Proposal would set early voting hours and local 10-day schedules

The proposal sets when voters may vote early in person at a county elections office. It covers voters seeking to vote early in an election. An exception refers to G.S. 163-166.35. The printed start date reads “the third second Thursday” before the election, so its intended meaning is unclear. Voting would end at 3 p.m. on the last Saturday before the election.

The Governor may set a 10-day early voting period for certain special elections and primaries. It applies when a congressional vacancy occurs before the tenth day before the filing period ends ahead of the next general election, in the case described in the text. The Governor may set the period for each county board conducting early voting. The 10 consecutive days would apply to early voting for the special election and the special first primary.

Local governing bodies may set a 10-day early voting period for certain special and municipal elections. For the special elections described in the text, the governing body, municipality, or special district may set the period. For municipal elections, the municipal governing body may do so by resolution. For a special election outside the schedule in G.S. 163-287(a), the governing body's resolution may set the period. For municipal elections, the governing body must adopt its resolution at least 60 days before the election and file it with the State Board and the county elections board within 10 days. It remains in effect for later elections unless repealed at least 60 days before an election. The special-election period applies to the election covered by the resolution. A municipal resolution applies to the election and later municipal elections unless repealed on time.