Electioneering, the Media, and Access to the Polls

Voting is a public function, although state law does limit access to polling places.   

View or print a copy of NCGS 163-166.3, Limited access to the voting enclosure. 

The following persons have access to the voting enclosure on Election Day:

• An Election Official.
• An observer pursuant to NCGS 163-45.
• A runner pursuant to NCGS 163-45 (limited).
• A person seeking to vote in that voting place on that day but only while in the process of voting or seeking to vote.
• A voter in that precinct while entering or explaining a challenge pursuant to NCGS 163-87 or NCGS 163-88.
• A person authorized under NCGS 163-166.8 to assist a voter but, except as provided in subdivision (6) of this section, only while assisting that voter.
• Persons conducting or participating in a simulated election within the voting place or voting enclosure, if that simulated election is approved by the county board of elections.
• Any other person determined by election officials to have an urgent need to enter the voting enclosure but only to have the extent necessary to address that need.

In addition to limiting access to the voting enclosure, state law provides limitations on the activities surrounding the voting place and the buffer zone.  The buffer zone is the area 50 feet from the door of the entrance to the voting place where no person or group of persons can campaign for a candidate.  

View or print a copy of NCGS 163-166.4, Limitation on activity in the voting place and in a buffer zone around it. 

Special Agreements at Certain Polling Locations

Pursuant to NCGS 163-166.4(b), the following precincts have special agreements with the New Hanover County Board of Elections as it relates to election-related activity:

• M05 - Myrtle Grove Baptist Church Fellowship Hall
• W12 - First Christian Church
• W13 - Winter Park Presbyterian Church

  (b)       Special Agreements About Election‑Related Activity. – The Executive Director of the State Board of Elections may grant special permission for a county board of elections to enter into an agreement with the owners or managers of a nonpublic building to use the building as a voting place on the condition that election‑related activity as described in subsection (a) of this section not be permitted on their property adjacent to the buffer zone, if the Executive Director finds all of the following:

(1)       That no other suitable voting place can be secured for the precinct.

(2)       That the county board will require the chief judge of the precinct to monitor the grounds around the voting place to ensure that the restriction on election‑related activity shall apply to all candidates and parties equally.

(3)       That the pattern of voting places subject to agreements under this subsection does not disproportionately favor any party, racial or ethnic group, or candidate.

An agreement under this subsection shall be valid for as long as the nonpublic building is used as a voting place.

Sign Ordinances and Candidate/Supporter Responsibility

All candidates and their supporters should always check municipal and county ordiances for sign placement. In addition, candidates should reveiw the packet they receive when filing for office.  

View or print the section of New Hanover County's zoning ordinance as it pertains to political signs. 

The New Hanover County Inspections Department issues general permits free of charge to candidates for political signs to be placed in the unincorporated areas of the county.  Candidates may call the Zoning Division of the Inspections Department at 910-798-7118 for an application package.  Two brief forms are all that are required, acknowledging the restrictions noted in the ordinance. 

Sign Ordinances by Municipality

The Town of Carolina Beach has asked our office to share with candidates the following:

1. Signs are not permitted to exceed six (6) square feet in size with no lighting or moveable parts.
2. Signs are not permitted within the public road rights-of-way or other public property or attached to traffic sign poles or approved private sign facing.
3. Signs are permitted for a periond not to exceed seventeen (17) days prior to the election date.  No sign shall be permitted after five (5) days following the applicable election date.

The Town of Wrightsville Beach has asked our office to share with candidates the following:

Political signs may not exceed four square feet in area.  They may not be put in place until 17 days prior to the election and must be removed within seven days after.  Political signs are prohibited on public property including street rights-of-way.  They may be placed on private property only with the permission of the property owner.

AND

Our office has been asked by the City of Wilmington to remind all candidates of their ordinances regarding the location and placement of signs.

Section 18-576 (d), ...basically states, the sign should be...no more than 12 square feet, the signs must be removed within 30 days following the election, and signs may only be placed on private property. 

Section 18-591 (o), authorizes the removal of any signs in the public right of way without warning.