GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2023

SESSION LAW 2023-98

HOUSE BILL 57

an act to provide FOR EVEN‑YEAR ELECTIONS AND TO EXTEND THE TERMS OF ELECTED OFFICERS IN THE TOWNS OF HARMONY AND LOVE VALLEY.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

part ii. tOWN OF hARMONY ELECTION cHANGES

SECTION 2.(a)  Notwithstanding the order of the Municipal Control Board, dated February 10, 1927, regular municipal elections in the Town of Harmony shall be held at the time of the general election in each even‑numbered year. Election of the mayor and town council members shall be on a nonpartisan plurality basis and the results determined in accordance with G.S. 163‑292. Except as otherwise provided by this act, the election shall be conducted in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws in Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. The mayor shall serve a four‑year term, and town council members shall serve staggered four‑year terms.

SECTION 2.(b)  Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the mayor and town council members elected in the 2023 regular municipal elections shall serve for a one‑year term.

SECTION 2.(c)  In 2024, a mayor and four town council members shall be elected. In the 2024 election, to implement staggering of terms for town council members, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall serve four‑year terms, and the two candidates receiving the next highest number of votes shall serve two‑year terms. In 2026 and quadrennially thereafter, two town council members shall be elected to serve four‑year terms. In 2028 and quadrennially thereafter, a mayor and two town council members shall be elected to serve four‑year terms.

SECTION 2.(d)  This Part is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections held on or after that date.

part iii. tOWN OF lOVE vALLEY eLECTION cHANGES

SECTION 3.(a)  Notwithstanding the order of the Municipal Control Board, dated March 29, 1963, regular municipal elections in the Town of Love Valley shall be held at the time of the general election in each even‑numbered year. Election of the mayor and commissioners shall be on a nonpartisan plurality basis and the results determined in accordance with G.S. 163‑292. Except as otherwise provided by this act, the election shall be conducted in accordance with the uniform municipal election laws in Chapter 163 of the General Statutes. The mayor shall serve a four‑year term, and commissioners shall serve staggered four‑year terms.

SECTION 3.(b)  Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the mayor and five commissioners elected in the 2023 regular municipal elections shall serve for a one‑year term.

SECTION 3.(c)  In 2024, a mayor and five commissioners shall be elected. In the 2024 election, to implement staggering of terms for commissioners, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall serve four‑year terms, and the three candidates receiving the next highest number of votes shall serve two‑year terms. In 2026 and quadrennially thereafter, three commissioners shall be elected to serve four‑year terms. In 2028 and quadrennially thereafter, a mayor and two commissioners shall be elected to serve four‑year terms.

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

part iv. eFFECTIVE dATE

SECTION 4.  Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 13th day of July, 2023.

                                                                    s/  Phil Berger

                                                                         President Pro Tempore of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Jason Saine

                                                                         Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives