Democracy North Carolina is a nationally-recognized source for reliable non-partisan research on money in politics, voter participation, and political reform.
Below is a list of our research reports. You are welcome to download and distribute these reports for all non-commercial purposes. For more on the philosophy behind our research activities, please visit the Research page in our What We Do section.
Review a list of all of our research reports here:
This section houses all of our current and archived research reports, arranged chronologically with the most recent reports first. If you don’t see what you are looking for here, check out our blog.
2017 Research
- June 2017 – Big Billboard Firms Censor Message about Investigation of Sen. Hise
- May 2017 — NC Adds 1 Million Voters from Obama to Trump
- May 2017 – Did Sen. Ralph Hise Pocket $10,000 of Campaign Money?
- April 2017 – New Poll Supports Call for Redistricting Reform
- April 2017 — Deceit of Voter Fraud
- April 2017 – Restructuring of Elections Boards Done for Party, Not the Public
- March 2017 – Voters Accused of Fraud Share Stories, Push for Change
- March 2017 – Same-Day Registration Shows Value of Inclusive Reform
- March 2017 — Beer Money Buys Protection from Competition
- January 2017 — Who Voted in 2016 & Who Didn’t
2016 Research
- December 2016 – 25 Years of Speaking Truth to Power
- November 2016 – McCrory’s Election Complaints Malign Innocent Voters
- October 2016 – Hot Tips for Navigating the 2016 Election
- August 2016 – The Success of Pre-registration in NC, 2010-2013
- August 2016 – Super-Sized Precincts, Loss of Straight-Party Voting, Other Factors Show Need for Strong Early Voting Plans
- May 2016 – Democracy NC Files Amicus Brief Against the Anti-Voter Monster Law
- April 2016 – Use of Sunday Hours During March Primary’s
- April 2016 – 29,000 Voters Saved by Law Legislature Aims to Kill
- April 2016 – Mistakes by Forsyth County Board of Elections Disenfranchise Voters
- March 2016 – Primary Election Day: Hotline, Poll Monitors Document Major Problems
- January 2016 – Funds Needed to Administer Increased Complexity of Election Law
2015 Research
- November 2015 – Analysis of Poll Worker Problems and Public Confidence in Election Changes
- November 2015 – Shelton Family Invests in Politics, Seeks Favors
- August 2015 – Findings of Interviews with County Boards of Elections Directors
- August 2015 – Press Release & Letter Calling for Investigation of Sweepstakes Industry and Political Corruption
- June 2015 – Comments on Draft Rules for NC’s Photo ID Law
- June 2015 – Legislators Win Sunshine Award for Disclosure Reports
- June 2015 –Republicans Change NC’s Strict ID Law
- June 2015 – 28-Page Report: Alarm Bells from Silenced Voters
- May 2015 – NC DMV, Assistance Agencies Violate US Registration Law
- May 2015 – Thousands of Voters Disenfranchised by New Law
- April 2015 – Duke Energy’s Super-Sized Gift & Coal Ash Cleanup
- April 2015 – US Supreme Court Rejects Aggressive Segregation
- March 2015 – Guide to Reviewing Campaign Finance Reports
- March 2015 – Youth More Heavily Affected by Narrow ID Rule
- January 2015 – Report to Elections Officials on H-589’s Impact in 2014
2014 Research
- December 2014 – County-by-county Breakdown of 2014 Turnout
- November 2014 – NC’s Election Changes Block Up to 50,000 Voters in 2014 General Election
- September 2014 – Hundreds of Voters Lost Their Votes in 2014 Primary Due to New Election Rules
- August 2014 – Cash Advantage: Legislators v. Challengers
- July 2014 – Ups, Downs in 2014 Primary Turnout
- June 2014 – Survey of 2014 Primary Voters Reveals Racial Divide in Views on the Fairness of Photo ID Law and Inconsistent, Inadequate Education by Poll Workers
- June 2014 – Weak Disclosure Law Shields Lawmakers
- May 2014 – Claims of Voter Fraud May Bite Legislators
- February 2014 – Duke Energy Increased Political Donations As Coal Ash Controversy Intensified
- February 2014 – Overview of Discriminatory Impact of NC’s Monster Law
2013 Research
- December 2013 – 2013: The Good, The Bad and The Unclear
- December 2013 – The Changing Profile of NC’s Registered Voters, State Overview
- December 2013 – County-by-CountyAnalysis of 5-Year Changes of Who’s Registered to Vote
- November 2013 – Overview of Art Pope and His Network
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August 2013 – Comprehensive Report Card on State Legislators for 2013
- July 2013 – County-by-County impact of proposed election changes
- July 2013 – Donations Anchor Duke Energy Deal
- May 2013 – Inquiry Sought of Lobbying by Shanahan and Moore & Van Allen Law Firms
- April 2013 – Who Are the 2013 Registered Voters Without a Photo ID?
