North Carolina Supreme Court Orders RFK Jr.’s Removal From State Ballot—After Michigan Top Court Ruled Differently

Summary

The North Carolina Supreme Court on Monday ruled that Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s name must be struck from the state’s ballot. This comes just hours after a divergent verdict from the Michigan Supreme Court, which chose to keep Kennedy on the ballot. Kennedy, a former independent presidential candidate who withdrew from the race and endorsed Donald Trump, will be subject to different rulings in different states. This article provides a thorough insight into these legal battles and their potential implications.

Closer Look at the Verdicts

In a narrow 4-3 ruling, the North Carolina Supreme Court upheld a prior appeals court decision to remove Kennedy’s name from the ballot, thereby delaying the state’s process of sending out mail-in ballots. Justifying the ruling, Justice Trey Allen highlighted that the costs and time spent on printing new ballots are necessary for protecting voters’ fundamental right to vote according to their conscience and to ensure that the vote actually counts.

State officials had already printed over 2.9 million absentee and in-person ballots with Kennedy’s name on them, which will now have to be reprinted with the counties bearing the cost. In contrast, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that Kennedy must stay on the state’s ballot, reversing a previous lower court order from last week.

The Path from Independence to Endorsement

Running as an independent candidate, Kennedy withdrew from the presidential race last month after admitting that he didn’t see a realistic path towards an electoral victory. He subsequently endorsed former President Donald Trump, joining forces “as a unity party.”

Prior to his withdrawal, Kennedy had managed to secure his name on the ballot in more than 20 states. However, he later committed to removing his name from the ballots in around 10 battleground states where his presence could potentially influence the outcome. As of now, Kennedy has successfully removed his name from the ballots in Pennsylvania, Nevada, Georgia, Arizona, and now, North Carolina. However, his name continues to appear on the ballot in Michigan and Wisconsin.

Impact on the Election Process

The legal battles surrounding Kennedy’s withdrawal have thrown a spanner in the works of the election process. North Carolina has received 136,000 absentee ballot requests as of last week. But the state Supreme Court’s decision will now delay the mailing out process, potentially affecting the voting dynamics of the election. With the divergent rulings in different states, it remains to be seen how this drama will unfold in the lead-up to the election day.