This lengthy article in the Charlotte Observer explains the historical background for why North Carolina requires so many signatures for minor parties to get on the ballot. That is in the very end of the article. The law was passed in 1983 in reaction to the Socialist Workers Party having qualified in North Carolina in 1980, when the requirement was exactly 10,000 signatures. That was the first time a Marxist political party had ever qualified for the North Carolina ballot, and the legislature was not pleased. Thanks to Douglas Joy for the link.
RE: “the first time a Marxist political party had ever qualified for the North Carolina ballot, and the legislature was not pleased” – obviously, because two Marxist political parties already are enough.
How many of the Donkey/Elephant gerrymander oligarchs in the State legislatures are NOT pleased that Elephants/Donkeys get on the ballots in such States ???
Did Civil WAR II start when Obama took office on 20 Jan 2009 ???
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P.R. and nonpartisan App.V.