The Constitution Party of Harnett County

Common Questions

Q: Is the CPNC an active party?

A: Yes. We are an active party in the State of North Carolina, but we are currently trying to gain state ballot access and voter registration access for the CPNC. The CPNC held it's 2008 state convention this year on August 22nd and 23rd where a new state executive committee was formed and new party By-Laws and CPNC platform were adopted. Information about the state executive committee, and the By-laws can be found here on the State Party website. Our State Party platform can be found here.

Q: How does the Constitution Party of NC get on Ballot?

A: For the 2012 elections the Party needed to obtain at least 85,379 signatures obtain access to the election ballot. Then, we need the candidates to run for state and National elections, but especially President and Governor give us a chance to keep ballot access. National CP has mentioned raising the $100,000 to pay professional, full time petitioners, but as of now, it is a grassroots commitment. Visit our Ballot Access page to learn more.

Q: How do I get a CPNC candidate on the NC Ballot?

A: There are different levels of requirement for Candidacy in the state of North Carolina. If you are interested in running as a CPNC candidate please contact us with your information and what office you are seeking. We will provide you with the necessary information.

Q: How do I become a CPNC member?

A:Visit our join page linked at the top of every page of the CPNC website. Fill out the necessary information and submit the form. After submitting this form, pay the party dues necessary for becoming a member or contact our party if you are experiencing economical hardships. Note, that Membership is in the State Party, and this is how you can take an official role in the Wake County Constitution Party.

Q: How much are party dues?

A:Party dues are listed below:
$15.00 Full Member annually
$10.00 Associate Member annually
$5.00 Friend of the Party Member annually

Q: Do I have to change my NC voter registration to be a CPNC member?

A:No. If you wish to join the Contitution Party of North Carolina you do not have to change your voter registration. Membership in the Party, by joining and paying dues, simply gives you the ability to have a more indepth part in the Party, such as the ability to vote at Conventions, hold office or in the future run for public office as a Constitution Party candidate. We encourage you to join, as it will assist us in building a better more solid Party in the state and to have more influence as times persists.

Q: How can I get involved?

A: Look into becoming a county or regional leader.Tell your friends and family about the CP. Consider becoming a dues paying member and if possible, donating extra.Buy a bumper sticker or sign. Hand out literature and the like.Write letters to editors, radio programs, TV (especially free media).

Q: Why does NC have such strict ballot access laws?

A:Much of the problem we have with Ballot Access Laws goes back to the problem the nation had with voter intimidation and bribery, which caused people to either vote out of fear or not vote at all in the beginning of our nation. The problem is that voting was conducted by a voice vote intially which lead to the voter intimidation because there was no privacy in the vote. To solve the problem the paper ballot was introduced, yet, not the ballot we have today. This paper ballot was printed by the individual or political party and then distributed to the people, yet since the ballots were distinctly colored they caused the same problem as voice voting did.

This gave rise to our current problem. In 1901, North Carolina followed suit with the rest of the nation in adopting the "Australian Ballot," or state-regulated secret ballot. It was the bill which was enacted into law in 1901 that introduced the state-regulated ballot which also gave NC its first ballot access regulations. The single regulation was the defintion of a political party in the state. Which stated that only parties which had obtained at least 50,000 votes in the 1900 election were state recognized parties. This automatically ensured the Republican and Democratic Parties access to the ballot while throwing out all other competition, while also giving no method by which a new political party could gain access to the ballot in the future, nor a way for current parties to lose access. Of course our laws have changed a great deal since then, but we still have what are considered to be the 3rd most restrictive ballot access laws in the nation.

Click Here to Watch a Video from the NCFPE-PAC about North Carolina's Ballot Access History

Paid for by the
Constitution Party of North Carolina State Executive Committee
Not Paid for by Any Candidate or Candidate Committee