(a) No person shall be eligible for the office of sheriff if any of the following apply:

(1) The person is not of the age of 21 years.

Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 162-2

  • following: when used by way of reference to any section of a statute, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding or next following that in which such reference is made; unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories, so called; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
  • United States: shall be construed to include the said district and territories and all dependencies. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3

(2) The person has been convicted of a felony in this State, the United States, or any other state, whether or not that person has been restored to the rights of citizenship or granted an expunction. This subdivision shall not include an unconditional pardon of innocence.

(3) The person is not a qualified voter in the county in which the candidate is chosen.

(b) Notwithstanding Article 5 of Chapter 15A of the N.C. Gen. Stat., any person filing a notice of candidacy, or any appointee selected to fill a vacancy, to the office of sheriff shall provide a statement of disclosure prepared by the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission in accordance with Article 3 of Chapter 17E of the N.C. Gen. Stat..

(c) No person shall engage in the practice of law or serve as a member of the General Assembly while serving as sheriff. (1777, c. 118, ss. 2, 4, P.R.; 1806, c. 699, s. 2, P.R.; 1829, c. 5, s. 6; 1830, c. 25, ss. 2, 3; R.C., c. 105, ss. 5, 6, 7; Code, ss. 2067, 2068, 2069; Rev., s. 2809; C.S., s. 3926; 1971, c. 1231, s. 1; 1983, c. 670, s. 1; 2021-107, s. 1.)