Campaign finance requirements for North Carolina ballot measures
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The State Board of Elections maintains an online disclosure database of the financial activity of all referendum committees in the State of North Carolina.
If someone feels that a person or committee violated North Carolina campaign finance law, the first step is to file a complaint with the North Carolina State Board of Elections. It is up to the State Board of Elections to investigate all complaints[1]. All complaints that result in apparent violations are directed to the respective District Attorney in the county where the complaint happened[2].
General requirements
State referendum committee
North Carolina law defines any group in support or opposition of a statewide referendum as a State Referendum Committee[3] [4].
County/Municipal referendum committee
North Carolina law defines any group in support or opposition of a local referendum as a County/Municipal Referendum Committee [3] [5].
Organizational report
All state and municipal/county referendum committees must file an organizational campaign finance report within ten days after the group is formed[6].
Campaign finance requirements
Anonymous contributions
North Carolina law bars all state and county/municipal referendum committees from accepting anonymous contributions[7].
Cash contribution limit
North Carolina requires all state and county/municipal referendum committees to limit cash contributions to $50[8].
Corporate/labor contributions
North Carolina allows corporations and labor unions to donate to all (state and county/municipal) referendum committees[9]. Corporations and labor unions are banned from directly contributing to candidates, candidate committees, and political action committees in support or opposition of a candidate[10].
Reporting requirements and reports
North Carolina uses a semi-annual style reporting system using a pre-election report, two final reports, and a annual report. These reports are filed after an initial report when the committee is first formed.
Pre-Referendum report
The pre-referendum report is considered to be the first major campaign finance report for a referendum committee in the State of North Carolina. The report is due ten days before the scheduled referendum. The report covers all activity from the end of the initial report to seven days prior to the deadline[4].
Final report
The Final report is considered to be the first of two post-election report. This is due 10 days after the referendum. This report covers all campaign finance activity from the end of the last reporting period up to the 10 day deadline[4].
Supplemental Final report
The supplemental final report is the first of two opportunities for referendum committees to file a termination report in addition to a campaign finance report. This is required if the final report did not show a balance of zero. This covers all activity up to December 31st. The report is due on January 7th[4].
Annual report
An annual report is due on January 7th only if a referendum committee still does not have a zero balance[4].
Campaign advertising restrictions
North Carolina requires all campaign advertising to be approved by the referendum committee's treasurer upon written authority to have ad placed[11]. All written authorizations must be present during normal business hours for public inspection.
All ads must have the disclaimer: "Paid for by: (Name of referendum committee)"[12]. North Carolina requires all campaign advertising to be charged the same like all other commercial advertising[13].
Terminating a committee
A referendum committee can terminate upon filing a final report or supplemental final report showing a final accounting of all contributions and expenditures[14].
External links
References
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly "North Carolina Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Statute 163-278.22(7))
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly "North Carolina Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Statute 163-278.22(8))
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 North Carolina General Assembly(Referenced Statute 163-278.6(18b)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 North Carolina State Board of Elections "2010 Campaign Finance Manual(See Page 102)
- ↑ North Carolina State Board of Elections "2010 Campaign Finance Manual(See Page 103)
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly "North Carolina Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Statute 163‑278.9A(A)(1))
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly "North Carolina Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Statute 163-278.14(a))
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly "North Carolina Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Statute 163-278.14(b))
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly "North Carolina Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Statute 163‑278.19.(b))
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly "North Carolina Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Statute 163‑278.19.(a)(1)-(3))
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly "North Carolina Campaign Finance Law(Referenced Statute § 163‑278.17(b))
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly "North Carolina Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Statute 163‑278.39 (a)(1))
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly "North Carolina Campaign Finance Law"(Referenced Statute 163‑278.18 (a)-(b))
- ↑ North Carolina General Assembly "North Carolina Campaign Finance Law(Referenced Statute § 163‑278.9A(3))
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