FILED SENATE
Mar 28, 2023
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
S.B. 386
SESSION 2023 PRINCIPAL CLERK
S D
SENATE BILL DRS15172-LU-24A
Short Title: Auth. Electoral Districts/City of Northwest. (Local)
Sponsors: Senator Rabon (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to:
1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
2 AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF NORTHWEST TO AMEND ITS CHARTER TO
3 ESTABLISH ELECTORAL DISTRICTS.
4 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
5 SECTION 1. Chapter III of the Charter of the City of Northwest, being Chapter 222
6 of the 1993 Session Laws, reads as written:
7 "CHAPTER III.
8 "GOVERNING BODY.
9 "Sec. 3.1. Structure of Governing Body; Number of Members. The governing body of the
10 City of Northwest is the City Council, which has five members, and the Mayor.
11 "Sec. 3.2. Manner of Electing Council. The Council members shall reside in the respective
12 districts they represent as provided in Article IV of this Charter, but all of the qualified voters of
13 the entire City elect the members of the Council. To be eligible for election, a person must reside
14 in the City.
15 "Sec. 3.3. Term of Office of Council Members. Members of the Council are elected to
16 four-year terms except that of those elected at the initial election in 1993, the three highest vote
17 getters who are elected shall serve for four-year terms and the next two highest vote getters shall
18 serve for two-year terms. In 1995 2023 and quadrennially thereafter, two members of the Council
19 shall be elected from District 3 for four-year terms. In 1997 2025 and quadrennially thereafter,
20 three members of the Council shall be elected from Districts 1, 2, and 4 for four-year terms.
21 …."
22 SECTION 2. Section 4.1 of the Charter of the City of Northwest, being Chapter 222
23 of the 1993 Session Laws, reads as rewritten:
24 "Sec. 4.1. Conduct of Town Elections. The Town officers shall be elected on a nonpartisan
25 basis, and the results determined by plurality as provided in G.S. 163-292. Elections shall be
26 conducted by the Brunswick County Board of Elections. For the purpose of electing Council
27 members, the City is divided into four geographical subdivisions known as districts. Districts 1,
28 2, and 4 shall be single-member districts, and District 3 shall be a two-member district. However,
29 all qualified voters of the City may cast a vote for each seat. The districts are numbered from one
30 to four and are as shown on the existing official map of the City or of the electoral districts, as
31 they may be revised from time to time."
32 SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections held
33 on or after that date.
*DRS15172-LU-24A*