Pending Election Bills (as of December 2011)

Don WrightGeneral CounselNC State Board of Elections

HOUSE BILL 32. Short Title: Electoral Freedom Act of 2011(Public) Sponsors: Representatives LaRoque, Bradley, Luebke, and Farmer-Butterfield (Primary Sponsors). Reduce signature requirements for new parties, unaffiliated candidates, and write-in candidates.

SENATE BILL 47. Short Title: Restore Confidence in Elections

(Public) Sponsors: Senator Tillman. Omnibus election changes bill affecting SDVR, one-stop, judicial elections and Campaign Finance.

HOUSE BILL 125. Short Title: Optional Vote Centers for Second Primary

(Public) Sponsors: Representatives Sager and Jordan (Primary Sponsors). Would allow fewer voting locations to be open for a possible second primary than the first primary if submitted in a plan approved by the State Board prior to the primary.

HOUSE BILL 139. Short Title: Limit Contributions by State Vendors

(Public) Sponsors: Representatives Stam, Ross, Glazier, and McGee (Primary Sponsors). Would severely limit contributions by active state vendors to candidates/offices they have/may deal with.

HOUSE BILL 281 Short Title: ETJ Restrictions

(Public) Sponsors: Representative LaRoque (Primary Sponsor). Would allow persons in an ETJ to vote in municipal elections where persons are elected to office.

HOUSE BILL 300 Short Title: Election Fairness Act of 2011

(Public) Sponsors: Representatives Jones, Parfitt, and Hager (Primary Sponsors). It includes rotation of candidates on ballot, eliminate straight party voting and remake the State Board with 3 members from each major party.

HOUSE BILL 346. Short Title: Election Omnibus Bill was originally titled Pol. Comm. Treas. Training/Org. Rpt Req. (Public) Sponsors: Representative Randleman. CF issues. Strengthens duty to report and be trained and other campaign finance matters.

HOUSE BILL 366 Short Title: Special Election Dates

(Public) Sponsors: Representatives H. Warren, Cleveland, Brawley, and Bradley (Primary Sponsors). Would limit special elections to general election and primary dates.

SENATE BILL 399 Short Title: Minority Appeal From County Board Elections

(Public) Sponsors: Senator Clary. Would allow a county board member to appeal to the State Board any action where they were the minority vote. They could direct county board staff to prepare the appeal.

HOUSE BILL 452 Short Title: Eliminate "Instant Runoff"/Public Financing

(Public) Sponsors: Representative Starnes. Would eliminate IRV and Judicial and Council of State Public Funding. Articles 22D and 22J of Chapter 163 would be repealed.

SENATE BILL 456 Short Title: Candidate List Party or Unaffiliated Status (Public) Sponsors: Senators Goolsby; Bingham, Blake, Brown, Daniel, Davis, Forrester, Gunn, Hartsell, Hise, Hunt, Jackson, Meredith, Newton, Preston, Rabon, Rouzer, Rucho, Soucek, Stevens, and Tillman. Would give non-partisan candidates the option of having their party affiliation shown on the ballot.

HOUSE BILL 638 Short Title: Uniform Faithful Presidential Electors Act

(Public) Sponsors: Representatives Jordan and Stam. Rewrites the Presidential elector provisions.

HOUSE BILL 658 Short Title: Change Early Voting Period

(Public) Sponsors: Representatives Jones, Stam, Collins, and Sager. Would have one-stop early voting start the second Thursday before an election.

HOUSE BILL 710 Short Title: Bd. of Ethics, Lobbying, and Campaign Finance

(Public) Sponsors: Representative Lewis. Would remove the Campaign Finance Division from the SBE and place it in a new Bd. of Ethics, Lobbying, and Campaign Finance.

SENATE BILL 712 Short Title: Adjust Quarterly Reporting(Public) Sponsors: Nesbitt. Changes CF reporting.

SENATE BILL 712 Short Title: Adjust Quarterly Reporting(Public) Sponsors: Nesbitt. Changes CF reporting.

HOUSE BILL 824 Short Title: Nonpartisan Redistricting Process(Public) Sponsors: Representative Glazier. Would create a 5 member Redistricting Commission to act in a nonpartisan matter.

PASSED, VETOED, AND SUBJECT TO A VETO OVERIDE VOTE: HOUSE BILL 351 Short Title: Restore Confidence in Government. (Public) Sponsors: Lewis, T. Moore and Killian.(Vetoed by Governor - 6/23/11)(Veto Override Vote Reconsidered - 7/26/11). Would require voters to present ID when they vote.

THESE ELECTION BILLS CAN BE CONSIDERED DURING THE FEBRUARY 16, 2012, APRIL 23, 2012, AND MAY 16, 2012 SESSIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. (Senate Joint Resolution 793 ).