This news story, from a blog that covers North Carolina politics, quotes Senator Tom Apodaca, chair of the Senate Rules Committee, as predicting that the legislature will consider ballot access this year. HB 32, which improves ballot access, has already passed the House and the Senate Rules Committee, but it has been unclear when it will go to the Senate. The regular legislative session for this year is already over, but there is a special session; also North Carolina has two-year sessions, so the bill could also advance early next year in the second half of the regular session.