§163-132.1B. Participation in 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program of the United States Bureau of the Census

(a)        Purpose. - The State of North Carolina shall participate in the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program, conducted pursuant to P.L. 94-171, of the United States Bureau of the Census, so that the State will receive 2010 Census data by voting precinct and be able to revise districts at all levels without splitting precincts and in compliance with the United States and North Carolina Constitutions and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended.

(a1)      Reporting of Voting Tabulation Districts. - The Executive Director of the State Board of Elections shall report to the Bureau of the Census as this State's voting tabulation districts the voting precincts as of January 1, 2008. In reporting the precincts, the Executive Director may make to the precincts the minimum of adjustments necessary to assure accurate election administration and the consistent reporting of election results from the precincts as they existed on January 1, 2008. Before making that report, the Executive Director shall consult with the Legislative Services Office concerning the accuracy of the voting precincts to be reported. The Legislative Services Office shall submit to the Executive Director its opinion as to whether the description of the precincts to be reported to the Bureau of the Census is accurate. The Executive Director shall submit the report to the Bureau of the Census in time to comply with the deadlines of that Bureau for the 2010 Census Redistricting Data Program. The Executive Director, with the assistance of the county boards of elections, shall participate in the Census Bureau's verification program and notify the Census Bureau of any errors in the entry of the voting tabulation districts in time for the Census Bureau to correct those errors.

(a2)      Reporting From Unchanged Voting Tabulation Districts. - After January 1, 2008, every county board of elections shall report all election returns by voting tabulation districts as required by G.S. 163-132.5G. For purposes of this section and G.S. 163-132.5G, "voting tabulation districts" shall be the precincts as of January 1, 2008, as modified by the Executive Director of the State Board of Elections in reports to the Census Bureau in accordance with subsection (a1) of this section. No county board of elections may alter the voting tabulation districts. The county board of elections may change the boundaries of the county's precincts so that those precincts differ from the county's voting tabulation districts, but only to the extent permitted by G.S. 163-132.3.

(b)        Additional Rules. - In addition to directives promulgated by the Executive Director of the State Board of Elections under G.S. 163-132.4, the Legislative Services Commission may promulgate rules to implement this section.

(2006-264, s. 75.5(b); 2007-391, s. 6(a); 2008-187, s. 33(b); 2009-541, s. 17.)