January 20, 2022 •
General Assembly Votes for Second Delay of Primary Elections
The North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 605, delaying the 2022 primary elections to June 7. The primary elections were already delayed by the state Supreme Court due to ongoing litigation over redistricting from March 8 to May 17. […]
The North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 605, delaying the 2022 primary elections to June 7.
The primary elections were already delayed by the state Supreme Court due to ongoing litigation over redistricting from March 8 to May 17.
The Republican-supported bill now faces a potential veto by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
Although Cooper has not said whether he would veto the bill, a spokesman for him has said the bill undermines the voting process.
January 17, 2020 •
North Carolina Adjourns until Spring without a Resolution to Outstanding Budget Measures
The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned the regular session until April 28 after meeting for a single day. The Senate attempted but failed to override vetoes by Gov. Roy Cooper on teacher pay and the budget. Before adjourning, lawmakers unanimously […]
The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned the regular session until April 28 after meeting for a single day.
The Senate attempted but failed to override vetoes by Gov. Roy Cooper on teacher pay and the budget.
Before adjourning, lawmakers unanimously approved additional funding for the state’s scholarship for children of wartime veterans, which is expected to be signed into law by Cooper.
November 21, 2019 •
North Carolina Legislature Adjourns
The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned after finalizing a replacement map for congressional districts. Legislators extended the legislative session to redraw the map due to state judges blocking lines drawn in 2016 from being used next year. The session was […]
The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned after finalizing a replacement map for congressional districts.
Legislators extended the legislative session to redraw the map due to state judges blocking lines drawn in 2016 from being used next year.
The session was one of the longest legislative sessions in recent history due to the redistricting lawsuit and a fight over the budget.
December 13, 2018 •
Lawmakers Pass a Return to 2016 State Board of Elections Structure
The North Carolina General Assembly passed a bill to return the administration of elections, ethics, and lobbying regulations to the 2016 structure. Voters defeated a constitutional amendment in November to establish an eight-member Bipartisan Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement, […]
The North Carolina General Assembly passed a bill to return the administration of elections, ethics, and lobbying regulations to the 2016 structure.
Voters defeated a constitutional amendment in November to establish an eight-member Bipartisan Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement, which would have kept the current structure in place.
An additional provision in the bill requires re-elections when the result of an election is investigated. This would require refiling and participation in a primary and not merely a runoff.
Passage of the voter ID law would not impact any possible 2018 re-election.
The bill further addresses absentee-by-mail ballots which are the topic of the current 9th District board of elections investigation.
The bill now awaits Governor Roy Cooper’s approval.
October 22, 2018 •
North Carolina Special Session Adjourns
On October 15, the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned a special session after passing the Hurricane Florence Emergency Response Act to establish a fund to provide relief and assistance from the effects of Hurricane Florence. The Act also granted funds […]
On October 15, the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned a special session after passing the Hurricane Florence Emergency Response Act to establish a fund to provide relief and assistance from the effects of Hurricane Florence.
The Act also granted funds to the Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement to educate the public about voting in the November 2018 election, specifically in counties designated under the disaster declaration by the president.
An October 16 ruling by the Wake County Superior Court found the legislative provisions creating the Bipartisan Board unconstitutional. The court, however, stayed the injunction concerning the activity of the Bipartisan Board until after the November election.
July 24, 2018 •
North Carolina Lawmakers Convene Special Session
North Carolina lawmakers began a special session today after leadership in the General Assembly hastily announced it yesterday afternoon. The official proclamation states the purpose of the session is “to consider bills concerning any matters the General Assembly wishes to […]
North Carolina lawmakers began a special session today after leadership in the General Assembly hastily announced it yesterday afternoon.
The official proclamation states the purpose of the session is “to consider bills concerning any matters the General Assembly wishes to consider.”
It is anticipated Republican lawmakers will use this special session to pass bills that will impact how six constitutional amendments proposed by the Legislature appear on the ballot.
July 2, 2018 •
North Carolina Legislature Adjourns
The North Carolina Legislature adjourned on June 29, 2018. The Republican-controlled General Assembly spent most of the session passing budget adjustments and overrode eight of Gov. Roy Cooper’s 10 vetoes. Senate Bill 655 was passed and signed by Gov. Cooper […]
The North Carolina Legislature adjourned on June 29, 2018.
