GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2021
H 1
HOUSE BILL 171
Short Title: Burden of Proof-Challenge to Candidacy. |
(Public) |
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Sponsors: |
Representatives Clampitt, C. Smith, Miller, and Moffitt (Primary Sponsors). For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site. |
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Referred to: |
Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House |
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March 1, 2021
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PLACE THE BURDEN OF PROOF ON THE CHALLENGER when a CHALLENGE TO A CANDIDATE IS FILED.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. G.S. 163‑127.5 reads as rewritten:
"§ 163‑127.5. Burden of proof.
(a) The burden of proof
shall be upon the candidate, challenger, who must show by a
preponderance of the evidence of the record as a whole that he or she the
candidate is not qualified to be a candidate for the office.
(1) An actual abandonment of the
a first domicile, coupled with an intent not to return to the first
domicile.
(2) The acquisition of a new domicile by actual residence at another place.
(3) The intent of making the
a newer domicile a permanent domicile."
SECTION 2. G.S. 163‑127.4 reads as rewritten:
"§ 163‑127.4. Conduct of hearing by panel.
(a) The panel conducting a hearing under this Article shall do all of the following:
(1) Within five business days after the challenge is filed, designate and announce the time of the hearing and the facility where the hearing will be held. The hearing shall be held at a location in the district reasonably convenient to the public, and shall preferably be held in the county receiving the notice of the candidacy or petition. If the district for the office covers only part of a county, the hearing shall be at a location in the county convenient to residents of the district, but need not be in the district.
(2) Allow for depositions prior to the hearing, if requested by the challenger or candidate before the time of the hearing is designated and announced.
(3) Issue subpoenas for witnesses or documents, or both, upon request of the parties or upon its own motion.
(4) Render a written decision within 20 business days after the challenge is filed and serve that written decision on the parties.
(b) Notice of Hearing. – The panel shall give notice of the hearing to the challenger, to the candidate, other candidates filing or petitioning to be elected to the same office, to the county chair of each political party in every county in the district for the office, and to those persons who have requested to be notified. Each person given notice shall also be given a copy of the challenge or a summary of its allegations.
Failure to comply with the notice requirements in this subsection shall not delay the holding of a hearing nor invalidate the results if the individuals required by this section to be notified have not been notified.
(c) Conduct of Hearing. – The hearing under this Article shall be conducted as follows:
(1) The panel may allow evidence to be presented at the hearing in the form of affidavits supporting documents, or it may examine witnesses. The chair or any two members of the panel may subpoena witnesses or documents. The parties shall be allowed to issue subpoenas for witnesses or documents, or both, including a subpoena of the candidate. Each witness must be placed under oath before testifying. The State Board shall provide the wording of the oath to the panel.
(2) The panel may receive
evidence at the hearing from any person with information concerning the subject
of the challenge, and such presentation of evidence shall be subject to Chapter
8C of the General Statutes. The challenger shall be permitted to present
evidence at the hearing, but the challenger shall not be required to testify
unless subpoenaed by a party. The panel may allow evidence to be presented by a
person who is present.
(3) The hearing shall be recorded by a reporter or by mechanical means, and the full record of the hearing shall be preserved by the panel until directed otherwise by the State Board.
(d) Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law by Panel. – The panel shall make a written decision on each challenge by separately stating findings of facts, conclusions of law, and an order.
(e) Rules by State Board. – The State Board shall adopt rules providing for adequate notice to parties, scheduling of hearings, and the timing of deliberations and issuance of decisions."
SECTION 3. This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to any challenges that arise on or after that date.