Election Laws

State Election Laws

• North Carolina General Statutes
• North Carolina Administrative Code
• United States Constitution
• North Carolina Constitution

Observers and Runners (Notes)

• Observers and Runners are permitted in all Partisan Elections.
• Observers are permitted by law and are welcomed by the Board of Elections; however, Observers are not permitted to impede the voting process.
• Observers may use electronic devices; however, under no circumstance is it permissible to take a picture or record the image of a voted ballot.
• Observers need to check in with the One Stop Site Chief Judge upon arrival if observing at a One Stop Site. -Observers need to check in with the Election Day Chief Judge upon arrival if observing at a Polling Place on Election Day. -Observers will be given an Observer name tag to wear while observing. -Observers will be directed to the designated Observer Area Chairs will be provided in the designated Observers Area.
• Observers may walk around the Voting Enclosure during the day to observe but are not permitted to be behind the Check In Station or the Help Station. Our laptops contain confidential information which is not public record.
• Observers are not permitted to stand near the voting booths where they could see how a Voter is marking their ballot.
• Observers can make lists from our voter forms at the Ballot Station but may not remove forms from that location. Forms must be kept in order.
• Observers can direct questions to the One Stop Site Chief Judge or Election Day Chief Judge but may not speak with Judges, Assistants, or Voters.
• Observers may go outside to observe a Curbside Vote taking place but may not stand close enough to see how the Voter is marking their ballot.
• Observers are not permitted to provide Voter assistance.
• Observers are not Precinct Officials and are not permitted to assist our Precinct Officials with their processes or procedures. They may direct questions about a process or procedure to the One Stop Site Chief Judge or Election Day Chief Judge.
• Precinct Specific Observers must remain for a minimum of 4 hours. At-Large Observers do not have to remain for a minimum of 4 hours.
• No more than 2 Precinct Specific Observers 1 At-Large Observer (3 Observers) of any one party are permitted into a Voting Location at any one time
• Runners are permitted to enter the Voting Location at 10:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm in order to obtain lists from Observer. Runners are not permitted to remain in the Voting Location and must exit upon receiving the list.
• If a Political Party intends to designate Observers and/or Runners for an Election, two copies of a signed list of names must be submitted to the Elections Director by 10:00 am on the fifth day prior to the day on which the Observer and/or Runner will be at the Voting Location.