- April 2013 – Report Card Grades Legislators on Key Votes in First Months of Session
- April 2013 – Complaint Calls for Investigation of Sweepstakes Donations, Lobbyists
- April 2013 – Super Majority Supports Giving Voters a Non-Photo Option
- March 2013 – Gov. McCrory Got Windfall from Gambling Café Owners
- March 2013 – Arrested Video Sweepstakes Operator is Top Donor to Legislators, Ties to McCrory’s Law Firm Questioned
- February 2013 – Profile of the Judicial Public Financing Program’s Success
- January 2013 – GOP House & Senate Caucuses Raise & Spend Record Amounts for 2012 Election
- January 2013 – Who voted? NC county-by-county analysis of voting by 30 subgroups
2012 Research
- December 2012 – Analysis of 2012 Turnout: Who Voted in North Carolina?
- October 2012 – Hotline Launched for Possible Early Voting Problems
- September 2012 – 60,000+ Teens Added to Voter Rolls Thanks to NC Pre-Registration Law
- August 2012 – Analysis of NC Latino Voters, Registered & Unregistered
- August 2012 – Shakedown, PAC Money Boost Leaders Toward Fundraising Record
- June 2012 – Do Republican Leaders Want An Election Meltdown in NC?
- May 2012 – Analysis of Who Voted Early in the Primary
- May 2012 – Toxics Lobby Swamps Environmental Groups with Campaign Money
- May 2012 – Status of Voter Supression Legislation in NC
- February 2012 – Speaker Tillis Gets Big Bucks from Special Interest He Helped
- February 2012 – Election Officials Call for Release of HAVA Funds
- January 2012 – Election Officials Agree: New Redistricting Plans Cause Big Problems
2011 Research
- October 2011: Duke + Progress Would Rank #1 in Corporate Political Clout in NC
- October 2011: Art Pope: North Carolina’s 40 Million Dollar Man (with links to details of his campaign contributions and other political spending)
- September 2011: Status of Voter Suppression Legislation in NC
- July 2011: Twenty-two Legislators Receive Sunshine Award for Superior Campaign Disclosure
- June 2011: Republicans Jump on Chance to Raise Money from PACs
- May 2011: Merger of Ethical Oversight Committees Would Cripple Campaign Finance Disclosure
- May 2011: Consumer Finance Bill Linked to Campaign Donations
- April 2011: Insurance Bill Sponsors Were Top Recipients of Blue Cross Campaign Contributions
- April 2011: 50-State Survey of Voter ID Standards
- March 2011: Analysis of Active NC Voters Lacking IDs
- March 2011: Vacation Island Donors Give $2 Million To State Leaders, Push For Taxpayer-Funded Jetties
- February 2011: Legislative Winners Raise Mystery Money Before Session Begins
2010 Research
- December 2010 – 10 Milestones in NC Politics For 2010
- December 2010 – Judicial Public Campaign Program Adds Diversity, Reduces Special-Interest Influence on NC Courts.
- December 2010 – New Analysis Profiles Who Voted in 2010
- October 2010 – White GOP Men Lead This Cycle’s Early Voting
- July 2010 – Analysis of Fundraising by North Carolina Candidates for US House of Representatives.
- June 2010 – Democratic Donor Should Pay Stiff Penalty.
- June 2010 – Statement from Bob Hall on Video Poker Sweepstakes.
- April 2010 – Fetzer/Sen. Burr Caught Misleading Public About Wall Street Fundraising.
- March 2010 – The Success of North Carolina’s Judicial Campaign Reform Program.
- March 2010 – NC Counties at Highest Risk of Losing Funds Because of a Census Undercount.
- January 2010 – New Analysis Shows Dramatic Shifts in NC Voters Over Past Decade.
