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 N.C. Statute(s)*
Written Opinion 2024-05-22: Volunteer Services Brad Scott G.S. § 163-278.6(13); G.S. § 163-278.7(a)
Written Opinion 2024-04-19(2): The Use of Contributions for a District Office Sen. Kevin Corbin G.S. § 163-278.16B
Written Opinion 2024-04-19(1): The Use of Political Party Headquarters Building for Internet Services Lincoln County Democratic Party G.S. § 163-278.19B
Written Opinion 2023-10-17: Legal Services Constitution Party of North Carolina G.S. § 163-278.6(13); G.S.§ 163-278.15
Written Opinion 2023-06-22: The Use of Contributions for Caregiving/Dependent Care Expenses Rep. Julie von Haefen G.S. § 163-278.16B
Written Opinion 2022-11-28: Quarterly Reporting Schedule by Political Parties Constitution Party of North Carolina G.S. § 163-278.9
Written Opinion 2022-05-13: Organization of a Referendum Committee Robert N. Hunter, Jr. G.S. § 163-278.6
Written Opinion 2021-09-22: The Use of Political Party Headquarters Building Funds for Personnel Compensation Kathleen Davis G.S. § 163-278.19B
Written Opinion 2021-06-25: Reporting of Settlements Jinger Kelley G.S. § 163-278.11; G.S. § 163-278.13; G.S. § 163-278.15; G.S. § 163-278.19
Written Opinion 2020-05-05: Federal Independent Expenditure-Only Political Committee (Super PAC) Contributions Berkon and Weisman/Democratic Governors Association G.S. § 163-278.7A
Written Opinion 2020-04-20: The Use of Contributions for Childcare Services Antoine Marshall G.S. § 163-278.16B
Written Opinion 2020-01-14: Approving Sale and Lease of a Political Party Headquarters Building Joshua Coffey/Alexander County REC G.S. § 163-278.19B
Written Opinion 2019-11-12: The Use of Contributions for the Payment of a Salary to the Candidate Abbie Lane G.S. § 163-278.16B

*Refer to Regulating Contributions and Expenditures in Political Campaigns (Article 22A, Chapter 163 of the N.C. General Statutes).

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