On April 11, North Carolina Representatie Bill Shepard (R-Jacksonville) and some other legislators from each major party introduced HB 769. It improves ballot access for newly-qualifying parties and independent candidates. It sets the statewide petition at one-fourth of 1% of the last gubernatorial vote. If the bill were enacted, the 2018 and 2020 statewide petitions would require 11,778 signatures, due in July.

Current law requires 94,221 signatures, and the independent petitions are due in April; the new party petition is due in May.