AN ACT to change the method of election for the Orange County board of education to the plurality method.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Chapter 603 of the Session Laws of 1977, as amended by Chapter 1214 of the Session Laws of 1981, reads as rewritten:

Section 1. The Orange County Board of Education shall be elected on a nonpartisan basis at the time of the primary election in 1978 and biennially thereafter. The names of the candidates shall be printed on the ballots without reference to any party affiliation. The election and runoff election nonpartisan plurality method shall be used with the results determined as provided in G.S. 163-293, G.S. 163‑292, and absentee ballots shall be permitted. Except as may be otherwise provided herein, the elections shall be conducted according to the provisions of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes governing elections for county officers.

Sec. 2. In accordance with the provisions of this act the Orange County Board of Education shall consist of seven members. Present members of the board shall serve out their present terms. Except as hereinafter provided, all board members shall serve for terms of four years and shall take office at the time and in accordance with the requirements specified in G.S. 115‑22. At the time of the primary election in 1978, five persons shall be elected to the board. The three persons receiving the highest number of votes shall serve for terms of four years and the two receiving the lowest number of votes shall serve for terms of two years. At the time of the primary election in 1980, three persons shall be elected to the board for four‑year terms. At the time of the primary election in 1982, four persons shall be elected to the board for four‑year terms.

Sec. 3. Vacancies on the Orange County Board of Education shall be filled in accordance with the requirements of G.S. 115‑24 and compensation for board members shall be established in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 115‑29.

Sec. 4. All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 5. This act shall become effective upon ratification.

Sec. 6. If a runoff election is required, the runoff election shall be held at the time for the second primary as provided in G.S. 163-111(e) and those persons elected members of Orange County Board of Education shall qualify and take office on the first Monday of the month following their election.

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections beginning in 2026.