RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — The race for the White House is intensifying, with North Carolina likely to play a key role as a battleground state.
The list of candidates could get even longer, with some parties battling to secure their spots on the ballot and arguing that states are moving slowly as time runs out.
So far, the Democrats, Republicans, Green Party, Libertarian Party and No Label Party have seats up for grabs in the November election.
Based on all information, North Carolina is expected to be a close race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, as well as a key gubernatorial race.
Three other parties are currently seeking to appear on the ballot.
Randall Terry is the Constitution Party's presidential candidate, and the Memphis native is in North Carolina not only to campaign, but to fight for his party's recognition in November.
The party has spent months collecting signatures, but after much back and forth it feels like they've been left in the dark, and the delays mean they won't be able to hold a convention and officially nominate candidates by July 1.
“Nobody has the right to vote. You have to earn the people's vote. What we're saying is, the people of North Carolina are entitled to more choices on the ballot,” said Al Pisano, chairman of the North Carolina Constitution Party.
The State Board of Elections told ABC11 the delays were due to time-consuming signature verification procedures and said they were taking similar steps for the Justice for All Party, which represents Cornel West, and the Justice for the People Party, which represents Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
If all are approved, voters would have a number of third-party options to choose from.
The Constitution Party is staunchly opposed to abortion, and experts said they believe its ideas could reach some voters who might vote Republican.
“Our campaign is based on a 3-D agenda: Protect our children. Defeat Biden. And destroy the Democratic Party,” Terry told ABC11.
But with third-party candidates on both sides, political experts said they believe it could be a close race for major-party candidates and could even be the deciding factor in a close race.
“I think this year we could see an additional 3 or 4 percent of voters split off by the unpopularity of both the Democratic and Republican candidates, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and that could be very decisive. I expect the election in North Carolina in November to be very close,” said Michael Bitzer, a professor at Catawba College.
The State Board of Elections told ABC11 it plans to meet soon to approve the three third parties. After similar issues with the Green Party a few years ago, the board said it may extend the deadline for third parties to nominate candidates beyond July 1 to give parties more time to submit candidates before Sept. 6, when ballots begin to be distributed.
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