GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001
S	1
SENATE BILL 865
     

 
Short Title:	Pitt Voting Pilot Program.	()	
Sponsors:	Senator Warren.	
Referred to:	State and Local Government.	
April 4, 2001

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM IN PITT COUNTY TO PERMIT ANY VOTER TO VOTE AT ANY VOTING PLACE.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is established a pilot program during the 2001 municipal elections and 2002 primary and general elections in Pitt County to permit any registered voter in the county to vote on election day at any voting place that is open in the county.
SECTION 2.  For purposes of this program, the Pitt County Board of Elections may permit voters to vote at any voting place that is open in the county and may appoint any registered voter in the county to serve as a precinct official in any precinct, but only if the State Board of Elections approves the plan submitted by the county board of elections pursuant to Section 3 of this act. During the municipal elections of 2001, the only municipalities whose voters may be given the choice of voting at any voting place in the county and whose precinct officials are exempt from the precinct residence provisions of G.S. 163‑41 are those municipalities whose governing boards have agreed to participate in the pilot program established by this act.
SECTION 3.  The Pitt County Board of Elections shall submit a plan for the pilot program to the State Board of Elections. The plan shall be submitted by July 1, 2001. The plan shall include all of the following:
(1)	A list of the voting places that will be open. These provisions shall guarantee equitable participation by all racial, ethnic, physical ability, and political groups.
(2)	Provisions for staffing each precinct. These shall include provisions for training and replacement of precinct officials. 
(3)	A provision for processing of each voter.
(4)	Provisions for adequate computer and voting equipment in each voting place. These provisions shall include computer connections between each voting place and the county board of elections. The computer system and voting equipment shall be tested and the results shall be reported to the State Board of Elections.
(5)	Emergency plans for backup procedures in case the computer system or voting equipment malfunctions.
(6)	Security provisions to prevent fraud and multiple voting.
(7)	A provision for posting all absentee voters who have voted in the county for the election.
(8)	For the municipal elections, approval by the governing board of every municipality whose election is involved in the pilot program.
The State Board of Elections shall approve the plan only if it is satisfied that it complies with all the foregoing provisions.
SECTION 4.  The Pitt County Board of Elections shall report by January 1, 2002, and by December 1, 2002, to the State Board of Elections concerning the experience of the pilot program. The report shall cover cost, performance, successes, and problems. The State Board of Elections shall report to the 2003 General Assembly on the cost, performance, successes, and problems of the pilot program by the day that the General Assembly convenes.
SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law. This act expires on the day the 2003 General Assembly convenes.