Unaffiliated candidate mistakenly barred from Orange County election, court rules

Orange County mistakenly barred a candidate from running for a county commissioner’s seat, the state Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday.

Appellate judges ruled that a lower court incorrectly supported the county’s interpretation of election rules for candidates who aren’t affiliated with a political party.

In 2022, Connor Fraley filed a petition with Orange County seeking placement on the ballot as a candidate for District 2 seat on the Board of County Commissioners.

The county’s attorney told him he would need a petition including signatures from 4% of the county’s voters. After the filing period ended, county officials sent a letter telling Fraley his petition had failed.



https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article311606102.html#storylink=cpy