PETITIONS AND NOTICES

1. PETITIONS AND NOTICES CORE COURSE #13 PREPARING FOR A WELLNESS CHECK Don Wright, General Counsel SBOE

2. PETITIONS • EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS ON THE SBOE WEBSITE • CLICK ON “PETITIONS” ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF WEBPAGE • HAVE YOU OR SOMEONE FROM YOUR OFFICE ATTENDED THE SEIMS TRAINING FOR PETITIONS?

3. Welcome to the Web site for Instructions for Filing Petitions in North Carolina • Purpose of Petitions  - Petitions are used  to place issues and candidates upon ballots.   • View Statewide Petitions -  To view current statewide petitions and the status of the petition click here. • Creating Petitions - Before you begin distributing a petition, you need to be aware of the laws governing your particular petition, as well as general provisions pertaining to petitions in North Carolina.  This web site guides you through the process and provides statutes and petition templates.  These templates conform to requirements listed in the General Statutes. • We encourage you to contact the State Board of Elections or your County Board of Elections if you have any questions.  If you follow the steps listed below and use the petition templates provided, you should encounter few problems in processing your petition. • Before you begin, make sure you have  Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to read the statutes and forms.  If you do not have this application installed on your computer, click  http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html and follow their instructions to download a free copy. • Signature Requirements

4. Welcome to the Web site for Instructions for Filing Petitions in North Carolina (Continued) • Now, follow these links and instructions: • Click hereto read the laws governing petitions in general. • Click here to read the law governing your petition. • Click hereto see a list of Petition Forms.  When you select your petition form, print a copy and reproduce as many copies as you need to gather required signatures. • Click here to find out who to call to obtain the number of signatures that you will need. • If the petition is a State-Wide Petition, notify the State Board of Elections of your intention to file.  You can do this by completing the top portion of the petition and faxing it to (919) 715-0135 or by mailing it to Deputy Director of Administration, NC State Board of Elections, PO Box 27255, Raleigh, NC 27603, or by clicking hereto send an e-mail request.  In addition to the petition information, you will need to provide a contact name, mailing address and telephone number.

5. Welcome to the Web site for Instructions for Filing Petitions in North Carolina (Continued) • Gather signatures.  File your petition with the County Board of Elections where the voters who sign are registered.  Use one set of petition forms for each county.  If a voter does not reside in the county, municipality, or township for which the petition is filed, his or her signature will not be counted.  Note also that persons cannot sign the petition for anyone other than himself or herself. • The appropriate County Board of Elections will certify the petition signatures  Click here to see a list of County Offices and Contacts.  If the petition is a State-Wide Petition, the county will submit certification to the State Board of Elections.  • The State Board will notify you when the required number of signatures has been collected.  If the petition is a county or municipal petition, the County Board of Elections will contact you. • Other Information • General StatutesSpecific StatutesPetition Templates

6. What are the obligations to verifying signatures on petitions? • If a county elections worker's "common sense" or "first glance" raises concerns about the signature, then that worker should investigate further. • For instance, if it appears a man has signed a woman's name or two different names back to back appear to be in the same handwriting, it should raise a red flag.

7. NOTICES G.S.163-33(8) (8)       To provide for the issuance of all notices, advertisements, and publications concerning elections required by law. If the election is on a State bond issue, an amendment to the Constitution, or approval of an act submitted to the voters of the State, the State Board of Elections shall reimburse the county boards of elections for their reasonable additional costs in placing such notices, advertisements, and publications. In addition, the county board of elections shall give notice at least 20 days prior to the date on which the registration books or records are closed that there will be a primary, general or special election, the date on which it will be held, and the hours the voting places will be open for voting in that election. The notice also shall describe the nature and type of election, and the issues, if any, to be submitted to the voters at that election. Notice shall be given by advertisement at least once weekly during the 20‑day period in a newspaper having general circulation in the county and by posting a copy of the notice at the courthouse door. Notice may additionally be made on a radio or television station or both, but such notice shall be in addition to the newspaper and other required notice. This subdivision shall not apply in the case of bond elections called under the provisions of Chapter 159

8. NOTICE OF MEETING FORMAT • January 31, 2005 NOTICE OF MEETING The State Board of Elections will meet at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 4, 2005, at the Board’s offices at 506 North Harrington Street, Raleigh, North Carolina. For further information on this meeting, please call John Smith at (919) 733-7173. TENATIVE AGENDA • Call to Order 10:00 a.m. • Matters as to the Commissioner of Agriculture Race • Robeson County - District Court Judge Race Protest Appeal • Matters as to the Superintendent of Public Instruction Race • Appointments to Current Vacancies on County Boards of Elections • Certification of the Election of State House Representative John D. Hall