance with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, section 102(b)(1), 42 U.S.C. § 1973ff-1(b)(1).
(c) The State Board of Elections shall establish an electronic transmission system through which covered voters may apply for and receive voter registration materials, military-overseas ballots, and other information under this Article.
(d) The State Board of Elections shall develop standardized absentee-voting materials, including privacy and transmission envelopes and their electronic equivalents, authentication materials, and voting instructions, to be used with the military-overseas ballot of a voter authorized to vote in any jurisdiction in this State, and, to the extent reasonably possible, shall do so in coordination with other states.
(e) The State Board of Elections shall prescribe the form and content of a declaration for use by a covered voter to swear or affirm specific representations pertaining to the voter's identity, eligibility to vote, status as a covered voter, and timely and proper completion of an overseas-military ballot. The declaration shall be based on the declaration prescribed to accompany a federal write-in absentee ballot under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, section 103, 42 U.S.C. § 1973ff-2, as modified to be consistent with this Article. The State Board of Elections shall ensure that a form for the execution of the declaration, including an indication of the date of execution of the declaration, is a prominent part of all balloting materials for which the declaration is required. (2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.5 - Overseas voter's registration address.

§ 163-258.5. Overseas voter's registration address.
In registering to vote, an overseas voter who is eligible to vote in this State shall use and shall be assigned to the precinct of the address of the last place of residence of the voter in this State, or, in the case of a voter described by G.S. 163-258.2(1)e., the address of the last place of residence in this State of the parent or legal guardian of the voter. If that address is no longer a recognized residential address, the voter shall be assigned an address for voting purposes. (2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.6 - Methods of registering to vote.

§ 163-258.6. Methods of registering to vote.
(a) In addition to any other approved method for registering to vote, a covered voter may use a federal postcard application, as prescribed under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, section 101(b)(2), 42 U.S.C. § 1973ff(b)(2), or the application's electronic equivalent, to apply to register to vote.
(b) A covered voter may use the declaration accompanying the federal write-in absentee ballot, as prescribed under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, section 103, 42 U.S.C. § 1973ff-2, to apply to register to vote simultaneously with the submission of the federal write-in absentee ballot.
(c) The State Board of Elections shall ensure that the electronic transmission system described in G.S. 163-258.4(c) is capable of accepting both a federal postcard application and any other approved electronic registration application sent to the appropriate election official. The voter may use the electronic transmission system or any other approved method to register to vote.
(d) A covered voter's registration to vote by any method authorized by this section may be received at any time prior to the primary or election, but no later than 5:00 P.M. on the day before the primary or election. (2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.7 - Methods of applying for military-overseas ballot.

§ 163-258.7. Methods of applying for military-overseas ballot.
(a) A covered voter who is registered to vote in this State may apply for a military-overseas ballot using either the regular application provided by Article 20 of this Chapter or the federal postcard application, as prescribed under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, section 101(b)(2), 42 U.S.C. § 1973ff(b)(2), or the application's electronic equivalent.
(b) A covered voter who is not registered to vote in this State may use the federal postcard application or the application's electronic equivalent simultaneously to apply to register to vote under G.S. 163-258.6 and to apply for a military-overseas ballot.
(c) The State Board of Elections shall ensure that the electronic transmission system described in G.S. 163-258.4(c) is capable of accepting the submission of both a federal postcard application and any other approved electronic military-overseas ballot application sent to the appropriate election official. The voter may use the electronic transmission system or any other approved method to apply for a military-overseas ballot.
(d) A covered voter may use the declaration accompanying the federal write-in absentee ballot, as prescribed under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, section 103, 42 U.S.C. § 1973ff-2, as an application for a military-overseas ballot simultaneously with the submission of the federal write-in absentee ballot, if the declaration is received by the appropriate election official no later than 5:00 P.M. on the day before the election.
(e) To receive the benefits of this Article, a covered voter shall inform the appropriate election official that the voter is a covered voter. Methods of informing the appropriate election official that a voter is a covered voter include any of the following:
(1) The use of a federal postcard application or federal write-in absentee ballot.
(2) The use of an overseas address on an approved voter registration application or ballot application.
(3) The inclusion on an approved voter registration application or ballot application of other information sufficient to identify the voter as a covered voter.
(f) This Article does not preclude a covered voter from voting an absentee ballot under Article 20 of this Chapter. (2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.8 - Timeliness and scope of application for military-overseas ballot.

