The Problem

1. Declining Confidence and Participation

• 22% of North Carolinians are not at all confident in election fairness (Elon Poll, 2019).
• Over 25% have little or no confidence in state election processes (Meredith Poll, 2020).
• Primary election turnout remains critically low:
  • 28% in presidential primaries
  • 16% in non-presidential primaries This low engagement disproportionately amplifies the voices of party extremes, pushing more polarized candidates into general elections and narrowing voter choice.

2. A Broken Two-Party System

• Public dissatisfaction is exacerbated by a rigid two-party structure that:
• Limits political representation
• Fuels polarization and tribalism
• Hinders effective governance
• Encourages echo chambers that reinforce division

3. Gerrymandering and Careerism

• North Carolina is considered one of the most gerrymandered states (Reuters).
• Noncompetitive districts dilute voter influence and violate the principle of “one person, one vote.”
• Congressional careerism has led to entrenchment and decreased responsiveness:
  • Average tenure now 7.4 to 8.5 years vs. 1.4 to 3.8 years in the 19th century
  • 14% of NC representatives have served nearly 20 years (CRS)

4. Barriers to Representation

• Unaffiliated voters now make up 38% of registered voters, outnumbering both major parties (NCSBE, 2024), yet remain underrepresented in government.
• Third-party candidates face onerous signature requirements and high retention thresholds, compounded by allegations of intimidation, Board interference, and expensive litigation.

Voter Consensus

Recent polling indicates a bipartisan appetite for reform:

• 65% support ending gerrymandering (Carolina Forward, 2021)
• 73% support congressional term limits (Pulse Opinion Research, 2020)
• 40% support ranked choice voting (Carolina Forward, 2023), with 34% open to learning more
• 83% are concerned about counties lacking the resources to properly run elections (Meredith Poll, 2023)
• 76% believe the nation is more politically divided than ever (Meredith Poll, 2021)

Policy Recommendations

Grounded in member consensus (defined as 68%+ support), the following solutions are proposed:

A. Structural Reforms

• Independent Redistricting Commission: End partisan gerrymandering and ensure fair, competitive districts.
• Proportional Electoral College: Reflect the state’s vote distribution and eliminate winner-take-all distortions.
• Congressional Term Limits: Curtail careerism and introduce new leadership.

B. Expanding Representation

• Nonpartisan Open Primaries: Allow all voters to participate and promote moderate candidates.
• Instant Runoff / Ranked Choice Voting: Empower voters to rank candidates and reduce negative campaigning.
• Accessible Ballot Access: Modifying signature requirements and reduce retention thresholds for third parties.

C. Restoring Trust and Participation

• Maintain Early and Absentee Voting: Preserve and protect early in-person and absentee voting options to ensure flexibility and access for all voters.
• Election Day Holiday: Increase turnout through guaranteed access.
• Accessible Voter ID: Implement fair ID laws without disenfranchisement.
• Campaign Finance Transparency and Voter Education: Bolster public trust through openness and informed participation.
• Post-Election Audits: Establishing a requirement for the State Auditor’s Office to conduct independent post-election audits to evaluate the integrity and effectiveness of election procedures, ensuring accountability, accuracy, and public confidence in the electoral process.
• Support for Election Staff: Improve administration capacity and prevent resource shortages.

Policy Guardrails

While we do not impose a litmus test on our candidates, our policy recommendations are designed to serve as a resource—providing accessible, consensus-driven solutions that candidates can reference throughout their campaigns. These recommendations reflect strong membership support and are intended to streamline alignment around practical reforms. If candidates choose not to adopt a recommended policy in full or in part, they are still expected to advance solutions that fall within our established guardrails. This ensures that their platforms remain solution-focused and do not contribute to divisive or polarizing narratives that hinder progress and public trust.

All policy proposals have been verified through a consensus threshold of 68% or higher among our membership.

Note: Guardrails were amended, in accordance with membership preferences, to include a rule-based limiting principle.