Would you rather have North Carolina judges raising campaign money from the attorneys and business interests who appear in their courts - or from a public fund they can tap if they agree to strict spending limits?

Which way promotes fairness in our courts and gives all qualified candidates a chance, even if they are not personally wealthy?

North Carolina now has the nation's first "Clean Elections" public financing program for statewide judicial candidates. It's a major breakthrough for "voter-owned elections" in N.C. - but it won't work without public participation!

Candidates for the N.C. Supreme Court and Court of Appeals can receive substantial aid from a new Public Campaign Fund in exchange for accepting strict spending and fundraising limits. Twelve of the 16 candidates used the program in 2004, including four of the five winners. In 2006, eight out of the 12 candidates used the program, and five out of the six eventual winners used public financing.

The Fund also pays for a Voter Guide with information about the courts and candidates. Four million copies were mailed to homes in 2004 and 2006.

A distinguished bipartisan panel, headed by Campbell University Law School's Dean Willis Whichard, oversees the program with the State Board of Elections.

But the program won't work unless hundreds of thousands of taxpayers show support by choosing "Yes" on a check-off box that is on the N.C. income-tax form.

The check-off doesn't change a person's tax bill ; it just transfers $3 to the new Public Campaign Fund for each person who says "Yes."

Look hard and find the question about the check-off on your tax return . TELL YOUR TAX CONSULTANT TO CHECK “YES” – they may not ask you the question!

For more information, call 1-888-OUR-VOTE or go to www.ncjudges.org .

USEFUL MATERIALS

Click here for a one-page flyer about the check-off, prepared by the North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections coalition. (PDF format)

Click here for a Q&A on the check-off and Public Campaign Fund , distributed by the State Board of Elections. (PDF format)

Click here for talking points for a Letter to the Editor .

Click here for copy that can be used in a newsletter or email action alert .

Click here for the language in the check-off box that is on the tax form. (PDF format)

Click here to view a small " buck slip " that gives the key information about the check-off. (PDF format)   You can order hundreds of these slips from Democracy North Carolina to give to co-workers, pass out at meetings, leave at libraries, etc.