Free the Ballot!
North Carolina has some of the most restrictive ballot access laws in the nation, laws that prevent third parties and independent candidates getting on the ballot and kick third parties off the ballot if they don't reach high vote thresholds in statewide elections.
This November (2006), more than half of all state legislative races will be uncontested. We don't think it's coincidence that less than half of eligible adults vote in North Carolina elections.
Voters show up at the polls when they have a choice on the ballot. One way to ensure more choice is to open the ballot to independent candididates and third parties.
North Carolina Ballot Access Facts
- North Carolina has the third most restrictive signature requirements for political parties in the nation (69,734 verified signatures) and, until the state's individual requirement was overturned in federal court, the second most restrictive for independent candidates.
- More than two-thirds of U.S. states require 10,000 or fewer signatures for independent ballot access.
- Twenty-one states, including South Carolina and Maryland, require 10,000 or fewer signatures for political parties.
- Nine states require 5,000 or fewer signatures for both parties and independents.
- Because roughly one-third of all signatures cannot be validated, a political party in North Carolina must raise more than 104,601 signatures to be sure of getting ballot access. That's one signature for every 73 people in the state.
- Our tax money pays county board-of-elections officials to verify every one of those petition signatures.
- No third party has ever met the North Carolina signature requirement without the use of professional petitioners.
- After each four-year election cycle, if a third party does not receive ten percent of the vote for governor or president, the party is de-certified and has to start all over again.
- The Libertarian Party of North Carolina has been certified eight times, often spending nine months and $100,000 on the effort, only to start again after the gubernatorial election.
Join the NC Open Elections Coalition in demanding free, fair and open elections in North Carolina! Sign the petition now!