Judge Joe John Nonpartisan Jud. Elections Act.
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SB 107 — Judge Joe John Nonpartisan Jud. Elections Act.
Last action — Passed 1st Reading
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 17, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.
Prognosis
Where this bill stands today.
Odds of enactment
LowHow often bills like it became law.
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In Committee
Current position in the legislative process.
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12 sponsors
2 primary, 10 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (12 D).
Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
83 added · 84 removedPlain-language change summary
The recent amendments to Senate Bill 107 clarify the requirements for candidates regarding how their names will be listed on election ballots. It ensures that candidates must include specific information in their affidavits, which could help maintain consistency and transparency in the election process. This change aims to improve the clarity of candidate qualifications and could streamline the election process. Overall, it may enhance trust in the electoral system by clearly outlining candidate filing procedures.
FILED SENATE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA FebSESSION 17, 2025 S.B.S 1 SENATE BILL 107 Short Title:
107 SESSION 2025 PRINCIPAL CLERK S D SENATE BILL DRS55004-LUxfe-41A Short Title:
Rules and Operations of the Senate February 18, 2025 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO REENACT NONPARTISAN JUDICIAL ELECTIONS, TO MAKE CONFORMING STATUTORY CHANGES RELATING TO REENACTMENT OF NONPARTISAN JUDICIAL ELECTIONS, AND TO REESTABLISH PUBLIC FINANCING FOR JUDICIAL CAMPAIGNS.
163-358, there shall be a primary to narrow the fieldofcandidatestotwo candidates foreachpositiontobefilledif,whenthefilingperiodcloses, *DRS55004-LUxfe-41A**S107-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 there are more than two candidates for a single office or the number of candidates for a group of offices exceeds twice the number of positions to be filled.
The candidate shall also includewith the affidavit thewaythecandidate's name(as permittedpermittedbylaw)shouldbe by law)shouldbe listed on the ballot if another candidate with the same last name files a notice of candidacy for that office.
Page 2 DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (b) Time for Filing Notice of Candidacy.
The State Board shall prescribe the form for the certificate and distribute it to each county board of elections no later than the last MondayMondayin in December of each odd-numbered year.
163-106.2, for anyanyone one election.
If a person has filed a notice of candidacycandidacywith with a board of elections under this section or under G.S.
Votes cast for a candidate shall be effective onlyforelectiontothevacancyonlyforelectiontothevacancyforwhichthecandidatehas forwhichthecandidatehasgivennoticeofcandidacygivennoticeofcandidacyasprovided asprovided in this subsection.
DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (a) Fee Schedule.
– At the time of filing a notice of candidacy under this Article, each candidate shall paypayto to the State Board a filing fee for the office the candidate seeks in the amount of one percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office sought.
– If anyanyperson person who has filed a notice of candidacycandidacyand and paid the filing fee prescribed in subsection (a) of this section withdraws his or her notice of candidacy within the period prescribed in G.S.
If the office is justice of the Supreme Court or judge of the Court of Appeals, the petition shall be signed by 8,000 registered voters in theState.Iftheofficeissuperiorordistrictcourtjudge,thepetitionshallbesignedbyfivepercenttheState. (5%) of the registered voters of the election area in which those registered voters will vote for that office.
Iftheofficeissuperiorordistrictcourtjudge,thepetitionshallbesignedbyfivepercent (5%) of the registered voters of the election area in which those registered voters will vote for that office.
(a) Names of Candidates Sent to SecretarySecretaryof of State.
IfavacancyIf occursinavacancyoccursin ajudicial district foranyoffices ofsuperiorcourtjudge,andonaccount of the occurrence of the vacancy there is to be an election for one or more terms in that district Page 4 DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 to fill the vacancy or vacancies, at that same election in accordance with G.S.
(3) The general election ballot shall contain, without designation as to vacancy, spaces for the election to fill the vacancy where nominations were made or candidatesfiledundersubdivision(1)or(2)ofthissection.Exceptasprovidedcandidatesfiledundersubdivision(1)or(2)ofthissection. in G.S.
