The town of Chapel Hill has shown remarkable foresight in their decision to authorize a pilot public-financing program for their town elections. Instead of waiting for election costs to get out of hand and for special-interest money to corrode the process (as they have in some towns in the area), Chapel Hill is creating public safeguards now while running small-dollar, grassroots campaigns are still tenable. This will help the town avoid being overrun with expectation-laden high-cost elections and preserve the integrity of the town’s democratic process for years to come. At less than 50 cents per resident per year, the benefit of more fair and clean elections is well worth the modest cost.

Chase Foster
NC Voters for Clean Elections