AN ACT to prohibit the private funding of elections.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 3 of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 163‑29.  Solicitation or acceptance of private funds for election purposes prohibited.

(a)        As used in this section, the following terms mean:

(1)        Election. – Each election held to nominate or elect a candidate to any public office.

(2)        Person. – Any individual, proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, syndicate, labor union, business trust, company, association, committee, corporation, whether or not operated for profit, or any other organization or group of persons acting in concert.

(3)        Public funds. – Funds derived from taxes, fees, and other sources of public revenue lawfully appropriated by the General Assembly.

(b)        Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the State Board of Elections shall not solicit, take, or otherwise accept from any person any contribution, donation, or anything else of value for purposes of conducting State or local elections in this State. All costs and expenses relating to elections shall be paid for with public funds. A violation of this section is a Class I felony.

SECTION 2.  Article 4 of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

§ 163‑37.2.  Solicitation or acceptance of private funds for election purposes prohibited.

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no county board of commissioners, elected municipal officials, or county board of elections shall solicit, take, or otherwise accept from any person any contribution, donation, or anything else of value for purposes of conducting State or local elections in this State. All costs and expenses relating to elections shall be paid for with public funds. For purposes of this section, the terms election, person, and public funds shall have the same meanings as defined in G.S. 163‑29(a). A violation of this section is a Class I felony.

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.