More presidential candidates could be on North Carolina ballot with signature drives

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — This fall’s presidential ballot in battleground North Carolina appears poised to lengthen after three political movements seeking to run candidates filed voter signature lists with state election officials by a Monday deadline.

Groups that want Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West on the ballot — the We The People Party and Justice for All Party respectively — as well as the Constitution Party had initiated petition drives to receive official party designations. That would allow the groups to field candidates for any position in the November election, not just for president.

Based on state law, the proposed parties had to collect at least 13,865 valid signatures from registered and qualified voters and turn in enough signature sheets by noon Monday. Signature lists already had to be filed at county board of offices by May 17 to give officials there time to determine whether they were registered.

A petition webpage by the State Board of Elections indicates all three groups have valid signatures that exceed the threshold. Board officials still must review signatures and petition details to ensure compliance, however. The state board — composed of three Democrats and two Republicans — would have to meet soon to formally vote to recognize any or all of these groups as new political parties. New political parties would have to quickly offer their candidates for the ballot.

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