§ 163-258.8. Timeliness and scope of application for military-overseas ballot.
An application for a military-overseas ballot is timely if received by the appropriate election official by 5:00 P.M. of the day before the election or primary. An application from a covered voter for a military-overseas ballot shall be considered a valid absentee ballot request for any election covered under G.S. 163-258.3 held during the calendar year in which the application was received. (2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.9 - Transmission of unvoted ballots.

§ 163-258.9. Transmission of unvoted ballots.
(a) Not later than 60 days before the statewide general election in even-numbered years and not later than 50 days before any other election, the county board of elections shall transmit a ballot and balloting materials to all covered voters who by that date submit a valid military-overseas ballot application, except for a second primary. Provided, in a presidential election year, the board of elections shall provide general election ballots no later than three days after nomination of the presidential and vice presidential candidates if that nomination occurs later than 63 days prior to the statewide general election and makes compliance with the 60-day deadline impossible. However, in the case of municipal elections, absentee ballots shall be made available no later than 30 days before an election. For a second primary which includes a candidate for federal office, the county board of elections shall transmit a ballot and balloting material to all covered voters who by that date submit a valid military-overseas ballot application no later than 45 days before the second primary. For a second primary which does not include a candidate for federal office, the transmission of the ballot and ballot materials shall be as soon as practicable and shall be transmitted electronically no later than three business days and by mail no later than 15 days from the date the appropriate board of elections orders that the second primary be held pursuant to G.S. 163-111. If additional offices are added to the ballot to fill a vacancy occurring after the deadline provided by this subsection, those ballots shall be transmitted as soon as practicable.
(b) A covered voter who requests that a ballot and balloting materials be sent to the voter by electronic transmission may choose facsimile transmission or electronic mail delivery, or, if offered by the voter's jurisdiction, Internet delivery. The election official in each jurisdiction charged with distributing a ballot and balloting materials shall transmit the ballot and balloting materials to the voter using the means of transmission chosen by the voter.
(c) If a ballot application from a covered voter arrives after the jurisdiction begins transmitting ballots and balloting materials to voters, the official charged with distributing a ballot and balloting materials shall transmit them to the voter not later than two business days after the application arrives. (2011-182, s. 1; 2013-381, s. 17(b); 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.10 - Timely casting of ballot.

§ 163-258.10. Timely casting of ballot.
To be valid, a military-overseas ballot shall either be received by the appropriate county board of elections no later than the close of the polls, or the covered voter shall submit the ballot for mailing, electronic transmission, or other authorized means of delivery not later than 12:01 A.M., at the place where the voter completes the ballot, on the date of the election. (2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.11 - Federal write-in absentee ballot.

§ 163-258.11. Federal write-in absentee ballot.
A covered voter may use the federal write-in absentee ballot, in accordance with the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, section 103, 42 U.S.C. § 1973ff-2, to vote for all offices and ballot measures in a covered election. (2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.12 - Receipt of voted ballot.

§ 163-258.12. Receipt of voted ballot.
(a) A valid military-overseas ballot cast in accordance with G.S. 163-258.10 shall be counted if it is delivered to the address that the appropriate State or local election office has specified by the end of business on the business day before the canvass conducted by the county board of elections held pursuant to G.S. 163-182.5 to determine the final official results.
(b) If the ballot is timely received, it may not be rejected on the basis that it has a late postmark, an unreadable postmark, or no postmark. (2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.13 - Declaration.

§ 163-258.13. Declaration.
Each military-overseas ballot shall include or be accompanied by a declaration signed by the voter declaring that a material misstatement of fact in completing the document may be grounds for a conviction of perjury under the laws of the United States or this State. (2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.14 - Confirmation of receipt of application and voted ballot.

