As noted previously, on October 5, the North Carolina legislature passed SB 656, which substantially reduces ballot access restrictions for newly-qualifying parties, and also significantly improves ballot access for independent candidates. This AP story is the only one I have found that mentions this development. No one knows if the bill will be vetoed, and the story mentions that. But the story treats the ballot access part of the bill in a very casual way, merely devoting a single sentence to the fact that the bill eases ballot access.

The bill’s ballot access provisions are historic. In 1983 the North Carolina legislature made it extremely difficult for newly-qualifying parties to get on the ballot, by raising the number of signatures from exactly 5,000, to 2% of the last gubernatorial vote, which even back then was an eight-fold increase.

Bills to restore easier ballot access were introduced in 1989, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015, but none of them passed. Yet the 2017 bill did pass.

North Carolina ballot access currently is not only bad; it is horrible. North Carolina requires a higher percentage of the electorate for a petition to get on the ballot for president (using the easier method in each state) than any other state. This has been true ever since Oklahoma eased its procedures in 2016 and 2017. It would be very useful if activists in North Carolina would inform daily newspapers, and broadcast media stations, of these facts. Anyone who wishes to be sent a chart showing that North Carolina’s percentage, for president, is the highest in the nation, should e-mail Richard Winger at richardwinger@yahoo.com, or phone 415-922-9779. The Governor must act by October 15 so time is short.