The Delayed Release of 2020 Block-Level Data, by the U.S. Census Bureau, has led North Carolina to Delay Municipal Elections, currently scheduled for 2021.
A Bill Postponing this year's Municipal Elections in North Carolina to 2022, became Law on June 28th. It affects Elections in at least 35 Municipalities, including Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro, and Raleigh.
The Bill (SB722), applies to any Municipality holding Elections in 2021 for Officers representing a Subdivision within the Municipality, such as a City Council Ward. In other words, this Change does Not affect Mayoral Elections. SB722 allows Municipalities holding Elections for At-Large Offices to proceed as scheduled in 2021.
Once the U.S. Census Bureau Releases Raw 2020 Block-Level Data in Mid-August, the Municipalities will make any needed Changes to their Electoral Districts. In previous Census Cycles, the Bureau delivered Block-Level Data in the Spring.
Current Officeholders in affected Municipalities whose Terms were, set to Expire in 2021, will remain in Office until after the Elections in 2022.
The Bill became Law without Gov. Roy Cooper's (D) Signature. "While delays to census data caused by the pandemic necessitate changes to local elections, decisions about local elections like these should involve more open discussion and public input, and therefore, these changes will become law without my signature."
The North Carolina House of Representatives Unanimously Approved SB722 on June 9th. The North Carolina Senate Approved theBbill 33-14 on June 14th. All Votes Opposed came from Democrats. Republicans Control the chamber 28-22.
Elections will be Rescheduled based on each Municipality’s current Election Methods:
- For Municipalities using either the Partisan Primary and Election Method, Charlotte or the Nonpartisan Primary and Election Method for Fayetteville, the Primary will take place on March 8th, 2022.
- The General Election will take place on April 26th, 2022, unless a Primary for the U.S. House or Senate Advances to a Runoff. In that case, the General Election for these Municipalities will take place on May 17th, 2022.
- For Municipalities using the Nonpartisan Plurality Method, like Greenville, the General Election will take place on March 8th, 2022.
Filing Deadlines:
- For Municipalities that Revise their District Maps on or before Nov. 17th, the Candidate Filing period for the 2022 Elections will Open on Dec. 6th and close on Dec. 17th.
- For Municipalities that Revise their District Maps between Nov. 18th and Dec. 17th, the Candidate Filing Period will Open on Jan. 3rd, 2022, and Close on Jan. 7th, 2022.
- Municipalities that wish to Proceed with At-Large Elections as Scheduled in 2021 must Notify their County Election Boards within Five Days of the Opening of the Candidate filing Period.
At least One other State, Illinois, has Postponed Statewide 2022 Primaries by Three Months in response to the Delay.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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