Bill Text: NC H697 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Election Observer Bill of Rights
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-04-11 - Ref To Com On Elections and Ethics Law [H697 Detail]
Download: North_Carolina-2017-H697-Amended.html
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2017
H 1
HOUSE BILL 697
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Short Title: Election Observer Bill of Rights. |
(Public) |
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Sponsors: |
Representative Speciale. For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site. |
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Referred to: |
Elections and Ethics Law |
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April 11, 2017
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to establish a bill of rights for election observers.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 163‑45(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c) An observer shall do
no electioneering at the voting place, and shall in no manner impede the voting
process or interfere or communicate with or observe any voter in casting a
ballot, but, subject to these restrictions,specified rights, the
chief judge and judges of elections shall permit the observer to make such
observation and take such notes as the observer may desire. Election
observers shall have the explicit right to:
(1) Begin observation duties from the time the judge enters the polling location until all ballot containers are officially sealed and the voting enclosure is secured for the day.
(2) Hear the name and address of each voter when the voter first announces the voter's name at the initial check‑in table and ask any election official to repeat the name or address of the voter if the observer was unable to hear the voter's name or address when it was initially announced.
(3) Observe curbside voting and hear the name or address of the voter as it is announced and to ask any election official to repeat the name or address of the voter if the observer is unable to hear the voter's name or address when initially announced.
(4) Traverse freely between the curbside voting area and the voting enclosure throughout the curbside voting process.
(5) Observe curbside voting at such a distance as to enable the observer to hear any instruction or verbal communication between the election assistant and the curbside voter. However, the election observer shall not stand within five feet of the curbside voter's vehicle.
(6) Keep in view any and all ballot boxes until after the ballot boxes are sealed at the end of the day.
(7) Only be expelled by a chief judge for cause, in writing. The written notice of expulsion shall be signed by the chief judge and at least one other judge assigned to that precinct before the expulsion notice may be lawfully served on the observer."
SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to observations for elections held on or after that date.
