§ 163-278.69. Voter education.
Overview of Statute
The Board must publish a Judicial Voter Guide containing candidate information and an explanation of the courts and laws concerning the election of appellate judges, the Public Campaign Fund, and laws concerning voter registration.
Statute
(a) Judicial Voter Guide.–The State Board shall publish a Judicial Voter Guide that explains the functions of the appellate courts and the laws concerning the election of appellate judges, the purpose and function of the Public Campaign Fund, and the laws concerning voter registration. The State Board shall distribute the Guide to as many voting-age individuals in the State as practical, through a mailing to all residences or other means it deems effective. The distribution shall occur no more than 28 days nor fewer than seven days before the one-stop voting period provided in G.S. 163-227.2, 163-227.5, and 163-227.6 for the primary and no more than 28 days nor fewer than seven days before the one-stop voting period provided in G.S. 163-227.2, 163-227.5, and 163-227.6 for the general election.
(b) Candidate Information.–The Judicial Voter Guide shall include information concerning all candidates for the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, as provided by those candidates according to a format provided to the candidates by the Board. The State Board shall request information for the Guide from each candidate according to the following format:
(1) Place of residence.
(2) Education.
(3) Occupation.
(4) Employer.
(5) Date admitted to the bar.
(6) Legal/judicial experience.
(7) Candidate statement.— Concerning that statement, the Board shall send to the candidates instructions as follows: “Your statement may include information such as your qualifications, your endorsements, your ratings, why you are seeking judicial office, why you would make a good judge, what distinguishes you from your opponent(s), your acceptance of spending and fund-raising limits to qualify to receive funds from the Public Campaign Fund, and any other information relevant to your candidacy. The State Board of Elections will reject any portion of any statement which it determines contains obscene, profane, or defamatory language. The candidate shall have three days to resubmit the candidate statement if the Board rejects a portion of the statement.
The entire entry for a candidate shall be limited to 250 words.
(c) Disclaimer. — The Judicial Voter Guide shall contain the following statement: “Statements by candidates do not express or reflect the opinions of the Bipartisan State Board of Elections.”
(2002-158, s. 1; 2005-276, s. 23A.1(d); 2005-430, s. 6; 2006-192, s. 14; 2007-391, s. 4(a); 2008-187, s. 33(a); 2009-543, s. 6; 2017-6, s. 3; 2018-144, s. 3.4(n); 2018-146, s. 3.1(a), (b).)
Editors’ Notes
S.L. 2013-360, § 21.1(a), and S.L. 2013-381, § 38.1(a), provide: “Article 22D of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is repealed, except that G.S. 163-278.69 [now this section] is repealed effective upon exhaustion of the funds for publication of the Judicial Voter Guide.”
1. Definition for individual
The term “individual” means a single individual or more than one individual.
2. Definition for day
The term “day” means calendar day.
3. Definition for board
The term “board” means the State Board with respect to all candidates for State, legislative, and judicial offices and the county board of elections with respect to all candidates for county and municipal offices. The term means the State Board with respect to all statewide referenda and the county board of elections conducting all local referenda.
4. Definition for Board
Board. – Any State board, commission, council, committee, task force,
authority, or similar public body, however denominated, created by statute or
executive order, as determined and designated by the State Board, except for
those public bodies that have only advisory authority.
5. Definition for State
“State” means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
6. Definition for Office
(4) Office. – The elected office for which the candidate has filed or petitioned.
(2006-155, s. 1; 2006-259, s. 48(a); 2017-6, s. 3.)
7. Definition for election
The term “election” means any general or special election, a first or second primary, a run-off election, or an election to fill a vacancy. The term “election” shall not include any local or statewide referendum.
8. Definition for Election
“Election” means the event in which voters cast votes in ballot items concerning proposals or candidates for office in this State or the United States. The term includes primaries, general elections, referenda, and special elections.
9. Definition for candidate
The term “candidate” means any individual who, with respect to a public office listed in G.S. 163A-1411(80), has taken positive action for the purpose of bringing about that individual’s nomination, retention, or election to public office. Examples of positive action include any of the following:
a. Filing a notice of candidacy, filing a notice to be retained, or a petition requesting to be a candidate.
b. Being certified as a nominee of a political party for a vacancy.
c. Otherwise qualifying as a candidate in a manner authorized by law.
d. Making a public announcement of a definite intent to run for public office in a particular election.
e. Receiving funds or making payments or giving the consent for anyone else to receive funds or transfer anything of value for the purpose of bringing about that individual’s nomination or election to office. Transferring anything of value includes incurring an obligation to transfer anything of value. Status as a candidate for the purpose of this Article continues if the individual is receiving contributions to repay loans or cover a deficit or is making expenditures to satisfy obligations from an election already held. Special definitions of “candidate” and “candidate campaign committee” that apply only in Part 2 of this Article are set forth in G.S. 163A-1475.
10. Definition for Candidate
“Candidate” means any individual who, with respect to a public office listed in G.S. 163A-1411(80), has filed a notice of candidacy, notice of retention, or a petition requesting to be a candidate, or has been certified as a nominee of a political party for a vacancy, or has otherwise qualified as a candidate in a manner authorized by law, or has filed a statement of organization under G.S. 163A-1412 and is required to file periodic financial disclosure statements under G.S. 163A-1418.