RALEIGH — Legislation getting final General Assembly approval means there would be no primaries for North Carolina court races in 2018 only while lawmakers weigh whether to redraw judicial districts or possibly change how judges are elected.

The Republican-controlled House and Senate voted separately Thursday for the bill, which is likely to get a hard look from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

The elections measure also would permanently ease thresholds that new political parties or unaffiliated candidates now must meet to get on the ballot. And it also includes a provision to reduce the percentage of votes a leading candidate must have to avoid a primary runoff elsewhere from more than 40 percent to 30 percent.

Democrats voting against the bill argued the elimination of judicial primaries next year was too rash. The filing period for judicial candidates also would be delayed from February to June.