GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2001

HOUSE BILL 34
RATIFIED BILL

AN ACT TO BAN BUTTERFLY AND PUNCH-CARD BALLOTS. 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 13 of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 163‑140.3.  Punch‑Card ballots.
(a)	No ballot may be used in any referendum, primary, or other election as an official ballot if it requires the voter to punch out a hole with a stylus or other tool.
(b)	In any counties that used punch‑card ballots as official ballots in the election of November 2000, and in any municipalities located in those counties, this section becomes effective January 1, 2006. It is the intent of the General Assembly that any county that uses county funds to replace voting equipment to satisfy this section shall be given priority in appropriations to counties for voting equipment."
SECTION 2.  Article 13 of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 163‑140.4.  Butterfly ballots.
No butterfly ballot may be used as an official ballot in any referendum, primary, or other election. The term 'butterfly ballot' means a ballot having more than one column listing ballot choices that share a common column for designating those choices."
SECTION 3.  If Senate Bill 17, 2001 Regular Session of the General Assembly, becomes law, then effective January 1, 2002, G.S. 163‑140.3, as enacted by this act, is recodified as G.S. 163‑165.4A, and G.S. 163‑140.4, as enacted by this act, is recodified as G.S. 163‑165.4B.
SECTION 4.  Section 1 of this act is effective when it becomes law and applies to primaries, elections, and referenda conducted on or after that date. Nothing in this act shall obligate the General Assembly to appropriate funds to implement this act.  The remainder of this act is effective when it becomes law.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 19th day of July, 2001.

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		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

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		 James B. Black
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

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		 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2001