A petition from a local government candidate seeking to use a Wiccan name on the ballot has prompted the N.C. State Board of Elections to clarify what names candidates may use.
The High Priestex Mortellus is running for Rutherford County Soil and Water Conservation District supervisor. Mortellus' legal name is Terrayle Amorello.
Among other questions, Mortellus asked the board to rule on whether all names that appear on ballots must include a surname.
The board decided that one-word names will be allowed only when the name is a candidate's legal name.
Board member Four Eggers said the decision was not based on whether a name is religious.
"Our standard is not necessarily whether it would be religious or otherwise," Eggers said. "We just aren't going to get into determining what's a bona fide religious name or anything else with religion."
It is not uncommon for the board to address disputes over how candidates' names appear on ballots.
One of the more prominent cases came in 2006, when the board rejected a candidate's request to run for the state Supreme Court under the name "Madame Justice."