NEWS & COMMENTARY

Diogenes' Lamp

You want more choice at election time? Consider this alternative.

The Constitution Party is seeking to be on the ballot in November in North Carolina



If you are dissatisfied with the governance of the two-party system of elections in North Carolina and the resultant candidates performance after taking office, there is an opportunity for NC voters to make a change, the most significant change to elections that has occurred in many years.



The NC General Assembly in 2017 overrode Governor Cooper's veto of Senate Bill 656 that reduces the number of petition signatures required for ballot access. Previously there were over 90,000 petition signatures required of registered voters for a new party to have ballot access in the primary and general elections for local and state offices. The new requirement is reduced to less than 12,000 signatures. See NCGS 163-92 (a) (2) below.



The Constitution Party of NC has been recognized by the State Board of Elections as a political party in North Carolina since 2008, but has been denied ballot access because of the onerous requirement to collect more than 90,000 petition signatures.



The Constitution Party of North Carolina will promote candidates that support the following Core Values: 1. Sanctity of Life



Other articles by Ray Leary 2020 Elections and the US Constitution

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2020-Sep-14 Beaufort County North Carolina school shutdown

2020-Aug-04 Republican Primary is getting hot in Beaufort County

2020-Jan-15 The 2018 Elections are over in North Carolina

2018-Nov-12 Elections have consequences

2018-Sep-21 More... 2. Religious Freedom



3. Traditional Family



4. Private Property Rights



5. Pro- Second Amendment



6. Anti-Socialism



7. National Sovereignty The Constitution Party is engaged in a state-wide campaign to collect 11,925 petition signatures before May 15, 2018. The petition signatures must be certified by each counties local Board of Elections and notify the State Board of Elections prior to June 1, 2018 for the Constitution Party candidates to have their names placed on the 2018 General Election ballot. Candidates will be nominated by county conventions for local offices and district conventions for state offices.



There will be no primary elections in May 2018 for the Constitution Party candidates as the party does not have ballot access until the requisite petition signatures have been certified, which will occur in June 2018. Local candidates who wish to run as a Constitution Party candidate will be nominated in a Constitution Party County Convention in July 2018.



Any registered voter in North Carolina may sign this petition to request the Constitution Party of NC to have ballot access for the 2018 NC General Election, regardless of registered party affiliation. Voters will not be required to change party affiliation to the Constitution Party of NC nor does signing the petition affect your voter registration. For more information contact the party or website to view the platform.



Constitution Party of North Carolina



7209-J- East WT Harris Blvd. #119



Charlotte, NC 28227



Phone: 1-888-683-2762.



to go to www.constitutionpartync.com



Locally, in Beaufort County you may contact Ray Leary at 252-402-5662 to sign the petition.



NCGS 163-96(a) (2)  Became law October 17, 2017



(a) Definition.  A political party within the meaning of the election laws of this State shall be one of the following:



(2) Any group of voters which shall have filed with the State Board of Elections petitions for the formulation of a new political party which are signed by registered and qualified voters in this State equal in number to one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) of the total number of voters who voted in the most recent general election for Governor. Also the petition must be signed by at least 200 registered voters from each of three congressional districts in North Carolina. To be effective, the petitioners must file their petitions with the State Board of Elections before 12:00 noon on the first day of June preceding the day on which is to be held the first general State election in which the new political party desires to participate. The State Board of Elections shall forthwith determine the sufficiency of petitions filed with it and shall immediately communicate its determination to the State chair of the proposed new political party.



Became law notwithstanding the objections of the Governor at 10:50 a.m. this 17th day of October, 2017.



s/ James White



House Principal Clerk If you are dissatisfied with the governance of the two-party system of elections in North Carolina and the resultant candidates performance after taking office, there is an opportunity for NC voters to make a change, the most significant change to elections that has occurred in many years.The NC General Assembly in 2017 overrode Governor Cooper's veto of Senate Bill 656 that reduces the number of petition signatures required for ballot access. Previously there were over 90,000 petition signatures required of registered voters for a new party to have ballot access in the primary and general elections for local and state offices. The new requirement is reduced to less than 12,000 signatures. See NCGS 163-92 (a) (2) below.The Constitution Party of NC has been recognized by the State Board of Elections as a political party in North Carolina since 2008, but has been denied ballot access because of the onerous requirement to collect more than 90,000 petition signatures.The Constitution Party of North Carolina will promote candidates that support the following Core Values:The Constitution Party is engaged in a state-wide campaign to collect 11,925 petition signatures before May 15, 2018. The petition signatures must be certified by each counties local Board of Elections and notify the State Board of Elections prior to June 1, 2018 for the Constitution Party candidates to have their names placed on the 2018 General Election ballot. Candidates will be nominated by county conventions for local offices and district conventions for state offices.There will be no primary elections in May 2018 for the Constitution Party candidates as the party does not have ballot access until the requisite petition signatures have been certified, which will occur in June 2018. Local candidates who wish to run as a Constitution Party candidate will be nominated in a Constitution Party County Convention in July 2018.Any registered voter in North Carolina may sign this petition to request the Constitution Party of NC to have ballot access for the 2018 NC General Election, regardless of registered party affiliation. Voters will not be required to change party affiliation to the Constitution Party of NC nor does signing the petition affect your voter registration. For more information contact the party or website to view the platform.Constitution Party of North Carolina7209-J- East WT Harris Blvd. #119Charlotte, NC 28227Phone: 1-888-683-2762. Click here to go to www.constitutionpartync.comLocally, in Beaufort County you may contact Ray Leary at 252-402-5662 to sign the petition.NCGS 163-96(a) (2)  Became law October 17, 2017(a) Definition.  A political party within the meaning of the election laws of this State shall be one of the following:(2) Any group of voters which shall have filed with the State Board of Elections petitions for the formulation of a new political party which are signed by registered and qualified voters in this State equal in number to one-quarter of one percent (0.25%) of the total number of voters who voted in the most recent general election for Governor. Also the petition must be signed by at least 200 registered voters from each of three congressional districts in North Carolina. To be effective, the petitioners must file their petitions with the State Board of Elections before 12:00 noon on the first day of June preceding the day on which is to be held the first general State election in which the new political party desires to participate. The State Board of Elections shall forthwith determine the sufficiency of petitions filed with it and shall immediately communicate its determination to the State chair of the proposed new political party.Became law notwithstanding the objections of the Governor at 10:50 a.m. this 17th day of October, 2017.s/ James WhiteHouse Principal Clerk

Ray Leary is resident of Chocowinity where he lives with his wife Sue. He is a graduate of Washington High School, Class of 67. He retired in 2008 from a career in management with Weyerhaeuser, having worked at both the Plymouth and New Bern facilities. Since his retirement he has worked part-time as a consultant in the pulp and paper industry. He was a founding member of Houghton Cascade Holdings, LLC where he now works as a consultant. Diogenes: The Greek philosopher who went through his village with a special lamp in search of an honest man. Print Email Comment Share