In your editorial “And They’re Off...And Running” you state “this is a season of change”. However in North Carolina that change will be severely limited. Besides Democrats and Republicans, it appears no other political party will be allowed to run a candidate.
North Carolina has some of the strictest ballot access laws in the country. These laws have succeeded in removing third parties and their candidates from the ballot. While both the Libertarian party and Green party have active organizations in the state they will have to go through a difficult and expensive petition drive just to get their candidates on the ballot, effort and money that should be spent talking to NC votors about issues and ideas. The situation has become such that both parties, usually on opposite ends of the political spectrum, have joined forces to file suit against the state over ballot access.
In a typical election year, without third parties almost one-half of all NC legislative races will go unchallenged. While no one wants every child actor and adult film star running for office we need choice before we can have change. In far too many cases there is no or limited choice.
The next time you’re faced with choosing between the “lesser of two evils” ask yourself where your choice is. Then ask your representatives to provide adequate ballot access necessary to give you true choice. Then maybe real change will occur.
Adam Lawler
West Jefferson
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