JLF’s Daren Bakst has been advising since the summer that North Carolina officials should take heed of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that declared unconstitutional Arizona’s program of providing matching funds — taxpayer money — to candidates when their opposition privately raises a certain amount of money. Last week the state Board of Elections told Chapel Hill to stop giving out “rescue” funds in its pilot program for local candidates. And now, a lawsuit has been filed to challenge North Carolina’s funding of appellate judicial candidates. The law aside, it is simply wrong to force people to help fund candidates they would never support. Whether it’s forcing liberals to help fund conservatives or forcing conservatives to help fund liberals or forcing people who reject politics and elections to help fund anyone, it is simply wrong. North Carolina should end its public financing program, comply with the Supreme Court ruling, and show respect for the free speech rights of its citizens.
