A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide that the winston‑Salem/forsyth county board of education is elected on a nonpartisan plurality basis and to change the procedure for filling vacancies on the winston‑Salem/forsyth county board of education.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Section2(a)(5)(iii) of Chapter 112, Session Laws of 1961, as amended by Chapter 466, Session Laws of 1985, and by Section 2 of Chapter 696 of the 1991 Session Laws, and as rewritten by S.L. 2009‑72, reads as rewritten:
"(iii) Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 115C‑37, the Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education shall be elected on a nonpartisan basis at the time of the general election in each even‑numbered year as terms expire. The names of the candidates shall be printed on the ballot without reference to any party affiliations. The nonpartisan plurality method shall be used with the results determined as provided in G.S. 163‑292. Except as provided by this act, the election shall be conducted in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapters 115C and 163 of the General Statutes. Candidates shall file their notice of candidacy with the county board of elections no earlier than 12:00 noon on the second Monday in July and no later than 12:00 noon on the first Monday in August."
SECTION 2.  If a vacancy occurs on the Winston‑Salem/Forsyth County Board of Education and the total votes received by the next highest vote getter who was not elected in the election in which the vacating officer was elected received a number of votes that is within ten percent (10%) of the total votes received by the vacating officer, the appointing authority shall appoint that person to serve the remainder of the unexpired term if that person is still eligible and does not decline appointment.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.