Campaign Finance Advisory Opinions
Overview
Consistent with Duties of Executive Director of State Board (N.C.G.S. § 163-278.23), the executive director of the State Board of Elections, upon request, issues written advisory opinions about North Carolina’s campaign finance laws to candidates, the media, political committees, referendum committees, and other entities. If an entity relies on and complies with a written advisory opinion issued by the executive director to the entity, then the entity may not be prosecuted or the subject of a civil action on account of the procedure followed.
Find the State Board’s campaign finance advisory opinions from 2019 to present on this page. On our FTP site, you can find Advisory Opinions Issued from 1998 to 2018. Advisory opinions are also published in the North Carolina Register.
View Recent Advisory Opinions
Find recent advisory opinions in the table below, along with the subject, recipient, and relevant statute(s).
| Written Opinion (PDF) | Recipient | Relevant Statute(s)* |
|---|---|---|
| WO-2025-04-16: Legal Expense Fund Compliance Services | Maggie Barlow/Justice Allison Riggs Legal Fund | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.320 |
| WO-2024-12-23: Former Candidate’s Use of Contributions | John Wallace/Governor Roy Cooper | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.16B |
| WO-2024-09-21: Definition of a Contribution | Defending Digital Campaigns, Inc. | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.6(74) |
| WO-2024-09-13: Contribution Limits | Robert Long/Committee to Elect Van Duncan Commission Chair | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.13 |
| WO-2024-05-22: Volunteer Services | Brad Scott | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.6(13); N.C.G.S. § 163-278.7(a) |
| WO-2024-04-19(2): The Use of Contributions for a District Office | Sen. Kevin Corbin | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.16B |
| WO-2024-04-19(1): The Use of Political Party Headquarters Building for Internet Services | Lincoln County Democratic Party | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.19B |
| WO-2023-10-17: Legal Services | Constitution Party of North Carolina | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.6(13); N.C.G.S.§ 163-278.15 |
| WO-2023-06-22: The Use of Contributions for Caregiving/Dependent Care Expenses | Rep. Julie von Haefen | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.16B |
| WO-2022-11-28: Quarterly Reporting Schedule by Political Parties | Constitution Party of North Carolina | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.9 |
| WO-2022-05-13: Organization of a Referendum Committee | Robert N. Hunter, Jr. | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.6 |
| WO-2021-09-22: The Use of Political Party Headquarters Building Funds for Personnel Compensation | Kathleen Davis | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.19B |
| WO-2021-06-25: Reporting of Settlements | Jinger Kelley | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.11; N.C.G.S. § 163-278.13; N.C.G.S. § 163-278.15; N.C.G.S. § 163-278.19 |
| WO-2020-05-05: Federal Independent Expenditure-Only Political Committee (Super PAC) Contributions | Berkon and Weisman/Democratic Governors Association | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.7A (This advisory opinion was superseded by Section 5.(b) of N.C. Session Law 2024-16.) |
| WO-2020-04-20: The Use of Contributions for Childcare Services | Antoine Marshall | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.16B |
| WO-2020-01-14: Approving Sale and Lease of a Political Party Headquarters Building | Joshua Coffey/Alexander County REC | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.19B |
| WO-2019-11-12: The Use of Contributions for the Payment of a Salary to the Candidate | Abbie Lane | N.C.G.S. § 163-278.16B |