(Non) nonpartisan races

The Wake County Republican Party wanted to let voters know which nonpartisan judicial candidates were Republican.

On Tuesday, voters at the polls in Wake County were handed cards that identified the Court of Appeals candidates and the District Court candidates by their political party, Jane Stancill reports.

The cards, labeled "Conservatives and Liberals in Judicial Races," said they were paid for by the county Republican Party.

"North Carolina Ballots do NOT show the party affiliations of candidates for Judge," the cards said. "Here is that information for your convenience."

Parties often try to help voters cut through all that nonpartisan stuff. The N.C. Democratic Party's website lists its recommendations for statewide judicial races.