A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to make simpler the process of filling out a voter registration form and to allow voters the ability to register to vote online.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 163A‑862 reads as rewritten:
"§ 163A‑862.  Voter registration application forms.
(a)	Form Developed by State Board. – The State Board shall develop an application form for voter registration that may be (i) printed out in blank form or (ii) filled in online and printed out for mailing as described in subsection (a1) of this section. 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.
(a1)	Online Fillable Form. – The online fillable voter registration form shall provide for each of the following:
(1)	Allow a user with the proper software to save the data.
(2)	Prompt the user to easily do any of the following:
a.	Download the mailing address of the appropriate county board of elections based on the county of residence.
b.	Download a list of all county boards of election mailing addresses.
(a2)	Form Accepted by County Board. – The county board of elections for the county where the applicant resides shall accept the form as application for any of the purposes described in subsection (a) of this section if the form is submitted as set out in this section.
…."
SECTION 2.  Part 2 of Article 17 of Chapter 163A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 163A‑864.1.  Online voter registration.
(a)	This section applies to an individual who meets each of the following:
(1)	Is eligible to register to vote in accordance with this Article.
(2)	Possesses one of the following that is current and valid:
a.	A North Carolina drivers license issued under Article 2 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes, including a learner's permit or a provisional license.
b.	A special identification card for nonoperators issued under G.S. 20‑37.7.
(b)	An individual who meets the requirements of subsection (a) of this section may submit a voter registration application online using the procedures set forth in this section. The State Board shall establish a secure Internet Web site to permit individuals described in subsection (a) of this section to complete and submit online voter registration applications.
(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 any of the following:
a.	Voter registration.
b.	Reporting of a change of name, address, or party affiliation. If the individual 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)	An affirmation that the applicant is a U.S. citizen.
(3)	Information to establish that the individual is eligible to register online under this section.
(d)	When an individual submits an application under this section, in accordance with procedures established by the State Board pursuant to this Article, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall compare the information submitted by the applicant with the information maintained in its database to verify that the applicant possesses a current and valid form of identification described under subdivision (a)(2) of this section.
(e)	If the Division of Motor Vehicles confirms the applicant possesses a current and valid form of identification as described under subdivision (a)(2) of this section, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall submit the completed application and information it compiled, including transfer of the digital signature of the applicant in the Division of Motor Vehicles records, to the county board of elections where the applicant currently resides in accordance with procedures established by the State Board.
(f)	If the Division of Motor Vehicles cannot confirm the applicant possesses a current and valid form of identification as described under subdivision (a)(2) of this section, the Division of Motor Vehicles shall send to the county board of elections in the county where the applicant currently resides the application submitted by the applicant and information it compiled 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 then notify the applicant of this fact by U.S. mail or e‑mail, if the applicant provided an e‑mail address with the online registration. The applicant shall be offered an opportunity to register in accordance with G.S. 163A‑865 or G.S. 163A‑866, as applicable."
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2019.