Governor would appoint State and county election board members

The State Board would act as an independent state agency and direct its own budgeting functions. This applies to the North Carolina State Board of Elections and the budgeting functions described in the bill. These provisions would take effect July 1, 2027.

The Governor would appoint State Board members and fill vacancies from party-submitted lists. The State Board would have five registered voters. The chairs of the two parties with the most registered affiliates would each submit four nominees for regular appointments. No more than three members could belong to the same party, and members could serve no more than two full consecutive four-year terms. For a vacancy, the party chair who nominated the departing member would submit three nominees. Regular terms would begin May 1 after a presidential election and last four years. Current members’ terms would end April 30, 2027, with new terms starting May 1, 2027.

The State Board would appoint four members of each county board, and the Governor would appoint its chair. Each county board would have five registered voters from that county. Among the four members appointed by the State Board, two would belong to each of the two parties with the most registered affiliates. Current county board members’ terms would end June 29, 2027. New terms would begin June 30, 2027.

If a State Board meeting still lacks a quorum after members adjourn for up to three days, the Governor may remove a member who failed to attend and appoint a successor. This applies when an absent member’s failure to attend leaves the State Board without a quorum. A majority of board members must be present for the board to conduct business.