163-228. Register of absentee requests, applications, and ballots issued; a public record.
(a) With respect to each request for mail-in absentee ballots, the State Board shall approve an official register in which the county board of elections in each county of the State shall record the following information:
(1) Name of voter for whom application and ballots are being requested, and, if applicable, the name and address of the voter's near relative or verifiable legal guardian who requested the application and ballots for the voter.
(2) Number of assigned voter's application when issued.
(3) Precinct in which the applicant is registered.
(4) Address to which ballots are to be mailed.
(5) Repealed by Session Laws 2009-537, s. 3, effective January 1, 2010, and applicable with respect to elections held on or after that date.
(6) Date request for application for ballots is received by the county board of elections.
(7) The voter's party affiliation.
(8) The date the ballots were mailed or delivered to the voter.
(9) Whatever additional information and official action may be required by this Article.
(a1) With respect to each early "one-stop" absentee ballot voted under G.S. 163-227.2, 163-227.5, and 163-227.6, the State Board shall approve an official register in which the county board of elections in each county of the State shall record the following information:
(1) Name of voter for whom application and ballots are being requested.
(2) Number of assigned voter's application when issued.
(3) The precinct in which the voter is registered.
(4) The date the voter voted early "one-stop."
(5) The voter's party affiliation.
(6) Whatever additional information and official action may be required by this Article.
(b) The State Board may provide for the official registers required by this section to be kept by electronic data processing equipment.
(c) The official register required by subsection (a) of this section shall be confidential and not a public record until the opening of the voting place in accordance with G.S. 163-166.01, at which time the official register shall constitute a public record. The official register required by subsection (a1) of this section shall constitute a public record and shall be opened to the inspection of any registered voter of the county within 60 days before and 30 days after an election in which absentee ballots were authorized, or at any other time when good and sufficient reason may be assigned for its inspection.
(d) The State Board shall require the county board of elections to transmit information in the official register provided for in this section and the list required by G.S. 163-232 to the State Board. The State Board shall adopt rules to implement this subsection, including frequency of transmittal.
(e) Notwithstanding subsection (c) of this section, the State Board or a county board of elections shall inform the voter of the status of that voter's request for mail-in absentee ballots upon inquiry of the voter or the voter's near relative or verifiable legal guardian.