NC S638

Proposes a constitutional amendment to establish the North Carolina Citizens Redistricting Commission, a 15-member independent body to draw electoral districts for Congress and the General Assembly, removing this power from the legislature and governor

Commission members must be registered voters with no recent political office, party official positions, or close relatives serving in the General Assembly or Council of State; applicants are screened by the State Auditor and State Ethics Commission before legislative leaders can strike up to 6 candidates each

Requires districts to meet specific criteria in priority order: equal population, compliance with voting rights laws, contiguity, minimizing split communities of interest (municipalities, precincts, counties), and compactness; prohibits considering electoral results, political data, or incumbent residences when drawing maps

Mandates minimum 25 public hearings per redistricting cycle with hearings in each metropolitan/micropolitan area, plus public access to mapping software at 30+ libraries and written responses to all substantive public comments

Constitutional amendment would appear on the November 2026 ballot; if approved, the commission would begin operating January 1, 2027, with members serving 10-year terms and receiving $1,200 monthly stipends during active months