Decision by State Board of Elections could quash public funding
December 23, 2011
North Carolina: North Carolina's public financing for state appellate court candidates has been a target for conservatives this year, who favor cutting budgets in a time of economic uncertainty. Now, the State Board of Elections (SBE) has gotten in on the action, tweaking an important aspect of the funding.[1][2]
The SBE will not grant "rescue funds" in 2012, meaning that candidates who agree to public financing will not received any extra money if outspent by an opponent or third-party group. In an atmosphere with increasingly expensive judicial elections, this decision may signal the end of public financing.
The decision also reverses the precedent set since 2004, when the program was adopted. 2012 will be the first year that judicial candidates are not eligible for rescue funding.[2]
To read more about this year's adventures with public financing, visit:
- News: NC sued over matching funds for Supreme Court candidates, September 21, 2011
- News: North Carolina voters polled about judicial campaign contributions, February 23, 2011
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