On June 28, the North Carolina House Elections Committee passed SB 656, the ballot access bill. The House will probably vote on it on Wednesday afternoon, June 28. The Committee amended the bill for petitions for newly-qualifying parties, from 10,000 signatures, to one-fourth of 1% of the last gubernatorial vote, which would be 11,778 signatures for 2018 and 2020. North Carolina gubernatorial elections are held in presidential years. Thanks to Kevin Hayes for this news.