GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2023

SESSION LAW 2023-30

HOUSE BILL 99

AN ACT to provide that members of the wake county board of commissioners shall be elected from electoral districts beginning in 2024 and to increase the size of the wake county board of commissioners to nine members beginning in 2026.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a)  In 2024, the Wake County Board of Commissioners shall consist of seven members who shall serve staggered four‑year terms. The members on the Wake County Board of Commissioners shall be elected from seven single‑member electoral districts. The districts shall be the districts as were adopted by the Wake County Board of Commissioners on November 1, 2021. One member shall be elected from each district, and the qualified voters of each district shall elect the Board member for that district. Only qualified voters residing in that district may vote for the Board member from that district, and each candidate for a district seat shall reside in the district in which the candidate seeks election.

SECTION 1.(b)  In 2026 and thereafter, the Wake County Board of Commissioners shall consist of nine members who shall serve four‑year staggered terms. Members on the Wake County Board of Commissioners shall consist of the following:

(1)        Seven members elected from seven single‑member electoral districts. The districts shall be the districts as were adopted by the Wake County Board of Commissioners on November 1, 2021. One member shall be elected from each district, and the qualified voters of each district shall elect the Board member for that district. Only qualified voters residing in that district may vote for the Board member from that district, and each candidate for a district seat shall reside in the district in which the candidate seeks election.

(2)        Two members elected from the county at‑large. The qualified voters of the entire county may vote for these Board members.

SECTION 1.(c)  In 2026, an election shall be held for two members of the Wake County Board of Commissioners elected by the county at‑large. In the 2026 election, to implement staggering of terms for the Wake County Board of Commissioners members elected at‑large, the at‑large candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall serve a four‑year term, and the at‑large candidate receiving the second highest number of votes shall serve a two‑year term. In 2028, and every two years thereafter, one at‑large candidate shall be elected as terms expire.

SECTION 1.(d)  To implement staggering of terms for the members of the Wake County Board of Commissioners representing electoral districts, the members shall be elected and serve as follows:

(1)        In 2024, and every four years thereafter, the members elected from Districts 4, 5, and 6 shall each serve a four‑year term.

(2)        In 2026, and every four years thereafter, the members elected from Districts 1, 2, 3, and 7 shall each serve a four‑year term.

SECTION 2.(a)  G.S. 153A‑22.1(f), as enacted by Chapter 215 of the 1995 Session Laws, and as rewritten by S.L. 1998‑175 and S.L. 2011‑126, reads as rewritten:

"(f)       This section applies to Henderson, Moore, and Wake Henderson and Moore Counties only."

SECTION 2.(b)  Sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Chapter 983 of the 1981 Session Laws are repealed.

SECTION 2.(c)  S.L. 2015‑4 is repealed.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections held on or after that date.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 7^th day of June, 2023.

                                                                    s/  Phil Berger

                                                                         President Pro Tempore of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Tim Moore

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives