For immediate release.
Mar. 5, 2009
Contact: Bryan Warner, N.C. Center for Voter Education, 877-258-6837

N.C. Voters Support Municipal Choice for Public Campaign Financing

RALEIGH - A majority of North Carolina voters favor giving municipalities the option of creating public campaign financing for their local elections, according to a new poll from the N.C. Center for Voter Education.

The survey finds that 56 percent of voters support giving towns and cities across the state the choice to set up their own public financing programs.

Currently, municipalities must get permission from the General Assembly before launching public financing for their local elections. To date, Chapel Hill is the only municipality to be granted permission. The town is starting its program with this year’s election.

Now under consideration in the Legislature, House Bill 120 would allow more towns and cities to establish their own public financing programs.

“This bill would give municipalities the freedom to create public financing for their local elections, if they so choose,” says Damon Circosta, executive director of the N.C. Center for Voter Education. “This measure is about showing faith that the folks in towns across the state know how best to run their local elections.”

The poll of 818 North Carolina voters also finds strong support for initiatives that reduce the influence of money in politics. Generally speaking, 80 percent of state voters support such reforms.

Conducted from Mar. 2–3, the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percent.

The N.C. Center for Voter Education is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving elections in North Carolina.

###

Q. There is a proposal in the legislature that would let municipalities across North Carolina choose whether or not to have publicly financed local elections. Would you support this?

Yes: 56 percent
No: 44 percent

Q. Generally speaking, do you support initiatives that reduce the influence of money in politics?

Yes: 80 percent
No: 20 percent