Exceptasprovided in G.S.
IftheStateBoarddeterminesIf theStateBoarddetermines that therewill besufficienttimeto reprint theballots, it shall reopen the filing period for three days to allow other candidates to file for election and that election shall be conducted as provided in G.S.
DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (e) No Withdrawal Permitted of Living, Qualified Candidate After Close of Filing.
– If a vacancy for the office of justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, or judge of superior court occurs more than 60 days before thegeneral election and aftertheopeningaftertheopeningofthe ofthefilingperiodfortheprimary, filing periodfortheprimary, thentheStateBoard shall designate a special filing period of one week for candidates for the office.
Page 6 DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 The primary shall be held on the same date as established for primary elections under G.S.
OnlyOnlythosewhohavefiled thosewhohavefiled therequirednoticeofcandidacywith theproperboardofelections, and who have paid the required filing fee or qualified by petition, shall have their names printed on the official primary ballots.
In printing ballots, the countycountyboard board of elections shall be governed bybyinstructions instructions of the State Board with regard to width, color, kind of paper, form, and size of type.
"(b) On Tuesday next after the first Monday in March preceding each general election to be held in November for the officers referred to in subsection (a) of this section, there shall be held in all election precincts within the territoryterritoryfor for which the officers are to be elected a primary election for the purpose of nominating candidates for each political party in the State for those offices.offices and nonpartisan candidates as to the offices elected under the provisions of Article 26 of this Chapter." SECTION 2.3.
163-106, 163-112, 163-291, or 163-294.2, or 163-352, is certified to the State Board of Elections bybya a political partypartyexecutive executive committee to fill a nomination vacancyvacancypursuant pursuant to G.S.
163-114, is certified to the State Board of Elections bybya a new political partypartyas as that party's DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition Page 7 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 nominee pursuant to G.S.
163-98, qualifies with the State Board of Elections as an unaffiliated or write-in candidate pursuant to Article 11 of this Chapter, or formallyformallyinitiates initiates a candidacycandidacywith with the State Board of Elections pursuant to anyanystatute statute or local act, the State Board of Elections shall notify the candidate of the provisions concerning campaign signs in G.S.
"(a) Candidates seekingseekingpartyprimarynominations partyforthefollowingoffices primarynominations forthefollowing offices shall filetheir notice of candidacy with the State Board no earlier than 12:00 noon on the first Monday in December and no later than 12:00 noon on the third Friday in December preceding the primary:
Page 8 DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (a) Candidates required to file their notice of candidacy with the State Board of Elections under G.S.
During the period commencing 36 hours immediately preceding the filing deadline the State Board of Elections shall accept, on a conditional basis, the notice of candidacy of a candidatewhohas failed to securetheverificationorderedsecuretheverificationorderedherein herein subject to receipt ofverification no laterthan threedays followingfollowingthe thefilingfilingdeadline.The deadline.TheState StateBoardBoard ofElections shall prescribe the form for such certificate, and distribute it to each county board of elections no later than the last Monday in December of each odd-numbered year.
If the candidate requests a hearing, the hearinghearingshall shall be conducted in accordance with Article 11B ofthisof this Chapter.
163-106, 163-106.1, 163-106.2, 163-106.3, 163-106.4,163-106.5,163-106.4,163-106.5,and163-106.6,a andfilingfeefortheoffice 163-106.6,a filing feefortheoffice sought in the amount specified in the following tabulation:
Office Sought Amount of Filing Fee Governor One percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office sought Lieutenant Governor One percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office sought All State executive offices One percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office sought All Justices, Judges, and District At- One percent (1%) of the annual salary of the torneys of the General Court of office sought Justice United States Senator One percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office sought Members of the United States House One percent (1%) of the annual salary of DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition Page 9 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 of Representatives the office sought 3 State Senator One percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office sought Member of the State House One percent (1%) of the annual salary of of Representatives the office sought All county offices not compensated by One percent (1%) of the annual salary of fees office sought All county offices compensated partly One percent (1%) of the first annual by salary and partly by fees salary to be received (exclusive of fees) The salary of any office that is the basis for calculating the filing fee is the starting salary for the office, rather than the salary received by the incumbent, if different.
