On April 4, North Carolina Senator Andrew Brock (R-Mocksville) introduced SB 656. He is in his eighth term. His bill lowers the number of signatures for a newly-qualifying party to exactly 10,000, which is what was required in North Carolina between 1929 and 1981. It lowers the number of signatures for a statewide independent to exactly 5,000. It lowers the district independent petitions from 4% to 3% of the number of registered voters.

There are now ballot access bills in both houses of the North Carolina legislature. HB 769 is the House bill. Thanks to Kevin Hayes for the information about the Senate bill.