Amends SL 1977-633 (election of members to the Gaston County Board of Education) as follows. Changes the method of election so that seven members of the Gaston County Board of Education are elected from residency districts (was, townships) where they reside and changes the election for all nine members from nonpartisan elections to partisan elections.  Notwithstanding GS 115C-37 (providing for nonpartisan biennial elections of county board members), requires board members to be elected at the time of the general election in each even-numbered year as terms expire for four-year terms. Directs that all candidates be voted on by all eligible voters of the county.  Removes outdated language. Requires candidates to file a notice of candidacy at a time consistent with deadlines for other county officers (currently, notice of candidacy can be filed any time after noon on the Friday preceding the eighteenth Saturday and before noon on the Friday preceding the fourteenth Saturday before the general election).  Sets the election to be held at the time of the general election in each even-numbered year as terms expire. Specifies that candidates for election to the board of education will be nominated at the same time and manner as other county officers. Requires vacancies to be filled using the process set forth in GS 115C-37.1, with the appointee residing in the same district in which the vacating member was elected to serve (currently, vacancies are filled by the remaining members of the Board of Education or by the county commissioners if the Board of Education has not chosen a replacement within 90 days after the vacancy occurs). Makes organizational, technical, and conforming changes. Makes language gender neutral. Effective December 1, 2026.
Specifies that the act does not affect the term of any person elected in 2022 or 2024 to the Board of Education and that each member of the Board of Education elected in 2022 or 2024, or any member appointed to fill a vacancy for a member elected in 2022 or 2024, will serve until a successor has been elected and qualified.
Makes conforming change to GS 115C-37.1 to reflect its applicability to Gaston County. Applies to elections held on or after December 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Filed: 115C-37.1
Edition 1: 115C-37.1