The State Board of Elections will meet later this week to determine whether to grant the North Carolina Green Party official recognition, a decision that could have significant implications for a closely watched U.S. Senate race. The Elias Law Group, a powerful Democratic Party-affiliated firm, has submitted a records request to the State Board of Elections seeking all documentation submitted by the Green Party in its petition campaign, including all the documentation the Green Party submitted in its petition drive. "Those votes that go to potential Green Party candidates, or are among Green Party voters, those could make the potential difference if you're talking about close elections, not just at the U.S. Senate race but, potentially, at state legislative races," Bitzer said.