RALEIGH, NC – The North Carolina Forward Party (NCFP) is extremely proud to announce that we have achieved another milestone in our march toward ballot access in NC. Last week, Party officials received confirmation that we surpassed 7,000 verified signatures documented by the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE).

L-R: NCFP State Vice Chair Lennie Friedman, Wake County Chair Gray Thompson, and State Chair Patrick Newton gather signatures at the Rolesville Fall Fun Fest, November 2025

This milestone is our most significant yet—we are officially more than halfway to the finish line to get on the ballot. To get there, the Party needs a total of 14,310 verified signatures to be able to run candidates across the state, from governor all the way down ballot to statewide and local elections.

See the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) petition tracker for reference HERE.

This milestone reflects a years-long effort by Party members, paid signature gatherers, and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to spread the message of the Forward Party. It is also a testament to the desire of citizens across our state who share in our mission to build a political movement that forgoes partisan gridlock and instead focuses on consensus, problem-solving, fairness, and genuine representation—not to mention more choices at the ballot box.

In order to officially and legally secure ballot access in the next year, the NCFP still needs to collect 700+ additional signatures from voters across the state and submit them to NCSBE to satisfy legal requirements set by the state. These signatures must be “pen to paper”—obtained the old-fashioned way as opposed to digitally through an app or via electronic signature.

“We have to walk up to strangers with a clipboard in our hand and ask them if they will take a pen and fill out our petition,” said Patrick Newton, NCFP State Chair. “Each signature also must be submitted to the BOE of the county in which the particular voter (signatory) registers. On the surface, that seems to make sense, but, in reality, it simply creates more administrative work for our all-volunteer organization.”

Despite the roadblocks erected by the people in power to slow down and even prevent third parties from appearing on the ballot, the NCFP has made great strides over the past year, with the last 12 months setting a record for the number of signatures gathered by party volunteers and paid signature gatherers alike. 

In recent months alone, our staff have gathered thousands of signatures—attending community events, fairs, festivals, and other goings-on across the state to spread our message to like-minded citizens who have signed our petition. This accomplishment reflects the dedication and passion of our supporters and volunteer staff who continue to do the difficult work and have the conversations that are required to educate voters in our state and bring about meaningful political change in North Carolina.

“Hitting the 7,000-signature mark is a reminder of the historic journey we have undertaken to create a Party, and is beginning to represent and give a real voice to the Unaffiliateds, Independents, and moderates of North Carolina who want to see a better way,” Newton added.

And while 7,000 signatures is a significant accomplishment and indicative of the Forward momentum our movement is gaining, we still have much to do to reach the required signature threshold to be able to run candidates on the Forward Party line.

If you or someone you know would like to support our continued ballot access work, please consider contributing. Every donation strengthens our ability to ensure North Carolinians have more choices at the ballot box. You can also visit our website to view our petition and learn more about how you can help us gain ballot access and create a healthier, more representative political future for North Carolina.

Learn how you can help us gain ballot access HERE

Contribute HERE to help us fund signature gathering efforts!