RFK Jr. Sues North Carolina Elections Board to Remove Name from Ballot

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has filed a lawsuit against the North Carolina State Board of Elections in an effort to have his name removed from the state’s ballot for the upcoming 2024 presidential election.

The lawsuit, submitted to Wake County Superior Court on Friday, claims that the board’s denial of his request violates both state election law and his right to free speech, according to reports from The News & Observer and WRAL.

“With the November election approaching and deadlines for ballots imminent, Kennedy finds himself compelled to seek immediate relief from this Court,” the lawsuit articulates.

Since suspending his campaign and endorsing former President Donald Trump in August, Kennedy has been attempting to withdraw his name from ballots in states where the election could be competitive, particularly North Carolina.

However, he has also worked to remain on the ballots in other states, such as New York, where his candidacy is less likely to influence the contest between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

If the court does not intervene, Kennedy’s name will remain on the list of candidates for North Carolina’s ballot come November.

Recently, the North Carolina Board of Elections, composed of three Democratic members and two Republicans, voted against his request. The decision came as the Democrats outvoted the Republicans, denying the motion to eliminate Kennedy and his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, from the ballot under the “We The People” party affiliation.

The Democratic members justified their ruling by stating it was too late to make any changes, especially considering that ballots had already been printed in 67 of the state’s 100 counties. The first ballots must be distributed by September 6.

According to Board Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell, more than 1.7 million ballots have been printed by the primary vendor for most counties. She pointed out that reprinting would incur significant costs, possibly amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“When we discuss printing a ballot, it’s not as simple as hitting ‘copy’ on a Xerox machine. This involves a far more intricate and multi-layered process,” Brinson Bell explained to the board.

Despite the majority’s decision, the two Republican members of the board argued that it would be possible to postpone the statutory deadline for absentee ballots, thereby allowing for the removal of Kennedy’s name.

As the legal battle unfolds, Kennedy’s actions indicate a strategic maneuvering as he navigates his potential impact on the upcoming election, balancing his desire to withdraw from competitive states while maintaining his candidacy where he believes it will have less of an influence.

The outcome of the lawsuit will not only affect Kennedy’s future campaign efforts but could also set a precedent for handling third-party candidacies and ballot changes under similar circumstances. The approaching election deadline heightens the urgency of the situation, as both sides await the court’s decision with critical implications for the candidates involved and the voters nationwide.

As the electoral landscape continues to evolve, Kennedy’s case highlights the complexities and challenges surrounding ballot access laws and the rights of candidates in the political arena.

The ongoing legal proceedings will certainly draw attention as the election draws nearer, showcasing how intricate and contentious the process can become, particularly with the stakes so high in a national presidential election.