As the Democratic Party readies itself to hold the national convention on Aug. 19, it will be determining who will be its choice for presidential candidate, irrespective of the results of the primaries. There are speculations that the name might be Vice President Kamala Harris who could be replacing President Joe Biden in the presidential role. In this scenario, the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) will find itself bound to conform to this choice as per the state law and will have to include her name in the year’s ballot.
The regulations defined by the North Carolina General Statute 163-213.8 provide the NCSBE a procedural direction for inclusion of candidates on the ballot. The law states that each recognized political party in North Carolina needs to allocate delegate positions so it reflects the division of primary votes. This should align with the national party rules of that political party. In essence, this statute prioritizes the national party’s decisions over the state’s primary results.
In a scenario where the national Democratic Party decides that Kamala Harris, along with a selected running mate, is to run for the presidential race, it’s the NCSBE’s duty to ensure that these names feature on the North Carolina ballot. Interestingly, the five-member State Board of Elections does not involve itself actively in this decision-making process. As deftly put by Pat Gannon, the NCSBE spokesman, the Election Board has essentially no say in this.
Running on borrowed time until the Democratic and Green Parties hold their conventions in August, the members at the NCSBE will include their candidates on the ballot. Gannon distinguished between the administrative staff of the NCSBE and the five-member bipartisan board of political appointees. However, controversies surrounding partisanship have plagued this board for some time now, with the majority of its Democratic members overpowering the minority Republican ones.
A case that highlighted this power imbalance was when the Democratic majority stalled the certification of three new political parties. This was purportedly done to investigate the legitimacy of the campaigns these groups had conducted to gain official recognition. This assertion led to significant intra-board accusations of the Democratic majority succumbing to the pressure of their party at both the state and national levels.
These Democrats allegedly aimed to prevent the emergence of third-party candidates who could potentially draw away votes from their chosen ones. However, the board’s Republican members witnessed their concerns being dismissed as their outnumbered position limited their veto power. Ultimately, the Constitution Party and the group known as ‘We the People’ ended up gaining recognition from the board.
Contrary to this, ‘Justice for All,’ whose choice for president was Cornel West, found themselves marginalized by the Democratic majority. This majority decided to deny the certification of this party, demonstrating yet another instance of the Democrats flexing their muscles to maintain a stranglehold over the political narrative.
When it comes to new political parties earning recognition, they face another set of rules for their candidates to be listed on the ballot in North Carolina. They’re ‘entitled’ to feature their candidate names on the official ballots, but only after they’ve paid the necessary filing fee. Is it merit or money that decides their candidacy? One wonders.
Meanwhile, the Republican Party stands strong and united, having decisively nominated former President Donald Trump and his able running mate, U.S. Sen. JD Vance. These two powerhouses will be the representatives of GOP on the North Carolina ballot. Such clarity and consensus seem to be sorely lacking in the Democratic camp as the Libertarians have also managed to submit their presidential and vice-presidential candidates, Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat, to the state’s ballot.
Furthermore, the Constitution Party has declared Randall Terry and Stephen Broden as their representatives on the North Carolina ballot. With the Democrats yet to finalize their candidate, the display of decisiveness from other parties puts them in a precarious position.
Admittedly, the outcome for the Democratic Party and the Green Party remains uncertain for the next few weeks. The state Elections Board is still waiting to add the final touches to the ballot after the conclusion of these parties’ national conventions. Yet, the board faces significant pressure to ensure that its actions are not hindered by the political leanings of its majority members.
In other words, the political arena in North Carolina is teeming with activity, strategizing, and waiting until the last moment to unveil each party’s chosen candidates for the ballots. While anticipation builds up, the spotlight remains on the Democratic Party and their impending decision that could change the dynamics of the upcoming elections.
As these political events unfold, there is a tacit understanding that the outcome of these decisions will shape the region’s political landscape. This raises the stakes for all involved—the candidates, the parties, and most importantly, the voters of North Carolina. Amid all this, the question remains: Will the Democratic party be able to maintain their footing amid the shifting sands?
Democratic Party On The Verge of Picking Harris for Presidential Run appeared first on Real News Now.
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