The public comment period for the amended rule cited as 08 NCAC 01 .0106 – which explains the Executive Director’s emergency powers – begins today, March 19, 2020, and ends Monday, April 20, 2020.
Under G.S. 163-27.1 [ncleg.gov], the State Board executive director may exercise emergency powers to conduct an election in a district where the normal schedule for the election is disrupted by a natural disaster, extremely inclement weather, or armed conflict, and can adopt rules describing the emergency powers and the situations in which the emergency powers will be exercised.
The amended rule would clarify that a catastrophe arising from natural causes includes a disease epidemic or other public health incident that makes it difficult or impossible to reach a polling place or creates a risk of physical harm.
Public comments may be made through the public comment portal [docs.google.com], by an email to rules@ncsbe.gov, or by mail: Attn: Rulemaking Coordinator, P.O. Box 27255, Raleigh, NC 27611-7255.
A public hearing will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, April 20, 2020, on the Third Floor of the Dobbs Building, 430 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27603. The meeting may change to a telephonic meeting; if that determination is made, an updated notice will be sent out.
The full text of the amended rule may be found here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Rulemaking/Rulemaking%20Notice%2008%20NCAC%2001%20.0106.pdf [s3.amazonaws.com].