A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to provide that elections for municipalities in burke county and the burke county board of education shall be held in even‑numbered years.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

PART I. MUNICIPALITIES IN BURKE COUNTY
SECTION 1.1.(a)  Article III of the Charter of the City of Morganton, being Chapter 180 of the 1975 Session Laws, as amended by S.L. 2014‑12, reads as rewritten:
"ARTICLE III.
"ELECTIONS.
"Chapter 1. Representation.
"Sec. 3.1. Manner of election; voting. – (a)  The entire electorate of the City shall be entitled to vote in elections for Mayor and the four (4) council members who shall reside respectively in Council Districts No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4.
	 In 2024, and quadrennially thereafter, the Mayor and two Council members shall be elected to serve four‑year terms. In 2026, and quadrennially thereafter, two Council members shall be elected to serve four‑year terms.
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"Chapter 2. Conduct of Elections.
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"Sec. 3.14. Time of election. – In 2024, regular municipal elections shall be held biennially on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even‑numbered years in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina.
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SECTION 1.1.(b)  Regular municipal elections shall be conducted in the City of Morganton in 2021. The two Council members elected in 2021 shall serve five‑year terms. The Mayor and two Council members elected in 2019 whose terms expire in 2023 are extended until 2024. The next regular municipal election shall be conducted in the City of Morganton in 2024.
SECTION 1.2.(a)  Chapter III of the Charter of the Town of Connelly Springs, being Chapter 528 of the 1989 Session Laws, as amended by Chapter 37 of the 1993 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:
"CHAPTER III.
"GOVERNING BODY.
"Sec. 3.1. Number of Members. The governing body shall consist of the six members of the Board of Aldermen and the Mayor."
"Sec. 3.2. Manner of Election. The qualified voters of the entire Town of Connelly Springs shall elect the Board of Aldermen and the Mayor. In 2024, and biennially thereafter, regular municipal elections shall be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even‑numbered years in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina.
"Sec. 3.3. Term of Office.
In 2024, and quadrennially thereafter, three Council Members shall be elected for four‑year terms. In 2026, and quadrennially thereafter, three Council Members shall be elected for four‑year terms, and a Mayor shall be elected for a four‑year term.
The Board of Aldermen shall in all ways respond to reasonable requests of the Town's constituents giving due consideration to the United States and State Constitutions, to the welfare of the Town, and to the long range effects and impacts of the decisions of the Town.
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SECTION 1.2.(b)  Regular municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Connelly Springs in 2021. The Mayor and three Council members elected in 2021 shall serve five‑year terms. The three Council members elected in 2019 whose terms expire in 2023 are extended until 2024. The next regular municipal election shall be conducted in the Town of Connelly Springs in 2024.
SECTION 1.3.(a)  Section 3 of the Charter of the Town of Drexel, being Chapter 24 of the Private Laws of 1913, as amended by Town Ordinances No. 1976‑02‑02‑1 and No. 1976‑02‑02‑2 adopted February 2, 1976, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 3. In 2024, and biennially thereafter, regular municipal elections shall be held in the Town on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even‑numbered years in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina. The officers of the town shall consist of a mayor and four aldermen. In 2024, and biennially thereafter, the mayor and aldermen shall be elected by the qualified voters of the town and serve until their successors are elected and qualify. After election and taking the oath, the aldermen shall elect or appoint the clerical officers and policemen as they may deem necessary, including a tax collector, for the proper government of the town, and those officers shall have such powers as like officers of municipal corporations under the general law of the State: Provided, that the mayor and aldermen may combine the duties of two or more of the clerical officers, policemen, and tax collector into one office, if in their judgment the same would best serve the interest of the people and taxpayers of the town."
SECTION 1.3.(b)  Regular municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Drexel in 2021. The Mayor and four aldermen elected in 2021 shall serve three‑year terms. The next regular municipal election shall be conducted in the Town of Drexel in 2024.
SECTION 1.4.(a)  Section 4 of the Charter of the Town of Glen Alpine, being Chapter 61 of the Private Laws of 1883, as amended by Chapter 131 of the 1989 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 4. In 2024, and biennially thereafter, regular municipal elections shall be held in the Town on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even‑numbered years in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina. A Mayor shall be elected in 2026, and quadrennially thereafter, for a four‑year term. The Board of Aldermen shall consist of five members. In 2024, and quadrennially thereafter, two members of the Board of Aldermen shall be elected to four‑year terms. In 2026, and quadrennially thereafter, three members of the Board of Aldermen shall be elected to four‑year terms."
SECTION 1.4.(b)  Regular municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Glen Alpine in 2021. The Mayor and three members of the Board of Aldermen elected in 2021 shall serve five‑year terms. The two members of the Board of Aldermen elected in 2019 whose terms expire in 2023 are extended until 2024. The next regular municipal election shall be conducted in the Town of Glen Alpine in 2024.
SECTION 1.5.(a)  Section 3 of the Charter of the Town of Hildebran, being Chapter 212 of the Private Laws of 1899, as amended by Chapter 290 of the Private Laws of 1913, Chapter 433 of the 1973 Session Laws, and Chapter 238 of the 1993 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 3. In 2024, and biennially thereafter, regular municipal elections shall be held in the Town on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even‑numbered years in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina. The election shall be nonpartisan and decided by simple plurality pursuant to G.S. 163‑292. The elective officers of the town shall be a mayor who shall be elected by the qualified voters of the town for a term of four years, and five commissioners, who shall be elected by the qualified voters of the town for terms of four years. In 2024, and quadrennially thereafter, two commissioners shall be elected to four‑year terms. In 2026, and quadrennially thereafter, the Mayor and three commissioners shall be elected to four‑year terms."
SECTION 1.5.(b)  Regular municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Hildebran in 2021. The Mayor and three commissioners elected in 2021 shall serve five‑year terms. The two commissioners elected in 2019 whose terms expire in 2023 are extended until 2024. The next regular municipal election shall be conducted in the Town of Hildebran in 2024.
SECTION 1.6.(a)  Chapter III of the Charter of the Town of Rutherford College, being Chapter 452 of the 1977 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:
"CHAPTER III.
"Governing Body.
"Sec. 3.1. Number of members. The governing body shall consist of six council members and the mayor.
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"Sec. 3.3. Term of office of the members of the board. In 2024, and quadrennially thereafter, three council members shall be elected for four‑year terms. In 2026, and quadrennially thereafter, three council members shall be elected for four‑year terms.
"Sec. 3.4. Election of mayor – term of office. The qualified voters of the entire Town of Rutherford College shall elect the mayor. In 2026, and quadrennially thereafter, the mayor is elected for a four‑year term of office."
SECTION 1.6.(b)  Section 4.1 of the Charter of the Town of Rutherford College, being Chapter 452 of the 1977 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 4.1. Conduct of town elections. In 2024, and biennially thereafter, regular municipal elections shall be held in the Town on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even‑numbered years in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina. The town officers shall be elected on a nonpartisan basis, and the results determined by plurality as provided in G.S. 163‑292, and this includes the election of the mayor."
SECTION 1.6.(c)  Regular municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Rutherford College in 2021. The Mayor and three Council members elected in 2021 shall serve five‑year terms. The three Council members elected in 2019 whose terms expire in 2023 are extended until 2024. The next regular municipal election shall be conducted in the Town of Rutherford College in 2024.
SECTION 1.7.(a)  Article III of the Charter of the Town of Valdese, being Chapter 847 of the 1977 Session Laws, as amended by S.L. 2000‑28, reads as rewritten:
"ARTICLE III.
"Elections.
"Sec. 3.1. Regular municipal elections; conduct and method of election. In 2024, and biennially thereafter, regular municipal elections shall be held in the town every two years in even‑numbered years and shall be conducted in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina. The mayor and members of the council shall be elected according to the nonpartisan plurality method of election pursuant to G.S. 163‑292.
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"Sec. 3.3. Election of council members. At the regular municipal elections in 2026, and quadrennially thereafter, there shall be elected three council members to represent, respectively, election wards one, two, and three, as provided in this Article. At the regular municipal elections in 2024, and quadrennially thereafter, there shall be elected two council members to represent, respectively, election wards four and five as provided in this Article. Each candidate for the office of council member shall have been a resident of the ward from which he or she is a candidate for a period of not less than 30 days next preceding the date of the election. Candidates for council member shall be voted upon by the voters of the town voting at large.
"Sec. 3.4. Election of the mayor. At the regular municipal election in 2026, and quadrennially thereafter, there shall be elected a mayor to serve a term of four years. The mayor shall be elected by the voters of the town voting at large.
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SECTION 1.7.(b)  Regular municipal elections shall be conducted in the Town of Valdese in 2021. The Mayor and three Council members elected in 2021 shall serve five‑year terms. The two Council members elected in 2019 whose terms expire in 2023 are extended until 2024. The next regular municipal election shall be conducted in the Town of Valdese in 2024.