§ 163-258.14. Confirmation of receipt of application and voted ballot.
The State Board of Elections, in coordination with local election officials, shall implement an electronic free access system by which a covered voter may determine by telephone, electronic mail, or Internet whether:
(1) The voter's federal postcard application or other registration or military-overseas ballot application has been received and accepted; and
(2) The voter's military-overseas ballot has been received and the current status of the ballot. (2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.15 - Use of voter's electronic mail address.

§ 163-258.15. Use of voter's electronic mail address.
(a) The county board of elections shall request an electronic mail address from each covered voter who registers to vote after January 1, 2012. An electronic mail address provided by a covered voter is not a public record under Chapter 132 of the General Statutes. The address may be used only for official communication with the voter about the voting process, including transmitting military-overseas ballots and election materials if the voter has requested electronic transmission, and verifying the voter's mailing address and physical location, as needed. The request for an electronic mail address shall describe the purposes for which the electronic mail address may be used and include a statement that any other use or disclosure of the electronic mail address is prohibited.
(b) A covered voter who provides an electronic mail address may request that the voter's application for a military-overseas ballot be considered a standing request for electronic delivery of a ballot for all elections held through December 31 of the year following the calendar year of the date of the application or another shorter period the voter specifies, including for any runoff elections that occur as a result of such elections. An election official shall provide a military-overseas ballot to a voter who makes a request for each election to which the request is applicable. A covered voter entitled to receive a military-overseas ballot for a primary election under this subsection is also entitled to receive a military-overseas ballot for the general election. (2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.16 - Publication of election notice.

§ 163-258.16. Publication of election notice.
(a) Not later than 100 days before a regularly scheduled election to which this Part applies, and as soon as practicable in the case of an election or vacancy election not regularly scheduled, each county board of elections shall prepare an election notice for that jurisdiction to be used in conjunction with the federal write-in absentee ballot described in G.S. 163-258.11. For a second primary required by G.S. 163-111, the county board of elections shall prepare, no later than the day following the date the appropriate board of elections orders that a second primary be held, an election notice for that jurisdiction to be used in conjunction with the federal write-in absentee ballot. The election notice shall contain a list of all of the ballot measures and federal, State, and local offices that, as of that date, the official expects to be on the ballot on the date of the election. The notice also shall contain specific instructions for how a voter is to indicate on the federal write-in absentee ballot the voter's choice for each office to be filled and for each ballot measure to be contested.
(b) A covered voter may request a copy of an election notice. The official charged with preparing the election notice shall send the notice to the voter by facsimile, electronic mail, or regular mail, as the voter requests.
(c) As soon as ballot styles are printed, the county board of elections shall update the notice with the certified candidates for each office and ballot measure questions and make the updated notice publicly available.
(d) A county board of elections that maintains an Internet Web site shall make updated versions of its election notices regularly available on the Web site. (2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.17 - Prohibition of nonessential requirements.

§ 163-258.17. Prohibition of nonessential requirements.
(a) If a voter's mistake or omission in the completion of a document under this Article does not prevent determining whether a covered voter is eligible to vote, the mistake or omission does not invalidate the document. Failure to satisfy a nonessential requirement, such as using paper or envelopes of a specified size or weight, does not invalidate a document submitted under this Article. In any write-in ballot authorized by this Article or in any vote for a write-in candidate on a regular ballot, if the intention of the voter is discernable under this State's uniform definition of what constitutes a vote, as required by the Help America Vote Act, 42 U.S.C. § 15481(a)(6), an abbreviation, misspelling, or other minor variation in the form of the name of a candidate or a political party shall be accepted as a valid vote.
(b) An authentication, other than the declaration specified in G.S. 163-258.13 or the declaration on the federal postcard application and federal write-in absentee ballot, is not required for execution of a document under this Article. The declaration and any information in the declaration may be compared against information on file to ascertain the validity of the document. (2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.18 - Issuance of injunction or other equitable relief.

