North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 163. Elections and Election Laws § 163-165.4A. Punch-card ballots and lever machines

(a) No ballot may be used in any referendum, primary, or other election as an official ballot if it requires the voter to punch out a hole with a stylus or other tool.

(b) No lever machine voting system may be used in any referendum, primary, or other election as a means of voting the official ballot. A “lever machine voting system” is a voting system on which the voter casts a vote by pressing a lever and the vote is mechanically recorded by the machine.

(c) In any counties that used punch-card ballots as official ballots or lever machines in the election of November 2000, and in any municipalities located in those counties, this section becomes effective January 1, 2006. It is the intent of the General Assembly that any county that uses county funds to replace voting equipment to satisfy this section shall be given priority in appropriations to counties for voting equipment.