NC H1119

Modifies the process for filling City Council vacancies in Winston-Salem by requiring a special primary and election (rather than party committee designation) when a vacancy has 12 or more months remaining in the unexpired term.

Sets specific timelines for the vacancy process: candidate filing period opens within 14 business days of Council resolution and remains open for 14 days; primary election held within 60 calendar days after filing closes; general election held within 60 calendar days after primary.

Requires candidates to be residents of the ward they seek to represent and allows absentee ballots for both primary and general elections, with write-in candidates permitted on general election ballots.

Maintains the appointment process (by Mayor based on party committee recommendation) for vacancies with less than 12 months remaining in the unexpired term.

Applies retroactively to vacancies occurring in 2018 or 2019 if the City Council originally filled the vacancy by appointment and residents petition for a special election with signatures from at least 1% of registered ward voters.