§ 163-258.18. Issuance of injunction or other equitable relief.
A court may issue an injunction or grant other equitable relief appropriate to ensure substantial compliance with, or enforce, this Article on application by:
(1) A covered voter alleging a grievance under this Article; or
(2) An election official in this State. (2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.19 - Uniformity of application and construction.

§ 163-258.19. Uniformity of application and construction.
In applying and construing this uniform act, consideration shall be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it. (2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.20 - Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.

§ 163-258.20. Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.
This Article modifies, limits, and supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001, et seq., but does not modify, limit, or supersede section 101(c) of that act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001(c), or authorize electronic delivery of any of the notices described in section 103(b) of that act, 15 U.S.C. § 7003(b). (2011-182, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.27 - Article inapplicable to persons after change of status; reregistration not required.

§ 163-258.27. Article inapplicable to persons after change of status; reregistration not required.
An individual who no longer qualifies as a covered voter under the provisions of this Article shall not be entitled subsequently to vote by military-overseas ballot under this Article, but if the covered voter was registered under the provisions of this Article that voter's registration shall remain valid for the remainder of the calendar year that voter registered, and that voter shall be entitled to vote in any primary or election for the remainder of the calendar year without having to reregister. If requested by election officials, the voter shall present proof of military status at the time of registration. This section does not entitle a person to vote in North Carolina if that person has become disqualified because of change of permanent residence to another State or because of conviction of a felony. (1943, c. 503, s. 12; 1967, c. 775, s. 1; 1999-424, s. 7(k); 2001-466, s. 4(e); 2011-182, s. 2; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.28 - Registration and voting on primary or election day.

§ 163-258.28. Registration and voting on primary or election day.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Chapter, an individual shall be permitted to register in person at any time the office of the board of elections or the voting place is open, including the day of a primary or election if that individual was absent on the day the registration records close for an election, but returns to that individual's county of residence in North Carolina thereafter, and if the absence is due to uniformed service as defined by G.S. 163-258.2.
If an individual so absent on the day registration closes shall appear in person at the voting place on election day and is otherwise eligible to vote, that individual shall be entitled to register and vote at the voting place that day, regardless of whether the person's uniformed service status has changed since the close of registration. (1977, c. 93; 1999-424, s. 7(l); 2001-353, s. 3; 2009-281, s. 1; 2011-182, s. 2; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.29 - Absentee voting at office of board of elections.

§ 163-258.29. Absentee voting at office of board of elections.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Chapter, any covered voter under this Article shall be permitted to vote an absentee ballot pursuant to G.S. 163-227.2, 163-227.5, and 163-227.6 if the covered voter has not already voted an absentee ballot which has been returned to the board of elections, and if the covered voter will not be in the county on the day of the primary or election.
In the event an absentee application or ballot has already been mailed to the covered voter applying to vote pursuant to G.S. 163-227.2, 163-227.5, and 163-227.6, the board of elections shall void the application and ballot unless the voted absentee ballot has been received by the board of elections. The covered voter shall be eligible to vote pursuant to G.S. 163-227.2, 163-227.5, and 163-227.6 no later than 5:00 P.M. on the day next preceding the primary, second primary or election. (1977, c. 93; 1979, c. 797, s. 4; 2011-182, s. 2; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-144, s. 3.4(l); 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.30 - Regulations of State Board of Elections.

§ 163-258.30. Regulations of State Board of Elections.
(a) The State Board of Elections shall adopt rules and regulations to carry out the intent and purpose of G.S. 163-258.28 and G.S. 163-258.29 and to ensure that a proper list of persons voting under said sections shall be maintained by the boards of elections, and to ensure proper registration records.
(b) The State Board of Elections shall be the single office responsible for providing information concerning voter registration and absentee voting procedures to be used by covered voters as to all elections and procedures relating to the use of federal write-in absentee ballots. Unless otherwise required by law, the State Board of Elections shall be responsible for maintaining contact and cooperation with the Federal Voting Assistance Program, the United States Department of Defense, and other federal entities that deal with military and overseas voting. The State Board of Elections shall, as needed, make recommendations concerning military and overseas citizen voting to the General Assembly, the Governor, and other State officials. (1977, c. 93; 1987, c. 827, s. 1; 2003-226, s. 18; 2011-182, s. 2; 2012-194, s. 37; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, ss. 3.1(a), (b), 4.5(g).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 21A - Uniform Military and Overseas Voters Act. › § 163-258.31 - Emergency powers.

