Resize Text

For immediate release.
June 22, 2012
Contact: Brent Laurenz, N.C. Center for Voter Education, 919-783-8811 or

Center for Voter Education Responds to Lack of Election Funds in State Budget

RALEIGH – Leaders in the North Carolina Senate and House of Representatives passed an updated budget yesterday, but noticeably absent was approximately $660,000 for the state Board of Elections. These funds are required to free up $4 million in federal funds, already allocated to North Carolina, to help administer the 2012 elections.
 
The $4 million in federal funds are necessary to ensure the basic functions of North Carolina’s election system run smoothly and would be used for training poll workers, maintaining voting machines and improving election administration. Without these funds there is the potential for significant voting issues to arise during the election this year.
 
“We are extremely disappointed the legislature did not allocate the necessary funds to ensure North Carolina voters don’t experience problems at the polls this year,” said Brent Laurenz, executive director of the N.C. Center for Voter Education. “2012 could see record turnout here and it would seem like common sense to provide essential resources to make sure we don’t end up like Florida in 2000.”
 
“Underfunding the election system in a year like 2012 hurts all voters,” Laurenz added. “In the end, elections are about the voters and our right as citizens to choose our public officials, which is why the legislature’s decision to not include these election funds is so upsetting.”
 
Founded in 1999, the Raleigh-based N.C. Center for Voter Education is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated to helping all citizens fully participate in democracy.

###