Is North Carolina robbing its people of their rights? 19 year old Jonus Nobles says the people will choose and will be heard.

A 19 year old from North Carolina fights to become mayor of a small town. Jonus Nobles is running on a write in ballot and hopes to bring energy back into the election process.

Siler City, North Carolina -- September, 2003 -- 19 Year old Jonus Nobles was removed from the ballot in the mayoral race for Siler City on August 1st because the state says he is to young to run for office. Jonus Nobles is challenging the state of North Carolina, saying "the state constitution says one must be 21 years of age to hold office, but also states that the people of North Carolina have the right to choose who governs them and how they are governed."

Nobles feels the state places greater importance on the age of those holding municipal office than the men and women who are willing and able to die for the freedoms we all enjoy. Nobles asked the board of elections, "I can be drafted and die for my country but I cannot hold municipal office?" In response one member stated "it's a done deal", referring to Nobles being removed from the ballot.

It seems however it is not a done deal. Nobles who was removed is now seeking office by means of a write-in campaign. "If the people take the time to write my name on a ballot, and give me a chance what can the state say to that?"

Don Wright from the North Carolina State Board of Elections said he didn't even know if votes for Nobles would even be counted. If the votes of the people in the town of Siler City are not counted then wouldn't the state be deifying the people of their constitutional right to choose and to vote, what type of government is one that does't recognize the peoples votes? Nobles states "The people will be heard and will have a voice in me"