§ 163-258.31. Emergency powers.
If an international, national, or local emergency or other situation arises that makes substantial compliance with this Article or the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act impossible or unreasonable, the State Board of Elections may prescribe, by emergency rule, such special procedures or requirements as may be necessary to facilitate absentee voting by those absent uniformed services voters or overseas voters directly affected who are eligible to vote in this State. The rule shall become effective when filed with the Codifier of Rules. (2009-537, s. 9; 2011-182, s. 2; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 22 - Corrupt Practices and Other Offenses Against the Elective Franchise. › § 163-271 - Intimidation of voters by officers made misdemeanor.

§ 163-271. Intimidation of voters by officers made misdemeanor.
It shall be unlawful for any person holding any office, position, or employment in the State government, or under and with any department, institution, bureau, board, commission, or other State agency, or under and with any county, city, town, district, or other political subdivision, directly or indirectly, to discharge, threaten to discharge, or cause to be discharged, or otherwise intimidate or oppress any other person in such employment on account of any vote such voter or any member of his family may cast, or consider or intend to cast, or not to cast, or which he may have failed to cast, or to seek or undertake to control any vote which any subordinate of such person may cast, or consider or intend to cast, or not to cast, by threat, intimidation, or declaration that the position, salary, or any part of the salary of such subordinate depends in any manner whatsoever, directly or indirectly, upon the way in which subordinate or any member of his family casts, or considers or intends to cast, or not to cast his vote, at any primary or election. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. (1933, c. 165, s. 25; 1967, c. 775, s. 1; 1987, c. 565, s. 11; 1993, c. 539, s. 1109; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 22 - Corrupt Practices and Other Offenses Against the Elective Franchise. › § 163-272.1 - Penalties for violation of this Chapter.

§ 163-272.1. Penalties for violation of this Chapter.
Whenever in this Chapter it is provided that a crime is a misdemeanor, the punishment shall be for a Class 2 misdemeanor. (1987, c. 565, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 1110; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 22 - Corrupt Practices and Other Offenses Against the Elective Franchise. › § 163-273 - Offenses of voters; interference with voters; penalty.

§ 163-273. Offenses of voters; interference with voters; penalty.
(a) Any person who shall, in connection with any primary or election in this State, do any of the acts and things declared in this section to be unlawful, shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. It shall be unlawful:
(1) For a voter, except as otherwise provided in this Chapter, to allow his ballot to be seen by any person.
(2) For a voter to take or remove, or attempt to take or remove, any ballot from the voting enclosure.
(3) For any person to interfere with, or attempt to interfere with, any voter when inside the voting enclosure.
(4) For any person to interfere with, or attempt to interfere with, any voter when marking his ballots.
(5) For any voter to remain longer than the specified time allowed by this Chapter in a voting booth, after being notified that his time has expired.
(6) For any person to endeavor to induce any voter, while within the voting enclosure, before depositing his ballots, to show how he marks or has marked his ballots.
(7) For any person to aid, or attempt to aid, any voter by means of any mechanical device, or any other means whatever, while within the voting enclosure, in marking his ballots.
(b) Election officers shall cause any person committing any of the offenses set forth in subsection (a) of this section to be arrested and shall cause charges to be preferred against the person so offending in a court of competent jurisdiction. (1929, c. 164, s. 29; 1967, c. 775, s. 1; 1987, c. 565, s. 12; 1993, c. 539, s. 1111; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 22 - Corrupt Practices and Other Offenses Against the Elective Franchise. › § 163-276 - Convicted officials; removal from office.

