Overview
The Election Director serves as the administrative head of the county elections operations and holds as much power delegated to it as the County Board of Elections allows. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-35(d).
Election-Related Duties
The key duties of the Election Director are:
- Conducting any election-related duties devolved to them by the Chair of the County Board of Elections or by the County Board of Elections. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-35(d). This includes all duties short of “quasi‑judicial or policy‑making duties” reserved by the County Board of Elections. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-35(d). [1]
Selection and Vacancy Information
- **Selected: ****The Election Director in each county is selected by Executive Director of the State Board of Elections on recommendation from the County Board of Elections. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-35(b).
- Tiebreaking: If the County Board of Elections cannot decide on a recommendation for the office, then the Executive Director of the State Board of Elections will appoint an Acting Election Director until the County Board can make a recommendation. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-35(b1).
- Restrictions: An Election Director cannot hold any elected office, be running for office, hold an office in a political party, be campaign chairman or finance chairman or serve on a committee for a candidate for public office, have been convicted of a felony (unless rights have been restored), have been removed by the State Board of Elections by public hearing, or have a family member serving on the County Board of Elections in the same county. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-35(a).
- Vacancy: **Vacancies are filled in the same manner as noted above. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-35(b).
Footnotes