A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT authorizing the city of northwest to amend its charter to establish electoral districts.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Chapter III of the Charter of the City of Northwest, being Chapter 222 of the 1993 Session Laws, reads as written:
"CHAPTER III.
"GOVERNING BODY.
"Sec. 3.1. Structure of Governing Body; Number of Members. The governing body of the City of Northwest is the City Council, which has five members, and the Mayor.
"Sec. 3.2. Manner of Electing Council. Council members shall reside in the respective districts they represent as provided in Article IV of this Charter, but all of the qualified voters of the entire City elect the members of the Council.
"Sec. 3.3. Term of Office of Council Members. Members of the Council are elected to four‑year terms except that of those elected at the initial election in 1993, the three highest vote getters who are elected shall serve for four‑year terms and the next two highest vote getters shall serve for two‑year terms. In 2023 and quadrennially thereafter, two members of the Council shall be elected from District 3 for four‑year terms. In 2025 and quadrennially thereafter, three members of the Council shall be elected from Districts 1, 2, and 4 for four‑year terms.
…."
SECTION 2.  Section 4.1 of the Charter of the City of Northwest, being Chapter 222 of the 1993 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 4.1. Conduct of Town Elections. The Town officers shall be elected on a nonpartisan basis, and the results determined by plurality as provided in G.S. 163‑292. Elections shall be conducted by the Brunswick County Board of Elections. For the purpose of electing Council members, the City is divided into four geographical subdivisions known as districts. Districts 1, 2, and 4 shall be single‑member districts, and District 3 shall be a two‑member district. However, all qualified voters of the City may cast a vote for each seat. The districts are numbered from one to four and are as shown on the existing official map of the City or of the electoral districts, as they may be revised from time to time."
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections held on or after that date.