The Green Papers: North Carolina State and Local Government

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Governor:1
Senators: 2 (Electoral Classes 2 and 3)
2020 Census: 10,453,948 (3.15% of 331,797,979
- 2024, 2028 Electors: 16 (2.97% of 538)
- 2022-2030 Representatives: 14 (3.22% of 435)
2010 Census: 9,565,781 (3.09% of 309,785,186)
- 2012, 2016, 2020 Electors: 15 (2.79% of 538)
- 2012-2020 Representatives: 13 (2.99% of 435)
Capital: Raleigh

Current North Carolina Statewide Office Holders

Official Name/Status All States

The STATE of North Carolina
Status: STATE of the Union
Ratified Articles of Confederation: 5 April 1778. this State formally adhered to the Articles on 21 July 1778 when the document was signed by its delegates to the Seventh Continental Congress
Ratified Constitution of the United States: 21 November 1789
The 12th state.

Traditional Sections and Regions All States

Section: SOUTH
Region: Upper ["Border"] South
Survey: Metes & Bounds

Constitutions All States Links to State Constitutions

Enabling Act: [None. One of the 13 original States which declared their independence from the nascent British Empire on 4 July 1776]
- 1st (1776-1868) [Adopted: 18 December 1776 Convention convened, 12 November 1776, Ratified: 18 December 1776 not submitted to the People]
- 2nd (1868-1876) [Adopted: 16 March 1868 Convention convened, 14 January 1868, Ratified: April 1868 ratified by a vote of 93,118 to 74,009]
- 3rd (1876-1971) [Adopted: 12 October 1875 Convention convened, 6 September 1875, Ratified: 7 November 1876 ratified by a vote of 122,912 to 108,829]
- 4th (1971-) [Adopted: 1969 drafted and enacted by the General Assembly, Ratified: 3 November 1970 effective, 1 July 1971]

Executive Branch All States

Chief Executive
- GOVERNOR
Successor to a Vacancy
- Lieutenant Governor [elected separately from GOVERNOR]

Major Executive Officers Elected Statewide All States
- Governor: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2020, 2024. Term Limit: 2 consecutive 4-year terms
- Lieutenant Governor: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2020, 2024
- Secretary of State: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2020, 2024
- Attorney General: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2020, 2024
- Treasurer: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2020, 2024
- Auditor: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2020, 2024
- Commissioner of Agriculture: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2020, 2024
- Commissioner of Insurance: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2020, 2024
- Commissioner of Labor: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2020, 2024
- Superintendent of Public Instruction: 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2020, 2024

Legislative Branch All States

Legislature
- GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Upper House
- Senate
Lower House
- House of Representatives

Judicial Branch All States

Court of Last Resort
- Supreme Court
Intermediate Appellate Court
- Court of Appeals

Local Government All States

PRIMARY CIVIL DIVISION All States
- County [Type: Strong, Executive and Legislative: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS]
  - MINOR CIVIL DIVISION
    - township [Type: None, Executive and Legislative: no associated governmental structure]

