NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1981 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 1241

SENATE BILL 572

 

 

AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION OF NORTH CAROLINA TO PROVIDE THAT TERMS OF LEGISLATORS BEGIN ON JANUARY FIRST FOLLOWING THEIR ELECTION.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1. Section 9 of Article II of the North Carolina Constitution is rewritten to read:

"Sec. 9. Term of office. The term of office of Senators and Representatives shall commence on the first day of January next after their election."

Sec. 2. The amendment set forth in Section 1 shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the State at the statewide general election to be held on Tuesday, November 2, 1982, which election shall be conducted under the laws then governing elections in the State. At that election, each qualified voter who desires to vote shall be provided a ballot on which shall be printed the following:

"[ ]       FOR constitutional amendment providing that the term of office of members of the General Assembly begins on the first day of January following their election.

"[ ]       AGAINST constitutional amendment providing that the term of office of members of the General Assembly begins on the first day of January following their election."

Those voters favoring the amendment shall vote by marking an "X" or a check mark in the square beside the statement beginning "FOR", and those voters opposed to the amendment shall vote by marking an "X" or a check mark in the square beside the statement beginning "AGAINST".

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, voting machines may be used in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed by the State Board of Elections.

Sec. 3. If a majority of votes cast thereon are in favor of the amendment, the State Board of Elections shall certify the amendment to the Secretary of State who shall enroll the amendment so certified among the permanent records of his office. The amendment shall become effective upon certification and shall apply to members of the General Assembly elected in the 1982 general election so that their terms shall begin on January 1, 1983.

Sec. 4. This act is effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 18th day of June, 1982.