Voters will now see two new political parties on the North Carolina ballot this fall. The state board of elections voted Wednesday to recognize the Constitution Party.
The decision followed after the party successfully collected more than 12,000 valid signatures from registered voters. The Constitution Party now joins the Green Party as an additional option for voters in the general election.
Both of the parties were able to be recognized because of a General Assembly law passed last fall that reduced the signature requirement from 90,000 registered voters to around 12,000.
The Constitution Party emphasizes a strict reading of the U.S. Constitution, religious freedom, Second Amendment freedoms and traditional family values.
The new party will hold a convention later this month to choose nominees to run this fall.