PART II. BURKE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
SECTION 2.1.  Notwithstanding the "Plan of Merger and Consolidation of Burke County Board of Education, Morganton Graded School District (Morganton City Schools) and Glen Alpine Graded School District (Glen Alpine City Schools) and to Create and Establish One Administrative Unit for All Three of the Burke County School Units in Burke County" (the Plan), as rewritten by Section 1 of Chapter 1 of the 1981 Session Laws, beginning with the 2024 election, the members of the Burke County Board of Education shall be elected for four‑year terms on a nonpartisan basis at the time of the general election in each even‑numbered year as terms expire. The elections shall be held and conducted in accordance with general laws governing elections for county officers.
SECTION 2.2.  Notwithstanding the Plan, in 2024, four members of the Burke County Board of Education shall be elected on the date of the general election, and every four years thereafter, and in 2026, three members of the Burke County Board of Education shall be elected on the date of the general election, and every four years thereafter.
Elected members of the Board shall take office and qualify on the first Monday in December of the year of their election, and the terms of their predecessors shall expire at that same time. Members shall serve until a successor has been elected and qualified.
SECTION 2.3.  Each member of the Burke County Board of Education elected in 2019 or 2021, or any member appointed to fill a vacancy of a member elected in 2019 or 2021, shall have his or her term extended by one year and shall serve until a successor has been elected and qualified.

PART III. EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 3.1.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections held on or after that date.