About 34,000 voters in North Carolina who were once registered with the Constitution, Justice for All, No Labels, and We the People political parties are slated to see their affiliations change to unaffiliated status come Tuesday. The move follows the 2024 general election's aftermath, with the said parties no longer meeting the state's required thresholds to maintain official recognition. This shift, as reported by North Carolina State Board of Elections, is set to update the state’s voter registration database to accurately reflect the current state of political party standings.
These political groups failed to garner at least 2% of the vote for the positions of governor or president in the last November polls, a statutory requirement that must be met to maintain status as a recognized party in the state. The Green Party, which also did not meet this threshold, was nevertheless able to cuddle its way back to recognition. This turn of fortune came after the State Board determined that the party had a presidential candidate on the general election ballot of at least 70% of the states in 2024. “New voters and voters who update their registrations are no longer able to affiliate with the Constitution, Justice for All, No Labels, or We the People parties,” said Sam Hayes, executive director of the State Board of Elections, adding that "These parties may be recognized again if they meet the requirements for a political party as specified in state law."
For North Carolinians keen on keeping their political party options open, the bar to entry for new parties isn't insurmountable. Aspiring parties can earn recognition under state law by submitting petitions signed by registered voters that amount to 0.25% of the total number of votes cast for governor in the 2024 general election. These signatures must also include a minimum of 200 from three different N.C. congressional districts.
For the time being, the list of recognized political parties in the Tar Heel State stands at four: the Democratic Party, the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, and the Republican Party. But for unaffiliated voters or those contemplating that route post-shift, the primary election presents a flexible playground. Such voters can opt to choose among any one political party's ballot or go for a nonpartisan one if it's available. When Election Day dawns, all voters, regardless of affiliation, can cast their votes for the candidate(s) of their choice. For more information on party affiliation in North Carolina, folks can refer to the "Choosing Your Party Affiliation" section on the State Board's website, while also using the "Voter Search Tool" to check their current registration status.
