163-132.3. (Effective until January 1, 2020) Alterations to approved precinct boundaries.

(a) No county board of elections may change any precinct boundary unless the Executive Director of the State Board of Elections determines that the county board has a current capability of complying with G.S. 163-132.1B(a2) [now repealed] by reporting all election returns by voting tabulation district as required by G.S. 163-132.5G. If the Executive Director so determines, the county board may make any changes to precinct boundaries, provided that all proposed new precincts shall consist solely of contiguous territory. The State Board of Elections may set uniform standards for precinct boundaries, which the county boards of elections shall follow. The county board of elections shall report every change in precinct boundary to the Executive Director in a format required by the Executive Director.

The county boards of elections shall report precinct boundary changes to the Executive Director in the manner the Executive Director directs. No newly created or altered precinct boundary is effective until approved by the Executive Director of the State Board as being in compliance with this section.

(b), (c) Reserved

(d) The Executive Director of the State Board of Elections shall examine the maps of the proposed new or altered precincts and any required written descriptions. If the Executive Director of the State Board determines that all precinct boundaries are in compliance with this section, the Executive Director of the State Board shall approve the maps and written descriptions as filed and these precincts shall be the official precincts.

(e) If the Executive Director of the State Board determines that the proposed precinct boundaries are not in compliance with subsection (a) of this section, the Executive Director shall not approve those precinct boundaries. The Executive Director shall notify the county board of elections of his disapproval specifying the reasons. The county board of elections may then resubmit new precinct maps and written descriptions to cure the reasons for their disapproval.

163-132.3. (Effective January 1, 2020) Alterations to approved precinct boundaries.

(a) No county board of elections may change any precinct boundary unless approved by the Executive Director of the State Board of Elections.

(b) The State Board of Elections shall set uniform standards for precinct boundaries that the county boards of elections shall follow. Any uniform standards for precinct boundaries set by the State Board shall comply with all of the following:

(1) Precinct boundaries shall coincide with Census block boundaries.

(2) Precincts shall consist solely of contiguous territory.

(3) Precincts shall consist of territory and population that allows for efficient and accurate administration of elections, taking into consideration available polling places and access to polling places.

(4) The county shall be able to reallocate any out of precinct ballots cast by a voter to the precinct associated with that voter's voter registration for purposes of reporting the results of an election.

(c) The county board of elections shall report every change in precinct boundary to the Executive Director in a format required by the Executive Director.

No newly created or altered precinct boundary is effective until approved by the Executive Director of the State Board as being in compliance with this section.

(d) The Executive Director of the State Board of Elections shall examine the maps of the proposed new or altered precincts and any required written descriptions. If the Executive Director of the State Board determines that all precinct boundaries are in compliance with this section, the Executive Director of the State Board shall approve the maps and written descriptions as filed and these precincts shall be the official precincts for voting.

(e) If the Executive Director of the State Board determines that the proposed precinct boundaries are not in compliance with subsection (b) of this section, the Executive Director shall not approve those precinct boundaries. The Executive Director shall notify the county board of elections of the disapproval specifying the reasons. The county board of elections may then resubmit new precinct maps and written descriptions to cure the reasons for the disapproval.