NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1959 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 563

HOUSE BILL 737

 

 

AN ACT AUTHORIZING AN ELECTION IN LEE COUNTY UPON THE QUESTION OF DISTRICTING THE COUNTY FOR THE NOMINATION OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

 

Section 1. The Board of Commissioners of Lee County is authorized and empowered, at the time of the general election in 1960 or at the time of any other election conducted in Lee County prior to said date, to order an election' to be held to determine whether said county shall be divided into five districts for the purpose of nominating members of the Board of Commissioners of Lee County. In the event said special election is called by the Board of Commissioners of Lee County, the same shall be held and conducted by the Lee County Board of Elections on the date fixed by said board of county commissioners. In said election a ballot shall be used upon which shall be printed on separate lines for each proposition "For Nominating Commissioners by Districts" and "Against Nominating Commissioners by Districts". Those favoring nominating members of the county commissioners by districts shall mark in the voting square to the left of the words "For Nominating Commissioners by Districts", printed on the ballot, and those opposed to nominating members of the county commissioners by districts shall mark in the voting square to the left of the words "Against Nominating Commissioners by Districts", printed on the ballot. Except as otherwise herein provided, if a special election is called, the special election authorized shall be conducted under the same statutes, rules and regulations applicable to the general elections of Lee County and no new registration of voters for such election shall be necessary. The cost of said election shall be paid from the General Fund of Lee County.

Sec. 2. In the event a majority of the votes cast by the qualified voters of Lee County at said election shall be for nominating commissioners by districts, then for the purpose of nominating members of the County Board of Commissioners of Lee County, the county shall be divided into five (5) districts designated as follows:

(a)       District No. 1 shall be composed of Cape Fear and Deep River Townships.

(b)       District No. 2 shall be composed of East Sanford Township.

(c)       District No. 3 shall be composed of West Sanford Township.

(d)       District No. 4 shall be composed of Jonesboro Township.

(e)       District No. 5 shall be composed of Greenwood and Pocket Townships.

Sec. 3. In the event said special election shall be held in Lee County prior to the time of the primary election in 1960, and in the event a majority of the votes cast by the qualified voters of Lee County at said election shall be for nominating commissioners by districts, then and in that event, in the primary election to be held in Lee. County in 1960 and quadrennially thereafter there shall be nominated by each political party one candidate for membership on the board of commissioners of said county from districts 1 and 2 as above designated; in the primary election to be held in Lee County in 1962 and quadrennially thereafter there shall be nominated by each political party one candidate for membership on the board of commissioners from districts 3, 4 and 5 as above designated; the primary election shall be conducted under the same rules and regulations as are now provided by laws for the nomination of other county officers of Lee County. The candidate from each of the political parties shall be voted on by the electors of Lee County voting as a whole, and the candidate from each of said districts receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared the nominee of his party for said office.

Sec. 4. In the event said special electi6n shall be held in Lee County at the time of the general election in 1960 and in the event that a majority of the votes cast by the qualified voters of Lee County at said special election shall be for nominating commissioners by districts, then and in that event, in the primary election to be held in Lee County in 1962, and quadrennially thereafter, there shall be nominated by each political party one candidate for membership on the board of commissioners for said county from the districts 3, 4, and 5 as above designated; in the primary election to be held in Lee County in 1964 and quadrennially thereafter, there shall be nominated by each political party one candidate for membership on the board of commissioners from districts 1 and 2 as above designated; the primary election shall be conducted under the same rules and regulations as are now provided by law for the nomination of other county officials of Lee County; the candidate from each of the political parties shall be voted on by the electors of Lee County voting as a whole, and the candidate from each of said districts receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared the nominee of his party for said office.

Sec. 5. The provisions of this Act apply only to Lee County.

Sec. 6. All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with this Act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 7. This Act shall be in full force and effect from and after its ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 20th day of May, 1959.