We received great news this week! The Constitution Party effort to gain ballot access in North Carolina exceeded the required number of registered voter signatures to qualify for ballot access in 2018 and 2020. News of our success was picked up by U.S. News and World Report, a major newspaper in Raleigh, North Carolina, and other papers in that state. In addition, a popular radio talk show host interviewed our North Carolina state chairman, Al Pisano. The interview was deemed a tremendous success and was well received by the listening audience.
Obtaining ballot access in Hawaii, and now North Carolina has brought more favorable publicity to the national party than any other activity that we have undertaken, especially in an off-year election. It conveys to the public that we are not only serious about building a viable political party but also successful in doing so. Being recognized for our success in North Carolina by U.S, News and World Report is something I would never have thought possible.
What the North Carolina party leadership and their group of volunteers accomplished is nothing short of amazing. In all, they turned into the county clerks a total of over 16,300 signatures. Of that number, 15,938 have been processed thus far and 12,537 have been determined as valid. The validity rate was 78.6% which is most remarkable. That number gives us a cushion of over 600 signatures over the 11,925 valid signatures that are required. All of this was accomplished since mid-December which is a very short time frame.
This is the first time ever that the Constitution Party has qualified for ballot access in that state. Our sincere thanks go out to our state party leaders, Al Pisano and Kevin Hayes, for their incredible leadership in this undertaking. In addition, our sincere thanks are extended to Nicholas Sumbles, our sole paid petitioner who collected 10,000 signatures, and to the numerous volunteers who collected the remaining 6,000 plus signatures. When we first undertook this effort, no one really expected us to accomplish what was considered unattainable, especially in such a short period of time.
Last but not least, our sincere thanks go out to our many supporters who donated month after month to the ballot access effort. Without your steady flow of monthly donations, we could never have accomplished what we did. Your faithful donations made it possible to keep Nicholas out in the field gathering signatures week after week. Know that your financial support is deeply appreciated. Give yourselves a good pat on the back!
Success in North Carolina has now made it possible for us to focus on yet another state and that state is Wisconsin. As many of you know, we already have ballot access in that state. However, in order to maintain ballot access for 2020, we need to run at least one statewide candidate this year and that candidate needs to garner at least one percent of the vote cast for that office. That is very doable and Wisconsin hopes to field two such statewide candidates this year. In order to do that we have one serious hurdle that we must overcome. The state requires that to run for any statewide office, a candidate must collect the signatures of 2,000 Wisconsin residents that are at least 18 years old. They do not need to be registered voters, but simply Wisconsin residents.
Andrew Zuelke is gathering signatures to get on the ballot for State Treasurer and Terry Larson is seeking to be on the ballot for Attorney General. They and party members have been gathering signatures. Andrew has collected over 500 signatures and Terry has gathered 367. Volunteers continue to gather more, but I have been so preoccupied with gaining ballot access in North Carolina that I have not been able to follow up on the signature gathering effort in Wisconsin as I would have liked to.
This is where we again ask for your help. We have just two weeks left before the June 1st deadline to turn in the signatures. I am therefore asking that if you live in Wisconsin, or have like-minded family or friends in that state, you contact Andrew Zuelke at [email protected] or call him at 920-748-7296. He can provide a petition for you to sign or direct you to someone who can get your signature. Time is of the essence; we need your help if we are to succeed.
Failure to get the required number of signatures to get them on the ballot will result in the party losing ballot access for 2020. If ballot access is lost, the party will need to gather 10,000 signatures to regain ballot access in 2020. Therefore, it is simply critical that we secure the balance of needed signatures to put both men on the ballot this year. Please act immediately as time is of the essence.
If you are able to support the ballot access effort financially, please do so by going to our website and using the Ballot Access donation option, or you may donate by check using this printable form. Every donation of $5.00, $10,00, $15.00, $20.00, $25.00, $50.00, $100.00 or more is deeply appreciated. Each dollar donated this year goes much further as the closer we get to 2020, the cost of getting each signature goes up.
For God Family and Country,
National Chairman
Constitution Party
www.constitutionparty.com