GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2011
H 1
HOUSE BILL 689
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Short Title: Online Voter Registration. |
(Public) |
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Sponsors: |
Representatives K. Alexander and Faison (Primary Sponsors). For a complete list of Sponsors, see Bill Information on the NCGA Web Site. |
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Referred to: |
Transportation, if favorable, Elections, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. |
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April 7, 2011
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to make simpler the process of filling out a voter registration form and printing it out to mail, and also to allow voters to register to vote online.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 163‑82.3(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a) Form Developed by State Board of Elections. –
The State Board of Elections shall develop an application form for voter registration.registration
that can either be printed out in blank or filled in online and printed out for
mailing. Any person may use the form to apply to do any of the following:
(1) Register to vote.
(2) Change party affiliation or unaffiliated status.
(3) Report a change of address within a county.
(4) Report a change of name.
(5) Preregister to vote.
(a1) The online fillable voter registration form shall:
(1) Allow a user with the proper software to save the data.
(2) Prompt the user to easily do either or both of the following: (i) download the mailing address of the appropriate county board of elections based on the county of residence or (ii) download a list of all county board of elections mailing addresses .
The county board of elections for the county where the applicant resides shall accept the form as application for any of those purposes if the form is submitted as set out in G.S. 163‑82.3."
SECTION 2. Article 7A of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 163‑82.5A. Online voter registration.
(a) This section applies to an individual who both:
(1) Is eligible to register to vote, and
(2) Possesses a current and valid:
a. North Carolina drivers license issued under Article 2 of Section 20 of the General Statutes, including a learner's permit or a provisional license; or
b. Special identification card for nonoperators issued under G.S. 20‑37.7.
(b) An individual described in subsection (a) of this section may submit a voter registration application online using the procedures set forth in this section. The State Board of Elections shall establish a secure Internet Web site to permit individuals described in subsection (a) of this section to submit online applications under this section.
(c) The secure Web site established under subsection (b) of this section shall allow an individual described in subsection (a) of this section to submit:
(1) An application for the following:
a. To register to vote.
b. To report a change of name, address, or party affiliation. If the applicant is already registered to vote, and the change of address is to another county, it shall be treated as an application to register to vote.
(2) Information to establish that the applicant is eligible under this section to register online.
(d) When an applicant submits an application under this section the Division of Motor Vehicles shall compare the information submitted by the applicant with the information maintained in its database listing individuals who possess a current and valid North Carolina license, permit, or card specified under subdivision (a)(2) of this section.
(e) If the Division of Motor Vehicles confirms that the applicant possesses either a current and valid:
(1) North Carolina drivers license issued under Article 2 of Section 20 of the General Statutes, including a learner's permit or a provisional license, or
(2) Special identification card for nonoperators issued under G.S. 20‑37.7,
the completed application and information compiled by the Division of Motor Vehicles (including the digital signature of the applicant in the Division of Motor Vehicles records) shall be submitted to the county board of elections in which the applicant currently resides in accordance with procedures established by the State Board of Elections.
(f) If the Division of Motor Vehicles is unable to confirm that the applicant possesses either a current and valid:
(1) North Carolina drivers license issued under Article 2 of Section 20 of the General Statutes, including a learner's permit or a provisional license, or
(2) special identification card for nonoperators issued under G.S. 20‑37.7,
the Division of Motor Vehicles shall send to the county board of elections of the county in which the applicant currently resides, the application submitted by the applicant and information indicating that the Division of Motor Vehicles cannot confirm the information and that the applicant's application cannot be processed. The county board of elections shall notify the applicant of this fact by U.S. mail, and by email if the applicant provided an email address with the online registration."
SECTION 3. This section becomes effective December 1, 2011.