Unaffiliated Candidate Petitions
General Overview
On this page, you will find the procedure to nominate an unaffiliated candidate to appear on the general election ballot, per N.C.G.S. § 163-122.
Requirements and Timeline
Find requirements and deadlines below, and refer to the Fact Sheet: 2023 Unaffiliated Candidate Petitions (Coming soon). All state petitions should be submitted to the State Board of Elections unless otherwise noted.
| Reason for Petition | Number of Required Signatures | When Are Petitions Due? | Governing Statutes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ...in the contest for President of the U.S. | 1.5% of all registered N.C. voters who voted in the most recent election for N.C. Governor. | Noon on the day of the primary election to CBE. | N.C.G.S. §163-122(a)(1), §163-209, Session Law 2017-214 |
| ...in the contest for N.C General Assembly if district lies in more than one county. | 4% of all registered N.C. voters in the district, as of January 1 of the election year. | Noon on the day of the primary election to CBE. | N.C.G.S. §163-122(a)(1), Session Law 2017-214 |
| ...in a statewide contest. | 1.5% of all registered N.C. voters who voted in the most recent election for N.C. Governor. | Noon on the day of the primary election to CBE. | N.C.G.S. §163-122(a)(1), Session Law 2017-214 |
| ...in a district contest except for N.C. General Assembly. | 1.5% of all registered N.C. voters in the district, as of January 1 of the election year. | Noon on the day of the primary election to CBE. | N.C.G.S. §163-122(a)(2), Session Law 2017-214 |
| ...in a contest for Superior Court or District Court Judge. | 2% of all registered N.C. voters in the district, as of January 1 of the election year. | Noon on the day of the primary election to CBE. | N.C.G.S. §163-122(a)(1), Session Law 2017-214 |
| ...in a county contest or single-county legislative district contest. | 4% of all registered N.C. voters within the county or district, as of January 1 of the election year. | Noon on the day of the primary election to CBE. | Session Law 2017-214 |
| ...in a municipal contest. | 1.5% of all registered N.C. voters within the municipality. | Noon on the Friday preceding the 7th Saturday before the election. | N.C.G.S. §163-122(a)(4) |