NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
1977 SESSION

CHAPTER 345
HOUSE BILL 509

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE CERTAIN PRECINCT OFFICIALS TO ASSIST VOTERS IN MARKING BALLOTS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  G.S. 163-152(a)(1)b is rewritten to read as follows:
"If no near relative of the voter's choice is present at the voting place, a voter in any of the following three categories shall be entitled to assistance from any voter of the precinct who has not given aid to another voter at the same primary or general election; or, if no such person be present at the voting place, from the registrar or one of the judges of election, or one of the assistants appointed pursuant to G.S. 163-42:
(1)	one who, on account of physical disability, is unable to enter the voting booth without assistance;
(2)	one who, on account of physical disability, is unable to mark his ballots without assistance;
(3)	one who, on account of illiteracy, is unable to mark his ballots without assistance."
Sec. 2.  G.S. 163-152(a)(2) is amended by rewriting the last sentence to read as follows:
"If no near relative or other voter of the voter's choice is present, the voter entitled to assistance may request and obtain aid from the registrar, one of the judges or one of the assistants appointed pursuant to G.S. 163-42, at the voter's choice. Under no circumstances shall any precinct official be assigned to assist a voter who qualifies for assistance under this section, who was not specified by the voter."
Sec. 3.  This act shall become effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 10th day of May, 1977.