Summary of House Bill 222 (Session Law 2015-66)

• Allows North Carolina Supreme Court justices elected by voters to participate in retention elections, where voters approve or reject their continuation in office for a new 8-year term at the general election before their term expires.

• Requires justices seeking retention to file notice with the State Board of Elections by 12:00 noon on the first business day of July in the year prior to the general election, and to pay a filing fee equal to 1% of the annual salary for the office.

• Establishes that retention elections are approved by majority vote on a ballot question asking voters to approve or disapprove the justice's retention, and conducts elections according to general election procedures under the State Board of Elections.

• Applies only to justices initially elected by voters; justices appointed to fill vacancies must first run in a regular election before becoming eligible for retention elections in the future.

• Modifies campaign finance and ballot procedures to include retention elections as a candidate status and to list retention ballot items after offices elected under standard election procedures.