Statutory Election Information All States

General Election All States
- On Tuesday next after the first Monday in November in the year 1968, and every four years thereafter, or on such days as the Congress of the United States shall direct.... [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163 § 163-1. c.]
Presidential Primary All States
- (1992-2013) On the Tuesday after the first Monday in May, 1992, and every four years thereafter, the voters of this State shall be given an opportunity to express their preference for the person to be the presidential candidate of their political party. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter § 163‑213.2.]
- (2013-2015) "the Tuesday after the ... South Carolina presidential preference primary ..." providing that "South Carolina holds its presidential primary before the 15th day of March".
- (2016-2019) "On March 15, 2016, the voters of this State shall be given an opportunity to express the voters' preference for the person to be the presidential candidate of the voters' political party." [House Bill 373 SECTION 1.(b)]
- (2020--) On the Tuesday after the first Monday in March, 2020, and every four years thereafter, the voters of this State shall be given an opportunity to express their preference for the person to be the presidential candidate of their political party.... [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-1 (b)]
State Primary All States
- (--2012) On Tuesday next after the first Monday in May preceding each general election to be held in November [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-1 (b)]
  If ... there is more than one person seeking nomination, the substantial plurality shall be ... forty percent (40%) .... the aspirant who obtains a substantial plurality shall be declared the nominee ... If two candidates receive a substantial plurality, the candidate receiving the highest vote shall be declared the nominee. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-111 (a)(1)]
  If .. no aspirant receives a substantial plurality ... the aspirant receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared nominated ... unless the aspirant receiving the second highest number of votes shall request a second primary .... In the second primary only the two aspirants who received the highest and next highest number of votes shall be voted for. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-111 (b)(1)]
  If a second primary is required ... the ... board ... shall order that it be held seven weeks after the first primary. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-111 (3)(e)]
- (2012-2015) On Tuesday next after the first Monday in May preceding each general election to be held in November [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-1. b.]
  If ... there is more than one person seeking nomination, the substantial plurality shall be ... forty percent (40%) .... the aspirant who obtains a substantial plurality shall be declared the nominee ... If two candidates receive a substantial plurality, the candidate receiving the highest vote shall be declared the nominee. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-111 (a)(1)]
  If .. no aspirant receives a substantial plurality ... the aspirant receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared nominated ... unless the aspirant receiving the second highest number of votes shall request a second primary .... In the second primary only the two aspirants who received the highest and next highest number of votes shall be voted for. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-111 (b)(1)]
  If a second primary is required ... the ... board ... shall order that it be held 10 weeks after the first primary if any of the offices ... is for .. United States Senate or ... House of Representatives. Otherwise, the second primary will be held 7 weeks after the first primary. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-111 (3)(e)]
- (2016-2017) ... the primary election in 2016 shall be conducted on the same date as the 2016 presidential preference primary [15 March 2016] ... [House Bill 373 SECTION 2.(a)]
  ... if a second primary is required ... the appropriate board of elections... shall order that it be held May 24, 2016, if any of the offices for which a second primary is required are for a candidate for the office of United States Senate or member of the United States House of Representatives. Otherwise, the second primary shall be held May 3, 2016. [House Bill 373 SECTION 2.(d)]
- (2018-2019) On Tuesday next after the first Monday in May preceding each general election to be held in November [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-1. b.]
  If a nominee for a single office is to be selected, and there is more than one person seeking nomination, the substantial plurality shall be ... 30% ... the aspirant who obtains a substantial plurality shall be declared the nominee. If two candidates receive a substantial plurality, the candidate receiving the highest vote shall be declared the nominee. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-111 (a)(1)]
  If .. no aspirant receives a substantial plurality ... the aspirant receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared nominated ... unless the aspirant receiving the second highest number of votes shall request a second primary .... In the second primary only the two aspirants who received the highest and next highest number of votes shall be voted for. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-111 (b)(1)]
  If a second primary is required ... the ... board ... shall order that it be held 10 weeks after the first primary if any of the offices ... is for .. United States Senate or ... House of Representatives. Otherwise, the second primary will be held 7 weeks after the first primary. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-111 (3)(e)]
- (2019--) On Tuesday next after the first Monday in March preceding each general election to be held in November ... there shall be held ... a primary election for the purpose of nominating candidates for each political party.... [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-1 (b)]
  If a nominee for a single office is to be selected, and there is more than one person seeking nomination, the substantial plurality shall be ... 30% ... the aspirant who obtains a substantial plurality shall be declared the nominee. If two candidates receive a substantial plurality, the candidate receiving the highest vote shall be declared the nominee. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163A. § 163A-984 (a)(1)]
  If .. no aspirant receives a substantial plurality ... the aspirant receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared nominated ... unless the aspirant receiving the second highest number of votes shall request a second primary .... In the second primary only the two aspirants who received the highest and next highest number of votes shall be voted for. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163A. § 163A-984 (b)(1)]
  If a second primary is required ... the ... board ... shall order that it be held 10 weeks after the first primary if any of the offices ... is for .. United States Senate or ... House of Representatives. Otherwise, the second primary will be held 7 weeks after the first primary. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163A. § 163A-984 (e)]
Polling times All States
- Hours for voting. In every election, the voting place shall be open at 6:30 A.M. and shall be closed at 7:30 P.M. In extraordinary circumstances, the county board of elections may direct that the polls remain open until 8:30 P.M. [NCGA General Statutes - Chapter 163. § 163-166.01.]

Links Links to other web sites. These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes.

Election Authority. All States
- North Carolina State Board of Elections
Legislature. All States
Democratic
- North Carolina Democratic Party
Republican
- North Carolina House Republicans
- North Carolina Republican Party
Third Party
Media & others

State and Local Government Outline

Modified .