Skip to main content
Student Government

Campaign Finance and Violations

This page explains the permanent rules and processes for campaign finance and violations in Student Government elections. These requirements apply every election cycle.

Timeline

For this semester’s deadlines (expense report due dates, campaign start, and election day), visit the:

Fall Election Page
or Spring Election Page.

Spending Limits

Candidates may spend no more than the following in a general election:

  • Student Body President & Vice President (joint ticket): $400
  • Student Senate President: $260
  • Student Body Treasurer: $260
  • Senators: $50
  • Other elective offices: $210
  • Department-level elective offices: $70

For a runoff election, candidates may spend up to an additional 25% of the general election limit.

Expense Reports

All campaigns must submit complete and honest expense reports to the Board of Elections.

Format & Submission:

  • Must be submitted in PDF format by the designated method announced at the All Candidates Meeting.
  • Use the official spreadsheet template (see below)
Spring 2026 Expense Report Template

Each report must include:

  • Expense sheets and running totals
  • Receipts
  • Donations (monetary and in-kind) with donor contact info
  • Estimated value of donated/reused materials
  • List of all campaign materials produced/distributed

Frequency:

  • Weekly reports due during the campaign period (even if no money was spent).
  • Final report due 15 minutes after polls close (even if no money was spent).

Public Access:

  • Expense reports are public records and must be submitted by all candidates. They are published on the elections webpage for transparency.
  • Report deadlines are posted on the Board of Elections website and shared at the All Candidates Meeting.

Expense Reports Archive

  • Current cycle expense reports are posted on the Fall Election Page or Spring Election Page, depending on the semester.
  • Historical expense reports may be found on the Election Results & Archives Page

Violations & Enforcement

The Board of Elections enforces all campaign rules until results are certified. All decisions are made using the preponderance of evidence standard.

Types of Penalties

  • Notification: Minor violations with no real advantage gained.
  • Warning: Significant violations with campaign advantage gained (max 3).
  • Double Warning: Egregious violations, counts as two warnings.
  • Disqualification: For severe breaches (e.g., falsifying reports, overspending, tampering with voting).

After 3 warnings, the candidate faces a disqualification hearing.

Hearings & Appeals

  • Candidates are notified of violation hearings at least 24 hours in advance, when possible.
  • Hearings are open to the public; deliberations are private.

How to Report a Violation

Important: Always check the Fall Elections Page or Spring Elections Page for a designated violation reporting form—if a specific method is provided, email submissions are invalid and will not be accepted.

If email is a valid form of submission, submit them via email to sgelections@ncsu.edu.

Please use the following format:

Subject Line: VIOLATION-Date

Your Student Name
Your Student ID Number

To the Board of Elections:

I would like to report the following violation against (candidate name).
On (MM/DD/YY) there was chalk on a vertical surface of a wall with the candidate’s name (violation).
Here is a picture of the chalking (evidence of violation).

The rule it violates is (section number), which states the following: (violation pasted here).

Your Name
Your NCSU Email
Your Telephone Number

Photo evidence is not required to submit a violation, but it is strongly encouraged whenever possible.

Violations Archive

  • Current cycle violations are posted on the Fall Election Page or Spring Election Page, depending on the semester.
  • Historical violation decisions may be found on the Election Results & Archives Page

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What if I don’t spend any money?

A: You must still file every report showing $0 spent.

Q: What happens if I miss a deadline?

A: Late or incomplete reports result in an automatic warning. Three warnings trigger a disqualification hearing.

Q: How do I know if I’ve been given a warning?

A: The Board will notify you by email, and violation decisions are posted publicly within 24 hours.

Q: Can friends donate time or services for free?

A: If they normally charge for that service (e.g., design, printing), you must record the fair market value as an in-kind donation.

Q: What happens if I go over the spending limit?

A: Overspending may result in an automatic disqualification hearing.

Q: Who decides violation cases?

A: The Board of Elections, by majority vote using the preponderance of evidence standard.

University Policies, Regulations, and Rules (PRRs)

All candidates are required to comply with all University Policies, Rules, and Regulations (PRRs). The Board of Elections enforces the Student Government governing documents and the Elections Handbook. While enforcement of PRRs rests with the University, any failure to comply with PRRs may still be considered in violation proceedings if it impacts the fairness or integrity of the election. A complete list of all PRRs is available here.