Information for Candidates

Opening up a Campaign Commitee

All candidates must open a Campaign Finance Committee. Please see the North Carolina State Board of Elections Campaign Finance Manual for further information.

The State Board of Elections and County Boards of Elections regulate contributions and expenditures in primaries and elections for North Carolina offices. The Federal Election Commission regulates contributions and expenditures in primaries and elections for federal offices.

A committee must be open within 10 days of the following one of these options:

  • Announcing your candidacy 
  • Accepting your first donation 
  • Spending any money on your candidacy
  • Filing to run for office

The following forms need to be completed to open a Campaign Finance Committee. These forms can be mailed, or hand delivered to our office by the Candidate or Treasurer:

  1. Statement of Organization (CRO-2100 A)
  2. Certification of Financial Accounts (CRO - 3500)
  3. Designation of Committee Funds (CRO - 3900) 
  4. General Notice of Candidacy 

Each committee must have a treasurer. A candidate may be their own treasurer, or one can be assigned by the candidate. A candidates spouse may not be their treasurer. If a candidate is running for the first time or have assigned a new treasurer, please know it is mandatory for the candidate or their treasurer to complete treasurer training.

Treasurer Training:

All treasurers must complete treasurer training within 3 months of appointment and once every 4 years. There is an online training module available for treasurer training through the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

For Candidates and Treasurers that would prefer to sign up for an in-person or live webinar Treasurer Training session, The North Carolina State Board of Elections will be hosting these. Please check their website for the dates and times of these trainings.

If you or your Treasurer have any questions or need assistance with the NC Learning Center website, please contact [email protected].

Candidate Checklist

It is important to follow the guidelines listed below in order for your committee to run smoothly:

1. Read the Candidate or Municipal Election Guide.

2. Read the Campaign Finance Manual

3. Download the reporting software.

4. Open your committee and file your first report.

5. Sign up for mandatory training.

6. Check your reporting schedule.

7. Study sign regulations.

8. Get to know the demographics of your district.

Campaign Sign Regulations

The General Assembly of North Carolina passed Senate Bill 315 in August of 2011 that permits campaign signs in the right-of-way. Signs are permitted during the period beginning on the 30th day before the beginning date of "one-stop" early voting and ending the 10th day after the primary or election day. No campaign sign should exceed six square feet in area or 42" in height.

It is a class 3 misdemeanor for a person to steal, deface, vandalize or unlawfully remove a political sign that is lawfully placed.

Ordinances from state and local municipalities:

State: Littering statutesReport Violations
Charlotte: Sign OrdinanceReport Violations
Cornelius: Sign OrdinanceReport Violations
Davidson:  Sign OrdinanceReport Violations
Huntersville:  Sign OrdinanceReport Violations
Matthews:  Sign OrdinanceReport Violations
Mint Hill: Sign OrdinanceReport Violations
Pineville: Sign OrdinanceReport Violations
Stallings: Sign OrdinanceReport Violation