§ 163-276. Convicted officials; removal from office.
Any public official who shall be convicted of violating any provision of Article 14A or 22 of this Chapter, in addition to the punishment provided by law, shall be removed from office by the judge presiding, and, if the conviction is for a felony, shall be disqualified from voting until his citizenship is restored as provided by law. (1949, c. 504; 1967, c. 775, s. 1; 1985, c. 563, s. 11.3; 2002-159, s. 21(c); 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 22 - Corrupt Practices and Other Offenses Against the Elective Franchise. › § 163-277 - Compelling self-incriminating testimony; person so testifying excused from prosecution.

§ 163-277. Compelling self-incriminating testimony; person so testifying excused from prosecution.
No person shall be excused from attending or testifying or producing any books, papers or other documents before any court or magistrate upon any investigation, proceeding or trial for the violation of any of the provisions of this Article, upon the ground or for the reason that the testimony or evidence, documentary or otherwise, required of him may tend to incriminate or degrade him, but such person may be subpoenaed and required to testify by and for the State relative to any offense arising under the provisions of this Article; but such person shall not be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter or thing concerning which he may so testify or produce evidence, documentary or otherwise, and no testimony so given or produced shall be used against him upon any criminal investigation or proceeding, but such person so compelled to testify with respect to any acts of his own shall be immune from prosecution on account thereof, and shall be pardoned for any violation of law about which such person shall be so required to testify. (1931, c. 348, s. 11; 1967, c. 775, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 22 - Corrupt Practices and Other Offenses Against the Elective Franchise. › § 163-278 - Duty of investigating and prosecuting violations of this Article.

§ 163-278. Duty of investigating and prosecuting violations of this Article.
It shall be the duty of the State Board of Elections and the district attorneys to investigate any violations of this Article, and the State Board and district attorneys are authorized and empowered to subpoena and compel the attendance of any person before them for the purpose of making such investigation. The State Board and the district attorneys are authorized to call upon the Director of the State Bureau of Investigation to furnish assistance by the State Bureau of Investigation in making the investigations of such violations. The State Board shall furnish the district attorney a copy of its investigation. The district attorney shall initiate prosecution and prosecute any violations of this Article. The provisions of G.S. 163-278.28 shall be applicable to violations of this Article. (1931, c. 348, s. 12; 1967, c. 775, s. 1; 1975, c. 565, s. 7; 2014-100, s. 17.1(p); 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 22A - Regulating Contributions and Expenditures in Political Campaigns. › § 163-278.5 - Scope of Article; severability.

§ 163-278.5. Scope of Article; severability.
The provisions of this Article apply to primaries and elections for North Carolina offices and to North Carolina referenda and do not apply to primaries and elections for federal offices or offices in other States or to non-North Carolina referenda. Any provision in this Article that regulates a non-North Carolina entity does so only to the extent that the entity's actions affect elections for North Carolina offices or North Carolina referenda.
The provisions of this Article are severable. If any provision is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity does not affect other provisions of the Article that can be given effect without the invalid provision.
This section applies to Articles and [Article] 22M of the General Statutes to the same extent that it applies to this Article. (1999-31, s. 6(a); 2000-140, s. 82; 2005-430, s. 7; 2007-349, s. 5; 2009-534, s. 6; 2013-360, s. 21.1(d); 2013-381, ss. 38.1(g), 48.2; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 22A - Regulating Contributions and Expenditures in Political Campaigns. › § 163-278.7A - Gifts from federal political committees.

§ 163-278.7A. Gifts from federal political committees.
It shall be permissible for a federal political committee, as defined by the Federal Election Campaign Act and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, to make contributions to a North Carolina candidate or political committee registered under this Article with the State Board of Elections or a county board of elections, provided that the contributing committee does all the following:
(1) Is registered with the State Board of Elections consistent with the provisions of this Article.
(2) Complies with reporting requirements specified by the State Board of Elections. Those requirements shall not be more stringent than those required of North Carolina political committees registered under this Article, unless the federal political committee makes any contribution to a North Carolina candidate or political committee in any election in excess of four thousand dollars ($4,000) for that election. "Election" shall be as defined in G.S. 163-278.13(d).
(3) Makes its contributions within the limits specified in this Article.
(4) Appoints an assistant or deputy treasurer who is a resident of North Carolina and stipulates to the State Board of Elections that the designated in-State resident assistant or deputy treasurer shall be authorized to produce whatever records reflecting political activity in North Carolina the State Board of Elections deems necessary. (1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 593, s. 1; 2003-274, s. 1; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 22A - Regulating Contributions and Expenditures in Political Campaigns. › § 163-278.8A - Campaign sales by political party executive committees.

