[EL] Use of tax dollars to find one side of a referendum campaign

[Jurij Toplak]

United States is a member of The Venice Commission, which issues international standards in electoral matters and referendum matters. They are not a binding legal authority, but many courts worldwide refer to them.

The Venice Commission issued a Code of Good Practice in Referendums, which does not allow tax money to fund just one side of a referendum campaign. For examplle the Supreme Court of Slovenia referred to the Code when it annulled a referendum, in which the government used tax money to fund just one side of the campaign.

Best,
Jurij


On 24.10.2018, at 05:38, Steven John Mulroy (smulroy) <smulroy at memphis.edu<mailto:smulroy at memphis.edu>> wrote:

 Does anyone know of authority regarding whether  a  governmental entity can appropriate funds to do one-sided public advocacy to support one side of a referendum measure?

A city Council voted to place referenda  on the ballot. All three are highly controversial. On the last city Council meeting before the election, the Council did an "add-on" item to the agenda, without public notice, and then approved it in the "same night minutes" departure from the normal two week approval process. The funds will be used to advocate for one side of the referendum.
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