Senate Bill 27 Summary

• Allows soil and water conservation district boards to adopt a resolution converting their elections from nonpartisan to partisan elections after the initial election following organization.

• Requires at least one public hearing with two weeks' notice before a district board may vote on partisan election conversion.

• Any resolution converting to partisan elections must be adopted by December 1, 2023 and becomes effective for the next general election where primary filing periods have not commenced.

• Partisan elections must follow Chapter 163 of the General Statutes and allows boards to repeal partisan election resolutions by resolution, effective at the next general election where primary filing periods have not commenced.

• When filling vacancies in elected positions under partisan elections, remaining board members must appoint a qualified voter from the same political party as the departing member.