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Don’t allow foreign $$$ influence in our elections to become law in H958.


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Election Law Changes in HB958 contains a section on Contributions by Foreign Nationals.

A new Proposed Committee Substitute (PCS) to this bill was offered on Thursday, 8/21. The PCS Passed out of the House Judiciary 1 Committee with all the proposed changes. 

Joanne Empie crafted two NCEIT amendments for this bill. This post addresses the one to ban all foreign money in all aspects of our elections. NCEIT submitted this to the House bill sponsor, Rep Hugh Blackwell, the language recommended by America First Policy Institute, whose model policy on foreign funding of elections is sound. https://www.americafirstpolicy.com/issues/protecting-american-elections-from-foreign-influence


We now need you to contact the sponsors and co-sponsors of H958. Make phone calls, email, and post on social media.

Government of, by and for the people must be free from foreign influence to protect the right of American citizens to democratic self-governance. Don’t allow foreign influence to become law in H958. Deliver this message:

  • protect American elections from foreign influence

  • ban foreign money in ballot initiatives and campaigns

  • remove any carve outs for foreign entities in H958

While federal law prevents foreign nationals from donating to U.S. political candidates, committees, and Super PACs, there is no federal law preventing foreign nationals from donating to ballot committees. #NCGA needs to ban all foreign influence in our elections in H958.  It’s the morally right thing to do!  Only US Citizens Vote and Influence US Elections. You represent us, not foreign influencers!  https://americansforpublictrust.org/news/new-report-reveals-nearly-100-million-from-foreign-funded-group-financing-state-ballot-campaigns/


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Also contact your NC House Reps.


H958 Sponsors


Co-Sponsors


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The following are suggested posts for social media outlets to reach these representatives. You can also use them in emails, etc. On X, @AshevilleTeaPty page is uploading them. Please also send to #nceit, @Votechecker @EIWatchdogs


I will be updating this page so check back often. Please, our reps need to hear from We the People. They must ban foreign money and influence from our elections, or we don't have a country.


.Banning Foreign Money in Ballot Initiatives Act closes loopholes in state law that allows foreign nationals to influence public policy by contributing to ballot measures. @RepHughBlackwell pass this model legislation instead of H958. https://www.americafirstpolicy.com/issues/banning-foreign-money-in-ballot-initiatives-act


.Ohio, California, Maryland, North Dakota, and Washington currently have laws prohibiting foreign money in ballot initiatives to some degree. So should #NCGA https://americafirstpolicy.com/issues/banning-foreign-money-in-ballot-initiatives-act @RepHughBlackwell @RepSarahStevens#RepJohnBlustNC #RepJimmyDixonNC


.The Banning Foreign Money in Ballot Initiatives Act is largely modeled after comprehensive legislation in Ohio that became law in June 2024 (HB 1). #NC needs to use it to model #NCleg and nix foreign influence in H958 https://www.americafirstpolicy.com/issues/banning-foreign-money-in-ballot-initiatives-act @KeithKidwell


.#NCGA needs to adopt the Model Policy to ban foreign $ for ballot initiatives. H958 continues foreign national interference and dilutes our vote. Nix it! https://www.americafirstpolicy.com/issues/banning-foreign-money-in-ballot-initiatives-act

@RepHughBlackwell


.While federal law prevents foreign nationals from donating to U.S. political candidates, committees, and Super PACs, there is no federal law preventing foreign nationals from donating to ballot committees. #NCGA needs to ban all foreign influence in our elections in H958.  It’s the morally right thing to do!  Only US Citizens Vote and Influence US Elections. You represent us, not foreign influencers!  https://americansforpublictrust.org/news/new-report-reveals-nearly-100-million-from-foreign-funded-group-financing-state-ballot-campaigns/


.New Report reveals nearly $100 million from foreign-funded group financing state ballot campaigns and #NC is part of it.  @NCleg now needs to remove foreign nationals influence from H958 https://americansforpublictrust.org/news/new-report-reveals-nearly-100-million-from-foreign-funded-group-financing-state-ballot-campaigns/


.States and localities take on foreign-influenced political spending.  Why isn’t the #NCGA doing the same by removing the loopholes in H958?  https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/states-localities-take-foreign-influenced-political-spending-2023-05-30/  


.Nearly 80% of Voters Support Prohibiting Foreign Entities from Funding Ballot Measures.  So why aren’t you deleting foreign influence in H958?  https://publicconsultation.org/united-states/foreign-funding-of-ballot-initiatives/

