(a) Judicial Voter Guide. - The 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 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 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 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 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 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.)
Sections: Previous 163-278.40D 163-278.40E 163-278.40F 163-278.40G 163-278.40H 163-278.40I 163-278.40J 163-278.69 163-278.99E 163-278.300 163-278.301 163-278.306 163-278.307 163-278.308 163-278.309 Next
Last modified: March 23, 2014