163-106.2 but which is not listed in subsection (b) of this section, or a municipal oranyoranyotherofficerequiringapartisanprimarywhich otherofficerequiring apartisanprimarywhich is not set forth in G.S.
House of Representatives, District Attorney, judge of the superior court, judge of the district court, and members of the State House of Representatives from multi-countymulti-countydistricts districts or members of the State Senate from multi-county districts must be presented to the countycountyboard board of elections for verification at least 15 days before Page 10 DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 the petition is due to be filed with the State Board of Elections, and such petition must be filed with the State Board no later than 12:00 noon on MondayMondaypreceding preceding the filing deadline.
"(1) Acandidatewhois apparentlyentitledto demanda second primary,accordingprimary, according to the unofficial results, for one of the offices listed below, and desiring to do so, shall file a request for a second primary in writing with the Executive Director of the State Board of Elections no later than 12:00 noon on the ninth day (including Saturdays and Sundays) following the date on which the primary was conducted, and such request shall be subject to the certification of the official results by the State Board of Elections.
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, All State executive officers, Justices, Judges, or District Attorneys of the General Court of Justice, United States Senators, Members of the United States House of Representatives, State Senators in multi-county senatorial districts, and Members oftheStateHouseofRepresentativesin multi-countymulti-countyrepresentative representative districts." SECTION 2.12.
Filling vacanciesamongpartynominees occurringoccurringafternomination afterand nominationbefore andbefore election.
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(a) If anyanyperson person nominated as a candidate of a political party for one of the offices listed below (either in a primary or convention or by virtue of having no opposition in a primary) dies, resigns,orforanyreasonresigns, orforanyreason becomesineligibleordisqualifiedbeforethedate oftheensuinggeneral election, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment according to the following instructions:
Position President Vacancy is to be filled by Vice President appointment of national executive committee of political party in which vacancy occurs Presidential elector or Vacancy is to be filled by ap- DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition Page 11 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 alternate elector pointment of State execu- Any elective State office tive committee of political United States Senator party in which vacancy occurs 5 A district office, including:
If a vacancy occurs in a nomination of a political party and that vacancy arises from a cause other than death and the vacancy in nomination occurs more than 120 days before the general election, the vacancy in nomination may be filled under this section Page 12 DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 onlyonlyif if the appropriate executive committee certifies the name of the nominee in accordance with this paragraph at least 75 days before the general election.
(b) In a county which is partly in a multicounty judicial district, in choosing that county's member or members of the judicial district executive committee for the multicountymulticountydistrict, district, only the county convention delegates or county executive committee members who reside within the area of the county which is within that multicounty district may vote.
The State Board of Elections shall establish a review procedure that local boards ofelections shall followto ensurethatcandidates'ensurethatcandidates'namesappearon namesappearontheofficialtheofficial ballot in accordance with this subdivision." SECTION 2.16.
Accordingly, this Article reestablishes the North Carolina Public Campaign Fund as an alternative source of campaign financing for candidates who demonstrate public support and voluntarily accept strict DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition Page 13 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 fundraising and spending limits.
MadebyMadebyanindividualwhois anindividualwhois a registered voter in this Stateat thetime of the submittal of the report specified in G.S.
Page 14 DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (19) Trigger for matching funds.
In the case of a primary, the trigger equals themaximum qualifyingcontributions forparticipatingforparticipatingcandidates. candidates.
InthecaseIn thecase of a contested general election, the trigger equals the base level of funding available under G.S.