§ 163-278.8A. Campaign sales by political party executive committees.
(a) Exempt Purchase Price Not Treated as "Contribution." – Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 163-278.6(13), the purchase price of goods or services sold by a political party executive committee or affiliated party committee as provided in subsection (b) of this section shall not be treated as a "contribution" for purposes of account-keeping under G.S. 163-278.8, for purposes of the reporting of contributions under G.S. 163-278.11, or for the purpose of the limit on contributions under G.S. 163-278.13. The treasurer is not required to obtain, maintain, or report the name or other identifying information of the purchaser of the goods or services, as long as the requirements of subsection (b) of this section are satisfied. However, the proceeds from the sales of those goods and services shall be treated as contributions for other purposes, and expenditures of those proceeds shall be reported as expenditures under this Article.
(b) Exempt Purchase Price. – A purchase price for goods or services sold by a political party executive committee or affiliated party committee qualifies for the exemption provided in subsection (a) of this section as long as the sale of the goods or services adheres to a plan that the treasurer has submitted to and that has been approved in writing by the Executive Director of the State Board of Elections. The Executive Director shall approve the treasurer's plan upon and only upon finding that all the following requirements are satisfied:
(1) That the price to be charged for the goods or services is reasonably close to the market price for the goods or services.
(2) That the total amount to be raised from sales under all plans by the committee does not exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) per election cycle.
(3) That no purchaser makes total purchases under the plan that exceed fifty dollars ($50.00).
(4) That the treasurer include in the report under G.S. 163-278.11, covering the relevant time period, all of the following:
a. A description of the plan.
b. The amount raised from sales under the plan.
c. The number of purchases made.
(5) That the treasurer shall include in the appropriate report under G.S. 163-278.11 any in-kind contribution made to the political party in providing the goods or services sold under the plan and that no in-kind contribution accepted as part of the plan violates any provision of this Article.
The Executive Director may require a format for submission of a plan, but that format shall not place undue paperwork burdens upon the treasurer. As used in this subdivision, the term "election cycle" has the same meaning as in G.S. 163-278.6(32). (2008-150, s. 8(a); 2015-258, s. 3(d); 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b); 2020-84, s. 1(a).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 22A - Regulating Contributions and Expenditures in Political Campaigns. › § 163-278.8B - Affiliated party committees.

§ 163-278.8B. Affiliated party committees.
(a) Each political party caucus of the North Carolina House of Representatives and the North Carolina Senate may establish one separate affiliated party committee to support the election of candidates who would be eligible to be members of that caucus. No other affiliated party committees shall be authorized pursuant to this section. The affiliated party committee is deemed a political party for purposes of this Article.
(b) An affiliated party committee shall be established only by majority vote of the total membership of the political party caucus. Attached to the organizational report filed in accordance with G.S. 163-9, the affiliated party committee shall provide a report to the State Board of Elections certifying that the political party caucus has organized and taken the appropriate vote to establish an affiliated party committee. The report described in this subsection shall be a public record within the meaning of Chapter 132 of the General Statutes.
(c) Each affiliated party committee shall:
(1) Adopt bylaws which shall be in compliance with the provisions of this Article. At a minimum, the bylaws shall include designation of a treasurer.
(2) Conduct campaigns for candidates who would be eligible to be members of that political party caucus of the North Carolina House of Representatives or North Carolina Senate if elected or reelected or manage daily operations of the affiliated party committee.
(3) Establish a bank account.
(4) Accept contributions and expend funds.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, an affiliated party committee shall be entitled to use the name, abbreviation, and symbol of its respective political party.
(e) For purposes of this section, "political party" has the same meaning as defined in G.S. 163-96. (2015-258, s. 3(a); 2015-264, s. 81(a); 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 22A - Regulating Contributions and Expenditures in Political Campaigns. › § 163-278.8C - Council of State affiliated party committees.

