A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT REQUIRING THAT ELECTIONS FOR ALL MUNICIPALITIES IN hAYWOOD COUNTY AND MADISON COUNTY BE CONDUCTED ON A PARTISAN BASIS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.1.  Section 5 of the Charter of the Town of Canton, being Chapter 90 of the Private Laws of 1907, as amended by Chapter 178 of the Private Laws of 1911, Chapter 78 of the Private Laws of 1920, Chapter 204 of the Private Laws of 1923, and Section 2‑2 of the Town Ordinance adopted on August 27, 2013, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 5. Regular municipal elections for the officers of the Town of Canton, North Carolina, shall be held in odd‑numbered years and shall be conducted in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina. The qualified voters of the Town of Canton shall elect four Aldermen and a Mayor, all of whom must be residents of the Town of Canton. The Mayor shall be elected for a four year term. The four Aldermen shall be elected for staggered four‑year terms. Town officers shall be elected on a partisan basis, as provided in G.S. 163‑291."
SECTION 1.2.  Section 4 of the Charter of the Town of Clyde, being Chapter 189 of the Private Laws of 1889, as amended by Chapter 240 of the Private Laws of 1891, Chapter 873 of the 1945 Session Laws, Chapter 807 of the 1949 Session Laws, and Chapter 26 of the 1953 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 4. Regular municipal elections in the Town of Clyde shall be held in odd‑numbered years and shall be conducted in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina. Town officers shall be elected on a partisan basis, as provided in G.S. 163‑291."
SECTION 1.3.  Section 4‑1 of the Charter of the Town of Maggie Valley, being Chapter 1337 of the 1973 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 4 ‑1. Conduct of town elections. Regular municipal elections shall be held in the Town in odd‑numbered years and shall be conducted in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina. Town officers shall be elected on a partisan basis, as provided by G.S. 163‑291."
SECTION 1.4.  Section 3.1 of the Charter of the Town of Waynesville, being Chapter 126 of the 1995 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 3.1. Regular Municipal Elections; Conduct. Regular municipal elections shall be held in the Town every four years in odd‑numbered years, and shall be conducted in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina. The Mayor and members of the Board shall be elected on a partisan basis, as provided in G.S. 163‑291."
SECTION 2.1.(a)  Section 4 of the Charter of the Town of Hot Springs, being Chapter 210 of the Private Laws of 1929, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 4. Regular municipal elections for the officers of the Town of Hot Springs shall be held in odd‑numbered years and shall be conducted in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina. The qualified voters of the Town of Hot Springs shall elect a mayor and a board of aldermen consisting of three members. The Town officers shall be elected for two‑year terms. The Town officers shall be elected on a partisan basis, as provided in G.S. 163‑291."
SECTION 2.1.(b)  This section becomes effective January 1, 2025, and applies to elections held in 2025 and thereafter.
SECTION 2.2.(a)  Section 5 of Article I of the Charter of the Town of Mars Hill, being Chapter 890 of the 1953 Session Laws, as amended by Ord. No. 168 adopted on March 6, 2008, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 5. The corporate and legislative powers of the Town of Mars Hill shall be vested in a mayor and board of aldermen consisting of four members. The mayor shall be elected for a four‑year term, and the four aldermen shall be elected for staggered four‑year terms. Before entering upon the duties of their respective offices, each shall take an oath of office which shall be signed and recorded in the Town Archives."
SECTION 2.2.(b)  Section 1 of Article VII of the Charter of the Town of Mars Hill, being Chapter 890 of the 1953 Session Laws, as amended by Ord. No. 168 adopted on March 6, 2008, reads as rewritten:
"Section 1. Regular municipal elections in the Town of Mars Hill shall be held in odd‑numbered years and shall be conducted in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina. The mayor and four aldermen shall be elected on a partisan basis, as provided in G.S. 163‑291."
SECTION 2.2.(c)  Sections 2 through 12 of Article VII of the Charter of the Town of Mars Hill, being Chapter 890 of the 1953 Session Laws, are repealed.
SECTION 2.3.  Section 3 of the Charter of the Town of Marshall, being Chapter 165 of the Private Laws of 1905, as amended by Chapter 232 of the Private Laws of 1913 and the Town Ordinance adopted on May 5, 1997, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 3. The qualified voters of the Town of Marshall shall elect a mayor and board of aldermen consisting of five members. The mayor shall be elected for a two‑year term, and the members of the board of aldermen shall be elected for staggered four‑year terms. Regular municipal elections shall be held in odd‑numbered years and shall be conducted in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws of North Carolina. Town officers shall be elected on a partisan basis, as provided in G.S. 163‑291."
SECTION 3.  This act shall have the effect of repealing any conflicting provisions of local or special acts or conflicting local ordinances relating to the nonpartisan municipal elections for any municipalities covered by this act. This act shall not affect the filling of a vacancy in a municipal election that occurs for a seat elected prior to the effective date of this act.
SECTION 4.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections held in 2023 and thereafter.