The court did not make a decision on Monday. They hope to have one within the next three days. The hearing continues Tuesday.

The parties have been battling the state Board of Elections for what they say is their constitutional right – to have a candidate consistently on the ballot. Under North Carolina law, a group must get 70,000 valid voter signatures to be considered an official political party. In addition, to make sure they have enough valid voters, they must get at least 30,000 more signatures.

"It's absolutely frustrating, I have to go up to 108,000 people and say, ‘can I have your permission to participate in the electoral process?’ It's somewhat demeaning,” said Barbara Howe, N.C. Libertarian Party chair.

Howe says the law violates the free rights of a third party. Her party has been successful in gathering enough signatures in the past four election cycles. But Monday, a lawsuit filed by both the Libertarian and Green parties seeks to make the process much simpler.

N.C. Ballot Access

The Libertarian and Green parties of North Carolina are suing the state for ballot access.

The state argues that the law weeds out parties who may not have enough support, thus eliminating any confusion for voters on Election Day.

Dr. Michael Munger is the state Libertarian Party’s gubernatorial nominee. The Duke professor and political science expert says the only things that’s confusing is how North Carolina laws could be so strict.

“I’m concerned that our state is not one of the most repressive states in the United States in terms of political competition in allowing people to express their views,” said Munger. The Libertarian Party says it is close to having enough signatures for Munger’s name to be on the general Election ballot in November.

The court did not make a decision on Monday. They hope to have one within the next three days. The hearing continues Tuesday.