2009 Research
- December 2009 – Democracy NC Announces Sunshine Awards to Honor 32 State Legislators for Their Exceptional Compliance With Campaign Disclosure Rules
- December 2009 – New Poll and Co-Sponsors for Federal Reform Show Growing Bi-Partisan Support Among North Carolinians for Voter-Owned Elections
- October 2009 – Amendment to State Board of Elections re Mike Easley Committee and Related Improper Contributions
- August 2009 – Healthcare Debate: Follow the Money For NC Members of Congress, 2004-2008
- July 2009 – Letter to Board of Elections about Mike Easley Committee and Improper Contributions
- June 2009 – NC Budget, Tax Loopholes & Special-Interest PACs
- June 2009 – Billboard Money Targets General Assembly Allies
- March 2009 – Analysis of 2008 Turnout, County by County
- March 2009 – New Report on Spending by NC Lobby Groups
- March 2009 – Decline in Big Tobacco Political Donations Seen
- March 2009 – Political Donations from Blue Cross Blue Shield
- March 2009 – Chart of Blue Cross/Blue Shield Recipients
2008 Research
- December 2008: The Year of the NC Voter
- August 2008: Young Voters: A Mixed Picture of Success & Under-Performance
- July 2008: Complaint Filed About Republican Governors Association Donations in NC
- July 2008: Surge in Registration Shows Need for Early Voting Sites
- July 2008: State Legislators Improve Their Campaign Finance Disclosure
- April 2008: Early Voting in NC: Are We Prepared?
- April 2008: Deceptive Campaign Ads and Phone Calls Challenged
- February 2008: Missing Voters: Challenge, Opportunity for May Primary
- February 2008: Political Giving By Members of NC Board of Transportation Tops $1 Million, Gov. Mike Easley Tops List of Recipients
2007 Research
- November 2007 – Fundraising by NC Members of Congress Jumps 4-Fold, 1980-2006
- July 2007 – Realtors, Home Builders Saturate General Assembly with Donations
- July 2007 – The Utility of Giving – II: Power of the Power Companies
- April 2007 — PAC Donations from Anesthesiologists and Nurse Anesthetists, 2002-2006
- April 2007: Civic Participation Index: NC Votes Less Than Most States
- March 2007 – Lobbyists Reap $14.5 Million In Compensation in 2005
- January 2007 – PAC Donations Soar Higher for N.C. Legislative Candidates
2006 Research
- November 2006 – Legislative Fundraising, Third Quarter Summary
- July 2006 – Lobbyists Contributions and Lack of Disclosure of Their Fundraising for Candidates
- June 2006 – Report on Success of the Judicial Public Financing Program
- February 2006 – SBOE Hearing Targets Crimes Against Democracy
2005 Research
- December 2005 – The Good, Bad & Ugly: Report Card for 2005
- December 2005 – New Analysis of Giving by Video-Poker Donors, plus Michael Decker’s Money from Donors Ralated to Speaker Jim Black
- September 2005 – Political Donations by Members of the NC Lottery Commission
- July 2005 – Survey Shows Problems & Potential of Youth Voting in NC
- June 2005 – Hundreds of Reports Missing from Special Interests Lobbying NC
- May 2005 – Lobbyists Earn Millions, But Disclose Less about Wining and Dining than 15 Years Ago
- April 2005 – The Utility of Giving: Political Investments by NC Electric Utilities
- March/Feb./Jan. 2005 — 3 Reports about Purged Voters Using Provisional Ballots in Nov. 2004 Election
- February 2005 – Factsheet: Does Healthcare Make You Sick?
2004 Research
- November 2004 – Switch Hitters Play Both Sides in Governor’s Race
- August 2004 – Who’s Late, Who’s Great: Campaign Disclosure & Sunshine Awards
- June 2004 – Video Poker and Political Corruption
- May 2004 – Fundraising by Selected Council of State Members in 2000 Election
- February 2004 – Who’s Funding Judicial Elections?
- January 2004 – NC Voter Turnout in 2000 Election, by County and Race.
