What is the difference between a political party and an independent candidate?

A political party is a group of people or organizations united by shared political beliefs. In North Carolina, political parties are either registered with the State Board of Elections or with a county board, depending on the party. These parties can put forth candidates to run for public office. The candidates, in turn, must have signatures from North Carolina registered voters. An independent candidate is one who is not affiliated with any political party and is running for public office without the sponsorship of an organization or group of people. An independent candidate must also obtain signatures from North Carolina registered voters in order to be eligible for the ballot. The key difference between a political party and an independent candidate is affiliation. Political parties are associated with organizations and groups of people, while independent candidates stand alone. Political parties also have the added benefit of having access to greater resources and networking, while independent candidates must generate their own resources. Additionally, a political party typically has a larger base of support than an independent candidate.

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