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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the third-party presidential candidate who recently suspended his campaign and endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump, is now at the center of a legal dispute with the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Kennedy is seeking to have his name removed from the state’s November ballot, but the board has rejected his request, prompting Kennedy to file a lawsuit in Wake County Superior Court.
Kennedy, who was initially battling to remain on the ballot in North Carolina, was well-known because of his political ancestry as the son of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of President John F. Kennedy. Providing voters with an alternative option was his aim. But Kennedy chose to remove his name from ballots in key battleground states after suspending his campaign and endorsing Trump in order to prevent unintentionally boosting Vice President Kamala Harris’s chances of winning the election.
Kennedy’s decision to withdraw came as he acknowledged that his presence on the ballot in swing states could potentially sway the election in Harris’s favor, a scenario he sought to avoid. On August 23, Kennedy announced his plan to keep his name on ballots in solidly red and blue states but to remove it from critical swing states. This strategy was part of his effort to ensure that his endorsement of Trump did not unintentionally benefit the Democratic ticket.
Despite Kennedy’s request to remove his name from the North Carolina ballot, the State Board of Elections denied the request last week. The board stated that reprinting ballots would not be practical given the imminent start of absentee voting on September 6. With over 1.7 million ballots already printed, the board argued that making changes would lead to significant logistical issues and additional costs. The board’s decision was made by a 3-2 vote along party lines, with the majority deeming it infeasible to alter the ballots at this stage.
In response, Kennedy’s lawsuit accuses the board of improperly applying a “subjective ‘practicality’ standard” and failing to adhere to the correct legal procedures for removing a candidate from the ballot. He has requested an immediate judgment due to the approaching election and upcoming ballot deadlines. The North Carolina State Board of Elections has referred the matter to the state attorney general’s office, which is currently reviewing the complaint.
Kennedy’s legal battle is set against a backdrop of broader electoral and legal challenges.The North Carolina board’s decision and Kennedy’s lawsuit underscore the complexities involved in managing election ballots and addressing the legal challenges faced by third-party candidates. As the election approaches, Kennedy’s efforts to navigate this legal maze highlight the intricate intersection of politics, law, and election management. The outcome of this lawsuit could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future, impacting not only Kennedy’s campaign but also the broader landscape of presidential elections.
Kennedy’s attorneys have not yet provided additional comments, but the case continues to attract attention as it moves through the legal system. The resolution of this lawsuit will be closely watched by political analysts and legal experts alike, given its potential implications for the upcoming presidential election and the broader electoral process.