§ 163-127.3. Panel to conduct the hearing on a challenge. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 163‑127.3.  Panel toconduct the hearing on a challenge.

Upon filing of a challenge, apanel shall hear the challenge, as follows:

(1)        Single county. – Ifthe district for the office subject to the challenge covers territory in all orpart of only one county, the panel shall be the county board of elections ofthat county.

(2)        Multicounty but lessthan entire State. – If the district for the office subject to the challengecontains territory in more than one county but is less than the entire State,the Board shall appoint a panel within two business days after the challenge isfiled. The panel shall consist of at least one member of the county board ofelections in each county in the district of the office. The panel shall have anodd number of members, no fewer than three and no more than five. In appointingmembers to the panel, the Board shall appoint members from each county inproportion to the relative total number of registered voters of the counties inthe district for the office. If the district for the office subject to thechallenge covers more than five counties, the panel shall consist of fivemembers with at least one member from the county receiving the notice ofcandidacy or petition and at least one member from the county of residency of thechallenger. The Board shall, to the extent possible, appoint members affiliatedwith different political parties in proportion to the representation of thoseparties on the county boards of elections in the district for the office. TheBoard shall designate a chair for the panel. A meeting of the Board to appointa panel under this subdivision shall be treated as an emergency meeting forpurposes of G.S. 143‑318.12.

(3)        Entire State. – Ifthe district for the office subject to the challenge consists of the entireState, the panel shall be the Board. (2006‑155, s. 1.)