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Residents warn Senate Bill 876 could disadvantage unaffiliated candidates in Kannapolis
Summary
Public commenters told council that North Carolina Senate Bill 876’s petition requirement for unaffiliated candidates—1.5% of local population—could require roughly 1,000 signatures in Kannapolis and discourage independent runs.
Several residents asked the council to note potential local effects of North Carolina Senate Bill 876, saying the bill’s requirement that unaffiliated candidates collect written petitions equal to 1.5% of a locality’s population would place an undue burden on independents.
Zach Erwin, who ran for council last year as an unaffiliated candidate, said the new rules would force unaffiliated candidates to collect what he estimated to be “around 1,000” signatures in Kannapolis and would “encourage people to run under a party banner, and instead of running on issues, they run on the letter beside their name on the ballot.” Mark Spitzer urged the council to consider writing state legislators to request parity—if independents must meet a signature threshold, he said, all candidates should face the same requirement.
Council did not take action on the request during the meeting. The comments were entered during the public comment period for council consideration.
