North Carolina legislative rules require bills to have passed their house of origin this year by the evening of May 14. Otherwise, they cannot pass this year, although they could still pass next year. No election law bills of interest can pass this year. Bills that did not meet the deadline include S731, the ballot access bill; H47, to establish the initiative; and S150, to move the presidential primary from May to February. Proposed state constitutional amendments to extend the term of state legislators also failed to move.

Two lawsuits, challenging North Carolina’s ballot access laws, are pending. A decision in the lawsuit that challenges the rules for minor parties is expected this summer from the State Appeals Court. The federal case, challenging the independent candidate requirements for U.S. House, is undergoing discovery.