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HB 66

Federal benefit programs; DMAS & DSS shall study technology systems used to administer.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Michael Feggans and 1 co-sponsor

HB 66 shortens in-person early voting by starting earlier Monday two weeks before election instead of Thursday before, keeping last-Saturday close.

Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 66

Summary — HB 66: Reduce Early Voting Period

Status: Passed first reading; referred to Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House
Primary sponsors (NC version): Representatives Gable, Tyson, Kidwell, and Scott
Introduced: February 5–6, 2025 (filed Feb 5, 2025 / referred Feb 6, 2025)
Subject: Calendar; Elections; Public

Main purpose

HB 66 shortens the statutory early (in‑person) voting window for elections by changing the earliest date at which early voting may begin. The bill’s stated aim is to move the start of early voting closer to election day.

Key provisions

  • Amends the early voting statute (G.S. 163‑166.40(b) / as drafted in earlier text G.S. 164‑166.40(b)) to change the earliest permissible start date for in‑person early voting from:
    • “the third Thursday before an election”
    • to “the second Monday before an election.”
  • Retains the existing close of early voting: no later than 3:00 p.m. on the last Saturday before the election.
  • Keeps the requirement that a county board of elections conduct early voting on the last Saturday before the election from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
  • Effective date: the act is effective when it becomes law and applies to elections held on or after that date.

Who would be affected

  • Voters who rely on in‑person early voting (shift in available days and scheduling).
  • County boards of elections and election administrators (must adjust early‑voting schedules, staffing, and facility bookings).
  • Election workers and vendors who provide equipment/services during early voting windows.
  • Potentially political campaigns and organizations that plan GOTV efforts around early voting schedules.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Filed and first read in early February 2025; passed first reading and referred to the Rules committee (per legislative calendar entries).
  • The bill becomes operational upon enactment and applies to subsequent elections as specified.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Shortening the early voting period reduces the total number of early in‑person voting days; this may alter voter access patterns and could increase voter volume on the remaining early‑voting days and on Election Day.
  • Administrative impacts include rescheduling early‑voting sites, reassigning staff, and revising outreach/GOTV plans; fiscal impacts were not detailed in the supplied documents.
  • Stakeholders (boards of elections, advocacy groups, municipalities) may need to evaluate operational readiness and potential effects on turnout; legal or policy debates about access to voting may follow any change to early voting windows.

If you want, I can:
- Compare the current statutory early‑voting window to the new window with sample calendar examples, or
- Draft a short one‑page briefing for county election boards identifying operational steps they’d need to take if HB 66 becomes law.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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