(c) DeterminationofFund Amount.–ByOctober1,2026,andeverytwoyearsthereafter,Amount.–ByOctober1,2026,andeverytwo yearsthereafter, the State Board shall prepare and provide to the Joint Legislative Elections Oversight Committee a report documenting, evaluating, and making recommendations relating to the administration, implementation, and enforcement of this Article.
In the declaration, the candidate shall swear or affirm that only one political committee, identified with its treasurer, shall handle all contributions, expenditures, and obligations for the participating candidate and that the candidate will complycomplywith with the contribution and expenditure limits set forth in subsection (d) of this section and all other requirements set forth in this Article or adopted by the Board.
DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition Page 15 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (c) Certification of Candidates.
(4) During the qualifyingqualifyingperiod, period, the candidate maymaycontribute contribute up to one thousand dollars($1,000)ofthatcandidate's ownmoneyto thecampaign.Debt incurred bybythe the candidate for a campaign expenditure shall count toward that limit.
In establishing those guidelines, the Board Page 16 DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 shall differentiate expenditures that reasonablyreasonablyfurther further a candidate's campaign from expenditures for personal use that would be incurred in the absence of the candidacy.
(6) Any contribution received by a participating or certified candidate that falls outside that permitted bybythis this subsection shall be returned to the donor as soon as practicable.
– Certified candidates shall receive one percent (1%) of the funding to which theywould beeligibleunderbe eligibleunder G.S.
– ByByAugust August 1, 2026, and no less frequently than every two years thereafter, the Board shall determine the amount of funds, rounded to the nearest one hundred dollars ($100.00), to be distributed to certified candidates as follows:
DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition Page 17 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (2) Contested primaries.
After the initial 24-hour filing, the noncertified candidate or other reporting entityentityshall shall comply with an expedited reporting schedule.
163-278.121(19), the Board shall issue immediatelyimmediatelyto to that certified candidate an additional amountequaltothereportedexcesswithinthelimitssetforthinthissection."Fundsinopposition to a certified candidate or in support of an opponent to that candidate" shall be equal to the sum of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection as follows:
Page 18 DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 a.
– Total matching funds to a certified candidate before the date of the primaryprimaryshall shall be limited to an amount equal to two times the maximum qualifying contributions for the office sought.
DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition Page 19 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 (g) No Matching Funds for Certain Communications Involving All Candidates.
In addition to any other penalties that maymaybe be applicable, any individual, political committee, or other entity that violates any provision of this Article is subject to a civil penalty of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000) per violation or three times the amount of any financial transactions involved in the violation, whichever is greater.
… (c) The fees shall be disbursed bybythe the secretary-treasurer on the order of the Council.
The secretary-treasurer shall annually, at a time and in a law magazine or daily newspaper to be prescribed by the Council, publish an account of the financial transactions of the Council in a form to be prescribed bybyit. it.
The secretary-treasurer shall compile and keep currentlycurrentlycorrect correct from the names and mailing addresses forwarded to the secretary-treasurer and from any other available sources of information a list of members of the North Carolina State Bar and furnish to the clerk of the superior court in each county, not later than the first day of October in each year, a list showing the name and address of each attorney for that county who has not complied with the provisions of this Article.
Thelist submittedto several clerksofclerksofthesuperior thesuperior courtshall also be submittedto theCouncil and it shall take the action thereon that is necessary and proper." SECTION 3.4.
– To ensure the financial viability of the North Carolina Public Campaign Fund established in Article 22D 22I of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes, the Department must allocate to that Fund three dollars ($3.00) from Page 20 DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025 the income taxes paid each year by each individual with an income tax liability of at least that amount, if the individual agrees.
This section applies to Articles and [Article] 22I22Iand and 22M of the General Statutes to the same extent that it applies to this Article." SECTION 3.6.
(2) A candidate may accept, and a familyfamilycontributor contributormaymake may make to that candidate, a contribution not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000) in an election if the contributor is that candidate's parent, child, brother, or sister.
If any provision of this act is held invalid bybya a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidityinvaliditydoes does not affect other provisions of the act that can be given effect without the invalid provision.
