NEW ELECTION
LAW
Two important changes in the municipal
election and registration laws which govern
the election of town and city officials
have taken place since the last municipal
elections. These two changes are: the
anti-single-shot law has been declared
unconstitutional and the passage of the
Uniform Municipal Elections Law.
In early 1972, the U. S. Eastern Dis­trict
Court declared the state's anti­single-
shot law as well as the numbered-­seat
law unconstitutional. The anti­single-
shot law had applied to the munici­pal
elections of some towns and cities.
In the past, by single-shot voting
(or voting for less candidates than the
ballot says a person may vote for), Blacks
have been able to gain representation on
some of the city councils which were not
covered by the anti-single-shot law. Now
that the anti-single-shot law has been de­clared
unconstitutional, Blacks may cast
single-shot votes iri any municipal election
they so choose.
In 1971, the North Carolina General
Assembly passed the Uniform Mun:cipal Elec­tions
Law, which goes into effect this year.
This act contains several major provisions
which change the way town and city elec­tions
are run. There are four major high­lights
of this election law.
Time of Election
In the past, municipal elections
have been at different times. Under the
new law, all cities and towns are required
to hold their elections in the fall of odd­numbered
years. In 1973, all municipal
elections will be held on Tuesday, November
6, except for Winston-Salem, which will not
come under this part of the law until
1977. However, in those cities
Continued on p. 2
NORTH CAROLINA VOTER EDUCATION PROJECT
P. 0. BOX 701_ DURHAM, N. C. 27702
JUNE 1973
N. C. VEP
AND FUTURE
The Voter Education Project of North
Carolina has been in existence since
1967. This organization, like many or­ganizations
for social change, is fac­ing
a financial crisis. If the N. C.
VEP is to continue to offer services
in North Carolina, it must receive
financial support from the people of
North Carolina.
It is impossible to list all of VEP's
accomplishments in the space allotted.
If VEP has not established credibility
in its six years of existence, certain­ly
this newsletter cannot give it ample
credibility.
However, please remember that during
its history, the North Carolina Voter
Education Project has never attempted
to raise funds from the people of North
Carolina. Instead it has always at­tempted
to bring money into the State.
VEP has been very successful in secur­ing
money to support local projects
over the past six years.
This newsletter is distributed to
people who are aware of the accomplish­ments
of VEP and most of you are fami­liar
with the services rendered by VEP
in the Black community, but for those
who are unfamiliar with the services
rendered, listed below are a few:
1. As a result of the registrations
under the directions of VEP, the
number of Black elected officials
has increased from 10 to 115,
which is over a 1,000 per cent
increase.
2. The number of Blacks on appoin­tive
boards and commissions has
increased even greater than the
number of elected officials.
Continued on p. 3