GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 778

Short Title:  Voter Registration Study.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Michaux; and Burton.
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Referred to:  Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.
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April 7, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COMMISSION TO STUDY THE CONFORMANCE OF NORTH CAROLINA'S VOTER REGISTRATION SYSTEM TO THE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT OF 1993.
Whereas, the General Assembly of North Carolina enacted major reforms in voter registration during the 1992 Regular Session of the 1991 General Assembly: voter registration by mail, a more streamlined system of voter registration by drivers license examiners, and a close of registration books three weeks before the election instead of the current four; and
Whereas, those reforms were enacted to be put into effect by the time of the 1994 elections; and
Whereas, in the spring of 1993 the Congress was moving toward passage of the National Voter Registration Act, which the President had indicated he intended to sign; and
Whereas, the National Voter Registration Act was likely to mandate that North Carolina and other states adopt some form of voter registration by mail and at drivers license offices, as well as make other changes in its voter registration system; and
Whereas, in the spring of 1993 it appeared that the national act would grant powers to the Federal Elections Commission to design a standard registration-by-mail form and perhaps to promulgate rules for the enforcement of the act so that, even after the President signed the act, it could be months before the State would know what it would need to do to comply; and
Whereas, in some versions of the national bill, the State appeared to have options for compliance: for example, either following the directives of the bill or opting out by allowing election-day registration;  Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Legislative Research Commission may study issues related to the conformance of the State's voter registration system to the federal law.
Sec. 2.  The issues the Legislative Research Commission may study include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1)	How North Carolina should redraft its election statutes to comply with the federal law and at the same time ensure a voter registration system that is convenient and efficient for both citizens and election adminstrators.
(2)	How North Carolina's mail-in registration form should relate to the interstate form designed by the Federal Election Commission.
(3)	How North Carolina should adapt its technology to its voter registration system within the limits of the National Voter Registration Act.
(4)	How North Carolina can best reach out to its citizens who do not participate in the election process.
Sec. 3.  In appointing members of a committee to conduct the study authorized by this act, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint at least one member who is a county election supervisor, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint at least one member who serves on a county board of elections.
Sec. 4.  The Legislative Research Commission may make its recommendations and submit an interim report to the 1993 General Assembly, Regular Session 1994, and may make a final report to the 1995 General Assembly.
Sec. 5.  This act is effective upon ratification.