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Poll: N.C. Voters Favor Broad Reform of Campaign Finance System

By Bryan Warner
Published: Apr. 7, 2010

RALEIGH - An overwhelming majority of North Carolina voters are concerned by the role of special interest money in state politics and support bold reforms to the campaign finance system, according to a new poll from the nonpartisan N.C. Center for Voter Education.

According to the survey, 71 percent of voters favor a major overhaul to the state’s campaign finance system. Just 6 percent favor the status quo.

The poll finds that concerns about the role of special interest money in North Carolina elections are held across party lines. Republican voters are slightly more likely than Democrats to support a major overhaul of the state’s campaign finance system, with 75 percent and 69 percent in favor of such a change, respectively.

“Regardless of party affiliation, North Carolinians see the need to ensure that our democracy works for everyone,” says Damon Circosta, executive director of the N.C. Center for Voter Education. “Good government is not a partisan issue. Republicans and Democrats alike are willing to support candidates who look for bold solutions to this problem.”

In addition to supporting significant campaign finance reform, 54 percent of voters would favor a candidate whose campaign was funded by taxpayer money over a candidate whose campaign was funded by special interests. Just 20 percent would favor a candidate funded by special interests -- 26 percent are unsure.

The survey finds that 67 percent of state voters believe the power of special interests has increased in the N.C. Legislature over the past decade. Eight in 10 believe that state lawmakers listen more to groups that fund their campaigns than to average voters.

The same proportion of voters -- 80 percent -- believes the high cost of campaigning keeps qualified candidates from running for office. A solid majority of state voters -- 71 percent -- oppose the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC, which allows corporations and labor unions to spend money directly from their treasuries to influence the outcome of elections.

“It has become increasingly clear to just about everyone in North Carolina that the money-in-politics problem must be solved before our state can move forward,” says Circosta. “Voters are looking for bold solutions. Now is not the time to be tinkering around the edges.”

Several reforms will likely be considered in the upcoming session of the N.C. General Assembly. Lawmakers may pursue increased transparency of campaign contributions and alternative campaign finance programs, including public financing.

Commissioned by the N.C. Center for Voter Education, the statewide survey of 775 registered North Carolina voters was conducted by Public Policy Polling from Mar. 29-30 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percent.