§ 163-82.8. Voter registration cards.
Overview of Statute
Section provides for detailed purposes, requirements, and restrictions of voter registration cards.
Statute
(a) Authority to Issue Card.–With the approval of the board of county commissioners, the county board of elections may issue to each voter in the county a voter registration card, or may issue cards to all voters registered after January 1, 1995.
(b) Content and Format of Card.–At a minimum, the voter registration card shall:
(1) List the voter’s name, address, and voting place;
(2) Contain the address and telephone number of the county board of elections, along with blanks to report a change of address within the county, change of name, and change of party affiliation; and
(3) Be wallet size.
No voter registration card may be issued by a county board of elections unless the State Board has approved the format of the card.
(c) Ways County Board and Registrant May Use Card.–If the county board of elections issues voter registration cards, the county board may use that card as a notice of tentative approval of the voter’s application pursuant to G.S. 163-82.7(c), provided that the mailing contains the statements and information required in that subsection. The county board may also satisfy the requirements of G.S. 163-82.15(b), 163-82.16(b), or 163-82.17(b) by sending the registrant a replacement of the voter registration card to verify change of address, change of name, or change of party affiliation. A registrant may use the card to report a change of address, change of name, or change of party affiliation, satisfying G.S. 163-82.15, 163-82.16, or 163-82.17.
(d) Card as Evidence of Registration.–A voter registration card shall be evidence of registration but shall not preclude a challenge as permitted by law.
(e) Display of Card May Not Be Required to Vote.–No county board of elections may require that a voter registration card be displayed in order to vote.
(1967, c. 761, s. 3; c. 775, s. 1; 1969, c. 750, ss. 1, 2; 1977, c. 626, s. 1; 1979, c. 539, s. 5; c. 766, s. 2; 1981, c. 33, s. 2; 1981 (Reg. Sess., 1982), c. 1265, s. 6; 1983, c. 553; 1985, c. 260, s. 1; 1991, c. 363, s. 1; 1991 (Reg. Sess., 1992), c. 1032, s. 1; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 762, s. 2; 2015-103, s. 8(f); 2017-6, s. 3; S.L. 2018-144, s. 3.1(b), S.L. 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
- Cross-References:
- Registration Card
- Voter Registration
1. Definition for Voting place
“Voting place” means the building or area of the building that contains the voting enclosure.
2. Definition for board
The term “board” means the State Board with respect to all candidates for State, legislative, and judicial offices and the county board of elections with respect to all candidates for county and municipal offices. The term means the State Board with respect to all statewide referenda and the county board of elections conducting all local referenda.
3. Definition for Board
Board. – Any State board, commission, council, committee, task force,
authority, or similar public body, however denominated, created by statute or
executive order, as determined and designated by the State Board, except for
those public bodies that have only advisory authority.
4. Definition for State
“State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
5. Definition for election
The term “election” means any general or special election, a first or second primary, a run-off election, or an election to fill a vacancy. The term “election” shall not include any local or statewide referendum.
6. Definition for Election
“Election” means the event in which voters cast votes in ballot items concerning proposals or candidates for office in this State or the United States. The term includes primaries, general elections, referenda, and special elections.