NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1973 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 33

SENATE BILL 118

 

 

AN ACT TO MODIFY THE LAW REGARDING LOCAL BEER AND WINE ELECTIONS.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  G.S. 18A-52(b), (d)(2), (f), the first paragraph of (g) and the first paragraph of (j) are revised to read as follows:

"(b)      Such election shall be called in the county or municipality upon written request of the governing body or upon a petition to the appropriate board of elections conducting the election for the county or municipality. If the governing body requests the election, no petition shall be required, but the board of elections shall set a date for the election which shall not be later than 120 days after the written request is filed with the board. Notice of the election as hereinafter provided shall be given. The request shall specify the question or questions and the type of sale to be voted on in the election.

(d)(2)   The petition must be signed by a number of voters of the county or municipality equal to at least twenty percent (20%) of the number of registered voters of the county or municipality according to the registration figures as certified by the board of elections on the date the petition is presented to the board of elections.

(f)         The election shall be held under the same general laws, rules and regulations, insofar as practicable, as provided for the election of county or municipal officers wherein the election is being held, but no absentee ballots or markers shall be allowed. The opponents and proponents shall have the right to appoint two watchers to attend each voting place. The persons authorized to appoint watchers shall, three days before the election, submit in writing to the registrar of each precinct a signed list of the watchers appointed for that precinct. The persons appointed as watchers shall be registered voters of the precinct for which appointed. The registrar and judges for the precinct may for any good cause reject any appointee and require that another be appointed.

Watchers shall do no electioneering at the voting place nor in any manner impede the voting process, interfere or communicate with or observe any voter in casting his ballot. Watchers shall be permitted in the voting place to make such observation and to take such notes as they may desire. No watcher shall enter the voting enclosure or render assistance to a voter. No new registration shall be required, and all qualified and registered voters shall be entitled to vote in the election.

(g)        No election shall be held under this Part within 45 days of the date of any general, special, or primary election to be held in the county or the municipality in which an election under this Part is held. Provided, however, that an election under this Part may be held, in the discretion of the board of elections, on the same day of a general, special, or primary election held within the county or the municipality or an election to determine whether alcoholic beverage control stores shall be established therein.

(j)         The ballot shall give the voter the opportunity to vote 'For' or 'Against' the question or questions presented."

Sec. 2.  This act shall become effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 26th day of February, 1973.