The Republican-controlled General Assembly spent most of the session passing budget adjustments and overrode eight of Gov. Roy Cooper’s 10 vetoes.
Senate Bill 655 was passed and signed by Gov. Cooper last week. The bill changes the date primary elections are held from May to March and is effective January 1, 2019.
The Legislature is sending a voter photo identification mandate to be decided by voters in November.
Lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene on November 27, 2018.
January 8, 2018 •
North Carolina Special Session to Convene on January 10
The North Carolina General Assembly will convene for a special session on January 10 to address several topics, including judicial reform. Lawmakers may consider eliminating judicial elections and instead institute an appointment process for selecting judges.
The North Carolina General Assembly will convene for a special session on January 10 to address several topics, including judicial reform.
Lawmakers may consider eliminating judicial elections and instead institute an appointment process for selecting judges.
September 1, 2017 •
North Carolina Legislature Adjourns, Agrees to Reconvene in October
The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned on August 31 after finishing a two-week special session. Members voted on new legislative districts per court order and voted to override two vetoes by the governor. The Legislature will reconvene on October 4, […]
The North Carolina General Assembly adjourned on August 31 after finishing a two-week special session.
Members voted on new legislative districts per court order and voted to override two vetoes by the governor.
The Legislature will reconvene on October 4, 2017, to consider constitutional amendments, election regulations, and to draw new judicial districts.
August 10, 2017 •
North Carolina Changes Session Dates
The North Carolina General Assembly convened for a special session on August 3 to address unresolved conference reports and amend the previous adjournment resolution, cancelling a previously scheduled September 6 special session. Lawmakers will now convene on August 18 to […]
The North Carolina General Assembly convened for a special session on August 3 to address unresolved conference reports and amend the previous adjournment resolution, cancelling a previously scheduled September 6 special session.
Lawmakers will now convene on August 18 to address redistricting.
The change in session dates was needed after a federal three-judge panel ordered lawmakers to draw new legislative district maps by September 1.
July 6, 2017 •
North Carolina General Assembly Adjourns Session
On June 30, the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned. The resolution to adjourn has lawmakers scheduled to reconvene in August and September. The session scheduled for August 3, 2017 will primarily address any veto overrides; however, the adjournment resolution grants […]
On June 30, the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned. The resolution to adjourn has lawmakers scheduled to reconvene in August and September.
The session scheduled for August 3, 2017 will primarily address any veto overrides; however, the adjournment resolution grants lawmakers the ability to use the session to take up measures that got stuck in House and Senate negotiations in the final weeks of the regular session.
The September 6, 2017, session will mostly focus on redistricting.
The adjournment resolution also set the regular session to reconvene on May 16, 2018.
March 20, 2017 •
North Carolina Merger of State Board of Elections and State Ethics Commission Ruled Unconstitutional
On March 17, a three-judge panel ruled that the North Carolina General Assembly overstepped its state constitutional authority when it adopted Senate Bill 4 establishing a bipartisan board to oversee elections and consider ethics complaints and issues. The ruling held […]
On March 17, a three-judge panel ruled that the North Carolina General Assembly overstepped its state constitutional authority when it adopted Senate Bill 4 establishing a bipartisan board to oversee elections and consider ethics complaints and issues.
The ruling held that lawmakers violated the separation of powers in trying to take control over appointments in the governor’s administration.
Prior to Senate Bill 4, the State Board of Elections and State Ethics Commission were separate entities and the governor had the power to appoint a majority from his own party to preside over elections. Lawmakers could appeal the decision.
January 11, 2017 •
Supreme Court Issues Stay on Special Elections in North Carolina
Yesterday, the U.S Supreme Court issued a temporary stay on a lower court order to hold special elections in November 2017 for North Carolina General Assembly seats in unconstitutionally gerrymandered districts. The temporary stay of the lower court’s decision will […]
Yesterday, the U.S Supreme Court issued a temporary stay on a lower court order to hold special elections in November 2017 for North Carolina General Assembly seats in unconstitutionally gerrymandered districts.
The temporary stay of the lower court’s decision will remain in place until the justices decide whether to consider a previously filed appeal from state officials. If the Supreme Court hears the case and overturns the ruling, the special elections would be canceled and current districts restored for the 2018 election.
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