§ 163-278.8C. Council of State affiliated party committees.
(a) Members of the Council of State affiliated with the same political party may establish one separate Council of State affiliated party committee to support the election of candidates who would be eligible to be nominees of that political party for Council of State offices. No other Council of State affiliated party committees shall be authorized pursuant to this section. The Council of State affiliated party committee is deemed a political party for purposes of this Article.
(b) Each Council of State affiliated party committee shall:
(1) Adopt bylaws which shall be in compliance with the provisions of this Article. At a minimum, the bylaws shall include designation of a treasurer.
(2) Conduct campaigns for candidates for Council of State who are members of the leader's political party or manage daily operations of the Council of State affiliated party committee.
(3) Establish a bank account.
(4) Accept contributions and expend funds.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a Council of State affiliated party committee shall be entitled to use the name, abbreviation, and symbol of the political party of its leader.
(d) A previously established Council of State affiliated party committee may continue to be maintained in the event that no individual affiliated with that political party is elected to serve on the Council of State in the general election. The Council of State affiliated party committee shall be maintained by the most recently elected members of the Council of State from that political party. Notwithstanding the definition of "leader" in subsection (e) of this section, those members shall designate an individual from that group to serve as leader. When an individual or individuals affiliated with that political party is next elected to the Council of State, that individual or individuals shall assume control of the Council of State affiliated party committee for that political party.
(e) For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
(1) Leader. – The highest-ranking individual affiliated with the political party of the Council of State affiliated party committee. For the purposes of this subdivision, the highest-ranking office serving on the Council of State shall be in the following order: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and the offices as set out in Article III, Section 7 of the North Carolina Constitution, as follows: Secretary of State, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Labor, and Commissioner of Insurance.
(2) Political party. – As defined in G.S. 163-96. (2015-258, s. 3(a1); 2015-264, s. 81(b); 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
2023 North Carolina General Statutes › Chapter 163 - Elections and Election Laws › Article 22A - Regulating Contributions and Expenditures in Political Campaigns. › § 163-278.9A - Statements filed by referendum committees.

§ 163-278.9A. Statements filed by referendum committees.
(a) The treasurer of each referendum committee shall file under verification with the Board the following reports:
(1) Organizational Report. – The appointment of the treasurer as required by G.S. 163-278.7(a), the statement of organization required by G.S. 163-278.7(b), and a report of all contributions and expenditures shall be filed with the Board no later than the tenth day following the organization of the referendum committee.
(2) Pre-Referendum Report. – The treasurer shall file a report with the Board no later than the tenth day preceding the referendum.
(3) 48-Hour Report. – A referendum committee that receives a contribution or transfer of funds shall disclose within 48 hours of receipt a contribution or transfer of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more received before a referendum but after the period covered by the last report due before that referendum. The disclosure shall be by report to the State Board of Elections identifying the source and amount of such funds. The State Board of Elections shall specify the form and manner of making the report, including the reporting of in-kind contributions.
(4) Final Report. – The treasurer shall file a final report no later than the tenth day after the referendum. If the final report fails to disclose a final accounting of all contributions and expenditures, a supplemental final report shall be filed no later than January 7, after the referendum, and shall be current through December 31 after the referendum.
(5) Annual Reports. – If contributions are received or expenditures made during a calendar year for which no reports are otherwise required by this Article, any and all such contributions and expenditures shall be reported by January 7 of the following year.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this Article, each report shall be current within seven days prior to the date the report is due and shall list all contributions received and expenditures made which have not been previously reported. (1979, c. 1073, s. 6; 1997-515, s. 12(b); 2002-159, s. 21(e); 2008-150, s. 11(b); 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)