Have you seen these flyers? Unsanctioned slate cards circulate at Raleigh polls
Two flyers posing as official endorsement lists from the Democratic and Republican parties have not been approved by the parties and have incorrect information, officials said Monday.
The lists, which also include state and federal candidates, circulated at several early-voting locations in Raleigh on Friday. They look like legitimate endorsements with candidates’ names and photos but do not provide the official name or any logos associated with who produced them.
The flyers are labeled: “North Carolina Democratic Party Voting Ticket — City of Raleigh” and “North Carolina Republican Party Voting Ticket — City of Raleigh.”
In small print, they say: “Paid for by NCCAC. Not affiliated with any candidate.”
The News & Observer could not find information online for a group called NCCAC.
The two flyers endorse different candidates for mayor and the same seven candidates for the remaining City Council seats.
The Wake County Democratic Party condemned the flyers, saying they are “dishonest” and “misinform voters.”
“We remind voters that any official campaign literature is required to have a visible financial disclosure printed at the bottom clearly indicating the responsible committee,” the party said in a statement.
Kevyn Creech, the chair of the Wake County Democratic Party, and eight of the 25 Raleigh City Council candidates signed the statement.
Karen Mulligan, the chair of the Wake County Republican Party, said the flyers were not theirs and voters should look for the GOP’s official name on its endorsement lists.
A spokesperson for the Wake County Board of Elections said they have not seen the flyers and have limited ability to police what happens at voting sites outside of the 50-foot buffer zone. They don’t know a group called NCCAC.
The group is also not registered with the state Board of Elections, which requires political action committees to register and file disclosure reports within 10 days of organizing. The board’s general rule requires groups making independent expenditures to file reports 30 days after their expenses exceed $100 or 10 days before an election.
The name of the organization, not its acronym, must appear on any printed media, radio broadcasts or TV advertisements.
Early voting began on Oct. 17 and continues until Nov. 2 across the state. There are 22 polling sites in Wake County where voters can cast their ballots early.
Candidates endorsed by the Wake County Dems
The unapproved Democratic Party flyer lists two candidates the party did not endorse — Corey Branch, the District C incumbent, and John Cerquiera, a candidate in District E — instead of the two it did endorse: Tolulope Omokaiye, a candidate in District C, and Christina Jones, the District E incumbent.
The other Raleigh City Council candidates officially endorsed by the Wake Democrats are:
Janet Cowell, mayor
Jonathan Melton, at-large, incumbent
Stormie Forte, at-large, incumbent
Mitchell Silver, District A
Megan Patton, District B
Jane Harrison, District D
A full list of the local, state and national candidates endorsed by the Wake Democrats is on their website, wakedems.org.
Candidates endorsed by the Wake GOP
The unapproved Republican Party flyer lists a Republican candidate for mayor and seven Democratic council candidates.
The Wake GOP endorsed Paul Fitts, a Republican, for mayor.
The unapproved flyer lists him, along with Democratic candidates Melton, Forte, Silver, Patton, Branch, Harrison and Cerquiera. A full list of the state, national and local candidates can be found at wakegop.org.
Besides Fitts, the City Council candidates officially endorsed by the Wake GOP are:
James Bledsoe, at-large
Whitney Hill, District A
Jennifer McCollom, District B
Tomara DeCosta, District C
NC Reality Check is an N&O series holding those in power accountable and shining a light on public issues that affect the Triangle or North Carolina. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email realitycheck@newsobserver.com
This story was originally published October 21, 2024 at 4:07 PM.