Online Guide Gives Voters the Facts
on N.C. Court Candidates
For immediate release.
Apr. 11, 2006
Contact: Bryan Warner, N.C. Center for Voter Education, (919) 839-1200
Online Guide Gives Voters the Facts on N.C. Court Candidates
RALEIGH - With the start of early voting arriving this week, North Carolina voters can turn to a new online guide to get the facts on statewide judicial candidates in this year's primary election.
The official State Judicial Voter Guide is now available at www.ncvoterguide.org.
The N.C. State Board of Elections produced the nonpartisan guide, featuring all 11 candidates running in the primary for the N.C. Supreme Court and N.C. Court of Appeals. It includes facts on the candidates, such as their experience and qualifications, along with a statement directly from the candidates.
“Our research shows that the number-one reason why qualified voters don't go to the polls on Election Day is not that they don't care, but that folks simply don't know enough about the candidates,” says Chris Heagarty, executive director of the nonprofit N.C. Center for Voter Education. “The State Judicial Voter Guide goes a long way to empower voters with the facts they need to cast a confident ballot.”
The Public Campaign Fund makes the guide possible, and also offers a public financing alternative to statewide judicial candidates who agree to abide by strict fundraising and spending limits.
State money is made available for the Public Campaign Fund primarily based upon the number of people who say yes to the option on their state income tax forms. Saying yes to the Public Campaign Fund option does not affect the amount of taxes paid or refund received.
The State Judicial Voter Guide was first used in the 2004 appellate court elections, with notable success. Studies by the N.C. Center for Voter Education discovered that of those voters who recalled receiving the guide, 78 percent found it very or somewhat useful.
“The races for the N.C. Supreme Court and N.C. Court of Appeals are the only statewide contests on the ballot this year, so it's key that voters across North Carolina have the facts on these candidates,” notes Heagarty. “The State Judicial Voter Guide does just that.”
To supplement the state's judicial voter guide, the nonpartisan N.C. Center for Voter Education has launched the online radio show “Judge for Yourself”, featuring one-on-one interviews with the candidates to the N.C. Supreme Court and N.C. Court of Appeals. “Judge for Yourself” is part of the NCCVE Podcasts available at www.ncvotered.com or through the iTunes Music Store.
A general election edition of the State Judicial Voter Guide will be available this fall.
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