08 NCAC 22 .0107             COPIES OF SIGNATURE SHEETS AND RETURN OF ORIGINAL SIGNATURE SHEETS

(a)  After a board of elections has completed signature verification of the signatures on the signature sheets, the petitioner may obtain a copy of the signature sheets and a signature certificate by one of the methods described in Paragraph (b) of this Rule. If the board of elections is required by law to return the original signature sheets to the petitioner, board staff shall inform the petitioner that they may obtain the original sheets and a signature certificate by one of the methods described in Paragraph (c) of this Rule.

(b)  The board of elections shall provide the petitioner with a copy of verified signature sheets and associated signature certificates upon oral or written request by the petitioner. The petitioner shall state by which of the following methods they elect to receive a copy:

(1)           In-person retrieval of a physical copy during regular business hours. If a person other than the petitioner's representative identified on the petition request form will retrieve the copy instead of the petitioner, then the petitioner shall inform the board of elections, in writing, of that person's first and last name and phone number.

(2)           Mailing a physical copy to the mailing address that is listed on the petition request form.

(3)           Emailing a digital copy to the email address that is listed on the petition request form.

Before providing a copy of a signature sheet, board staff shall first redact any confidential information not subject to public disclosure under Chapters 132 and 163 of the North Carolina General Statutes. A board of elections may charge for any physical copies, in accordance with G.S. 132-6.2.

(c)  When the board of elections is required by law to return the original signature sheets and associated signature certificates to the petitioner, the petitioner shall inform board staff orally or in writing by which of the following methods they elect to receive the originals:

(1)           In-person retrieval of the originals by the petitioner during regular business hours. If a person other than the petitioner's representative identified on the petition request form will retrieve the originals instead of the petitioner, then the petitioner shall inform the board of elections, in writing, of that person's first and last name and phone number. Board staff shall confirm the name and phone number of the person retrieving the originals before providing them.

(2)           Mailing the originals to the mailing address that is listed on the petition request form. The county board shall use a method of return that documents the petitioner's receipt of the originals.

No redactions shall be made by board staff to an original signature sheet prior to its return to the petitioner or the petitioner's designated representative.

(d)  In addition to providing a copy or the original signature sheet to the petitioner in accordance with this Rule, the board of elections shall provide the petitioner with a digital or physical petition status report generated by the petition module upon oral or written request by the petitioner. The petition status report shall include the status assigned to each petition signer in accordance with Rule .0202 of this Chapter.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 163-22; 163-96; 163-107.1; 163-122; 163-123; 163-213.5; 163-221; 163-296;

Eff. September 1, 2025.