All candidates for any elected office in North Carolina must have an appointed treasurer who resides in North Carolina. N.C.G.S. § 163-278.7 states that a candidate shall appoint a treasurer and, under verification, report the name and address of the treasurer to the appropriate elections board. A candidate may serve as his or her own treasurer, or may appoint someone else to serve. Note, however, that certain persons are ineligible to serve as treasurers:
· A candidate’s spouse may not serve as treasurer for the candidate committee. N.C.G.S. §163-278.7(a)
· Persons who are not residents of North Carolina may not serve as treasurers. N.C.G.S. §163-278.7(a)
· No member of a county board of elections or of the State Board of Elections is eligible to serve as a treasurer for a candidate committee. N.C.G.S § 163-19; § 163-30;
· No person who serves as a precinct official may simultaneously serve as a treasurer for any candidate or political party. N.C.G.S § 163-41
· A registered lobbyist is ineligible to serve as a treasurer for a candidate for election to the General Assembly or as treasurer for a candidate for election to any constitutional offices of the state. N.C.G.S. § 120C-304(d) and § 163-278.13C. (For more information regarding lobbyists and campaign finance, see "Campaign Finance Restrictions on Lobbyist Activities").
· Members of the parole commission are prohibited from serving as treasurers. N.C.G.S. § 148.52.1.
Candidates who do not appoint a treasurer assume the treasurer's duties and responsibilities. The appointment of treasurer is made on the Certification of Treasurer form (CRO-3100). Candidates for Council of State offices, North Carolina House of Representatives, North Carolina Senate, district attorney, and all judicial offices shall file their campaign finance paperwork with the campaign finance office of the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Candidates for county and municipal elected offices should file their campaign finance paperwork with their county board of elections office.
An individual appointed as treasurer has multiple responsibilities. He or she must maintain all financial records of the committee. These records should describe every transaction of the committee, and should include documentation supporting all contributions and expenditures. The treasurer is responsible for the timely and accurate filing of all required reports. Committees whose treasurers fail to file reports in a timely manner may incur financial penalty.
The treasurer listed on the last filed Certification of Treasurer (CRO-3100) and Statement of Organization (CRO-2100A) is the treasurer of record, responsible for the compliance of the committee and subject to penalties and sanctions provided by the North Carolina General Statutes.
To notify the board of a change in treasurer, the candidate shall complete and submit a new Certification of Treasurer (CRO-3100) form and an amended Statement of Organization (CRO-2100A) within ten days of the change. Failure to complete this form in a timely manner could result in a penalty for a late report filing.