 

 .(Republicans 77%, Democrats 84%, independents 74%) and congressional districts (very red districts 74%, very blue districts 80%) support prohibiting foreign entities from funding ballot measures.  Why isn’t the @NCGA allowing foreign nationals to influence our election in H958? https://publicconsultation.org/united-states/foreign-funding-of-ballot-initiatives/

 

.States can prohibit foreign funding of ballot measures, and seven states have done so. Why hasn’t the @NCGA in H958?  https://publicconsultation.org/united-states/foreign-funding-of-ballot-initiatives/


#FL House passes foreign contribution ban, other ballot initiative changes.  #NCGA needs to follow their lead.  https://floridapolitics.com/archives/502236-house-passes-foreign-contribution-ban-other-ballot-initiative-changes/


.#NC should follow states and localities who have gone beyond the 1974 Federal Election Campaign Act and adopted ‘foreign influence’ bans.  #NC needs to be one of those states.  Remove foreign national influence in H958.  Only US Citizens Vote and Influence US Elections. https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/states-localities-take-foreign-influenced-political-spending-2023-05-30/  

 

.There can be NO foreign $ spent on ballot measures.  H958 leaves the door wide open for foreign influence in our elections.  Totally unacceptable.  https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/states-localities-take-foreign-influenced-political-spending-2023-05-30/

 

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Resources

America First Policy Institute. (2024a, August 26). Securing U.S. Elections and Preventing Non-Citizen Voting. https://www.americafirstpolicy.com/issues/securing-u.s-elections-and-preventing-non-citizen-voting

3 Things Congress Can Do To Protect American Elections From Foreign Interference https://thefederalist.com/2024/05/17/3-things-congress-can-do-to-protect-american-elections-from-foreign-interference/

America First Policy Institute. (2024b, September 10). Banning Foreign Money in Ballot Initiatives Act. https://www.americafirstpolicy.com/issues/banning-foreign-money-in-ballot-initiatives-act

America First Policy Institute. (2024c, September 10). Prohibiting Non-Citizen Voting Act. https://www.americafirstpolicy.com/issues/prohibiting-non-citizen-voting-act

Americans for Public Trust. ‌(2024, April 17). New Report Reveals Nearly $100 Million From Foreign-Funded Group Financing State Ballot Campaigns. https://americansforpublictrust.org/news/new-report-reveals-nearly-100-million-from-foreign-funded-group-financing-state-ballot-campaigns/

Blackwell, J.; Gidley, H; & Martinez, J. (2022, September 6). Only American citizens should vote in American elections. America First Policy Institute. https://www.americafirstpolicy.com/issues/only-american-citizens-should-vote-in-american-elections

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‌Minnesota Department of Public Safety. (2023). DVS getting Minnesotans ready for Driver’s License for All. Department of Public Safety Blog. https://dps.mn.gov/blog/Pages/20230803-drivers-license-for-all.aspx

National Conference of State Legislatures. (n.d.) Automatic Voter Registration. https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/automatic-voter-registration

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Putterman, S. (2024, August 30). Sen. Rick Scott said 3 states removed 16,000-plus noncitizens on voter rolls. What we know. Austin American Statesman. Sen. Rick Scott said 3 states removed 16,000-plus noncitizens on voter rolls. What we know (msn.com)

‌Ramer, H. (2024, September 12). New Hampshire governor signs voter proof-of-citizenship to take effect after November elections. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/new-hampshire-voter-registration-citizenship-4009cda6ce88bccc0c8bd447ffd27974

Raskin, J. (1993). Legal Aliens, Local Citizens: The Historical Constitutional and Theoretical Meanings of Alien Suffrage. Digital Commons, American University Washington College of Law. https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/facsch_lawrev/1044

Snead, J. (2022, April 27). New Polling: Americans Embrace Elections Safeguards. Honest Elections Project. https://www.honestelections.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/April-polling-memo_ALEC49163789-1.pdf

Stanton, A. (2024, August 24.) Map Shows States Where Migrants Are Being Purged From Voter Rolls. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/map-states-migrants-purged-voter-rolls-1944995

The Heritage Foundation (n.d.). Election Fraud Cases. https://www.heritage.org/voterfraud/search

University of Maryland School of Public Policy. (2022). Nearly 80% of Voters Support Prohibiting Foreign Entities from Funding Ballot Measures. Program for Public Consultation. https://publicconsultation.org/united-states/foreign-funding-of-ballot-initiatives/

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