Bill Summary for S 656 (2017-2018)
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| View NCGA Bill Details | 2017-2018 Session |
AN ACT TO CHANGE THE DEFINITION OF A "POLITICAL PARTY" BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES REQUIRED FOR THE FORMATION OF A NEW POLITICAL PARTY AND FOR UNAFFILIATED CANDIDATES TO OBTAIN BALLOT ACCESS ELIGIBILITY; TO AUTHORIZE ESTABLISHMENT OF POLITICAL PARTIES RECOGNIZED IN A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF STATES IN THE PRIOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION; TO CHANGE TIMING OF FILING OF PETITIONS; TO REDUCE THE THRESHOLD FOR A SUBSTANTIAL PLURALITY TO THIRTY PERCENT; AND TO ELIMINATE JUDICIAL PRIMARIES FOR THE 2018 GENERAL ELECTION.Intro. by Brock.
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Bill summary
Amends the petition requirement in GS 163-96(a) for a group of voters to be considered a new political party to lower the number of required signatures to 10,000 (currently, 2% of the total number of voters who voted in the most recent general election for Governor), with signatures of at least 200 registered voters from each of three (currently, four) NC congressional districts.
Amends GS 163-122(a), as amended, to lower the number of signatures required for an unaffiliated candidate to put their name on a general election ballot for statewide office to 5,000 (currently, 2% of the total number of voters who voted in the most recent general election for Governor), with signatures of at least 200 registered voters from at least three (currently, each of four) NC congressional districts. Lowers the number of required signatures for district offices to 3% (currently, 4%) of the total number of registered voters in the district. Lowers the number of required signatures for county office or single-county legislative districts to 3% (currently, 4%) of the total number of registered voters in the county or district, respectively.
Effective January 1, 2018, and applies to all primaries and elections held on or after that date.