Public Comment Portal: Permanent Protest and Recount Rules
Comment on Proposed Rules
The State Board of Elections invites the public to comment on proposed permanent rules governing election protests and recounts so that post-election proceedings are completed in a timely fashion.
Text of the proposed rules are available at the links below:
- Actions of County Boards as to Election Protests (08 NCAC 02 .0110) (PDF) requires county boards of elections to hold a preliminary consideration meeting within two business days after a protest is filed. The preliminary consideration meeting is used to determine if the protest has enough merit to move to a hearing where evidence is presented. The decision on whether to move to a hearing would have to be issued within two business days of that meeting. This amendment also shortens the deadline to issue a written decision following a hearing, if needed, from five business days to three.
- First Recount (08 NCAC 09 .0107) (PDF) requires county boards of elections to schedule the first recount to begin within three business days of the demand for a recount.
- Secondary Recounts (08 NCAC 09 .0110) (PDF) requires county boards to schedule any hand recounts to start within two business days of a demand for a hand recount.
The public comment period opens Feb. 17, 2025, and closes at 11:59 p.m. on April 21, 2025. Submitted comments will be compiled and submitted to the State Board before its final consideration of the proposed rules.
For more information about the rulemaking process, please visit Rulemaking.