DRS55004-LUxfe-41ASenate Bill 107-First Edition Page 21
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Compared against the N.C. General Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.
The bill establishes nonpartisan elections for appellate, superior, and district court judges in North Carolina and makes related changes to the election process.
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N.C.G.S. § 163-350
The nomination and election of justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Court of Appeals, and superior and district court judges of the General Court of Justice shall be as provided by this Article.
This addition specifies that the nomination and election of judges will follow the provisions of the new Article.
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N.C.G.S. § 163-351
There shall be a primary to narrow the field of candidates to two candidates for each position to be filled if, when the filing period closes, there are more than two candidates for a single office.
This section establishes the use of a nonpartisan primary election method.
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N.C.G.S. § 163-352
Each person offering to be a candidate for election shall do so by filing a notice of candidacy with the State Board.
This addition outlines the required process for filing a notice of candidacy.
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N.C.G.S. § 163-352(b)
Candidates seeking election to the following offices shall file their notice of candidacy with the State Board no earlier than 12:00 noon on the first Monday in December and no later than 12:00 noon on the third Friday in December preceding the election: Justices of the Supreme Court. Judges of the Court of Appeals. Judges of the superior courts. Judges of the district courts.→ Candidates seeking election to the following offices shall file their notice of candidacy with the State Board no earlier than 12:00 noon on the first Monday in December and no later than 12:00 noon on the third Friday in December preceding the election: Justices of the Supreme Court. Judges of the Court of Appeals. Judges of the superior courts. Judges of the district courts.This reiteration in the new Article confirms the existing timeline for filing candidacy notices.
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N.C.G.S. § 163-353(a)
At the time of filing a notice of candidacy under this Article, each candidate shall pay to the State Board a filing fee for the office the candidate seeks in the amount of one percent (1%) of the annual salary of the office sought.
This detail specifies the required filing fee for candidates.
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N.C.G.S. § 163-354(a)
Any qualified voter who seeks election under this Article may, in lieu of payment of any filing fee required for the office sought, file a written petition requesting to be a candidate for a specified office with the State Board.
This addition allows candidates to file a petition in lieu of paying a filing fee.
Action History
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Passed 1st Reading
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Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
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Filed
Sponsors
- Sophia Chitlik · Cosponsor
- Caleb Theodros · Cosponsor
- DeAndrea Salvador · Cosponsor
- Natalie S. Murdock · Cosponsor
- Julie Mayfield · Cosponsor
- Jr. Paul A. Lowe · Cosponsor
- Val Applewhite · Cosponsor
- Gale Adcock · Cosponsor
- Jay J. Chaudhuri · Cosponsor
- Sydney Batch · Primary
- Lisa Grafstein · Primary
- Kandie D. Smith · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →2 sponsors · 10 co-sponsors · 167 not signed on
Sponsors (2)
- Sydney Batch Democratic
- Lisa Grafstein Democratic
Co-sponsors (10)
- Sophia Chitlik Democratic
- Caleb Theodros Democratic
- DeAndrea Salvador Democratic
- Natalie S. Murdock Democratic
- Julie Mayfield Democratic
- Paul A. Lowe, Jr. Democratic
- Val Applewhite Democratic
- Gale Adcock Democratic
- Jay J. Chaudhuri Democratic
- Kandie D. Smith Democratic
Not signed on (167)
167 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 167 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors SB 107?
- SB 107 is sponsored by Sophia Chitlik (Democratic), Caleb Theodros (Democratic), DeAndrea Salvador (Democratic), Natalie S. Murdock (Democratic), Julie Mayfield (Democratic), Paul A. Lowe, Jr. (Democratic), Val Applewhite (Democratic), Gale Adcock (Democratic), Jay J. Chaudhuri (Democratic), Sydney Batch (Democratic), Lisa Grafstein (Democratic), and Kandie D. Smith (Democratic).
- What is the current status of SB 107?
- This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced February 17, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
- Where can I track SB 107?
- Track SB 107 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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