1996-2003 Research
- October 2003 – NC Home Builders Assn. & the Sprawl Lobby
- August 2003 – The Color of Presidential Money: North Carolina Case Study
- July 2003 – The Color of Money: Race and Gender in State and Local Politics
- May 2003 – Role of Norman Chambliss and Amusements of America in Meg Scott Phipps Campaign Finance Scandal
- May 2003 – Big Donors Could Get Away While Focus Centers on Meg Scott Phipps
- April 2003 – Burden of Running for Chapel Hill Town Council
- April 2003 – Cost of Winning a Seat in General Assembly Tops $100K
- February 2003 – Campaign Costs Skyrocket in Chapel Hill Mayoral Races
- January 2003 – Top Political Donors Continue to Gain New Tax Breaks
- November 2002 – Money Advantage Pays Off in State Legislative Elections
- November 2002 – Money Chase for State Candidates Ends with Flurry of Contributions
- July 2002 – The Color of Money in Charlotte 2002
- June 2002 – Attorneys’ Campaign Contributions to Judges
- April 2002 – Total Dollars Down, Disclosure Improves
- February 2002 – UNC Board of Governors
- January 2002 – Disclosure Reporting Graded
- September 2001 – Gambling Interests
- August 2001 – Dentists/Dental Hygienists
- July 2001 – Legislators Rely Heavily on Special Interest Money
- March 2001 – North Carolina’s Soft Money Connection
- March 2001 – Top Political Donors Dominate List of Easley’s Board of Transportation Appointees
- December 2000: Voter Turnout in NC – 2000 Election
- 2000 Election Cost Report – Press Release
- 2000 Election Cost Report – Top Spending Candidates
- 2000 Election Cost Report – Charts/Graphs
- October 2000 – Vinroot vs. Easley – Elite Donors Rule
- October 2000 – Soft Money Tops $7M
- September 2000 – Soft Money Floods NC Elections
- September 2000 – Full text of Soft Money Complaint
- September 2000 – Soft Money Opinion Editorial
- July 2000 – Utility of Giving: CP&L and Duke Power
- July 2000 – Charlotte is Political Money Center
- July 2000 – Vinroot, Phipps Fail to Comply with Disclosure Laws
- May 2000 – Guns and Political Money in North Carolina
- January 2000 – Elite Circle of Donors
- November 1999 – Hog Money Influence in the 1999 General Assembly
- May 1999 – Crimes Against Democracy
- March 1999 – Wealth Primary Filters Out Low Spenders
- February 1999 – Millions Spent by Farmers for Fairness
- January 1999 – Campaign Costs Soar in 1998 Legislative Races
- September 1998 – Demonstrators Challenge Senator for Sale
- September 1998 – Shameful Attempt to Rollback Campaign Disclosure Laws
- June 1998 – Corporate Buyout of Elections
- June 1998 – Less Democracy for More Money: 1998 Primary Analysis
- May 1998 – Extortion, Bribery, or Business As Usual?
- April 1998 – Federal Prosecution Sought in Crimes Against Democracy
- April 1998 – Hog Lobby vs. the NC House GOP Leadership
- March 1998 – Arrest Warrant Issued for Campaign Finance Violator
- March 1998 – New Evidence in Crimes Against Democracy
- November 1997 – Political Giving by Board of Transportation Tops $2 Million
- November 1997 – Call for Prosecution of Transportation Officials
- October 1997 – Request for Audit of NC DOT
- August 1997 – Eyes on the Prize: Optometrists vs. Opthalmologists
- June 1997 – Corporate Campaign Money Laundering
- June 1997 – Blue Cross Flexes Muscle with Campaign Money
- May 1997 – Legislators Rely on Special-Interest Money
- May 1997 – Disclosure – the Importance of Employer Identification
- April 1997 – Price for Board of Transportation Seat: $11,000
- March 1997 – State Politicians Swimming in Hog Money
- October 1996 – Democracy Index: It Pays to Play
- 1996 – Fundraising for the 1996 N.C. General Assembly winners
1996 – Pollution Lobby Research
- Political Donations Decide NC’s Environmental Future
- Shoreline for Sale
- Whose Water Is It?
- Time to Level the Playing Field
1996 and before – Nuclear Money in Politics
- Can Nuclear Dump Utilities Buy a Quick Fix?
- Political Spending by Leaders in Nuclear Waste Industry
- July 1995 – Hog Money Pollutes NC General Assembly
- June 1995 – Campaign Spending and Special Interest Influence on Upward Spiral in N.C.
- December 1994 – Bank Tax Loophole Costs Taxpayers Millions
- February 1993 – Study Names “Dismal Dozen” For Poor Voter Turnout, Poor Laws