State elections board selects vendor for campaign finance system
The North Carolina State Board of Elections has selected ReFrame Solutions for a $2.2 million contract to replace the state’s campaign finance reporting system.
The board announced the selection Aug. 20, saying the new system is intended to replace technology that is more than 20 years old. The agency said the replacement will be a secure, cloud-based platform designed to make campaign finance reporting more transparent, efficient and accessible.
The State Board administers North Carolina’s campaign finance disclosure requirements and oversees reporting by candidates, treasurers and political committees. Those reports are also used by the public, news organizations and watchdog groups to track political money.
The current system was built for the Microsoft Windows operating system, according to the board. The agency said it is not compatible with Mac or Apple systems and lacks modern features, making it harder for treasurers, election workers and the public to use.
The planned replacement is expected to include cloud-based filing, guided filing steps, electronic signatures, data imports and a central public portal for campaign finance reports.
The State Board said the new system is being designed around six goals: transparency, security, speed, simplicity, searchability and tracking.
The project is part of a broader election technology modernization effort. In July 2025, the General Assembly provided $15 million to the State Board for modernization of the State Election Information Management System, known as SEIMS, and the campaign finance reporting system.
The board also said it is working toward a transition in which electronic filing becomes the standard for candidates and committees. The Campaign Finance Reporting System Modernization Committee has recommended that lawmakers require electronic filing through the new system for all candidates beginning with the 2028 election cycle.
The contract and proposed system changes place campaign finance disclosure in the middle of a larger election-administration modernization push ahead of future election cycles.
Editor’s note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.
