RFK Jr. Won’t Be on North Carolina Ballots, Delaying Mail-in Voting Start

Former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will not have his name on the ballots for the upcoming election in North Carolina. This decision is expected to bolster the chances of Republican nominee Donald Trump in a key battleground state for the 2024 election.

The North Carolina Supreme Court ordered state election officials to eliminate Kennedy’s name from ballots on September 9, prompting the need to reprint them. This change is likely to shorten the timeline for mail-in voting in the state. The ruling came one day after a similar case in Michigan, where the state supreme court decided that Kennedy’s name should remain on the ballot, giving a boost to Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

In August, Kennedy announced the suspension of his presidential campaign and endorsed Trump. Subsequently, he has turned to the courts in an attempt to ensure that his name isn’t listed for voting in crucial swing states—a strategy that has yielded mixed results.

Initially, a Wake County Superior Court decision on September 5 had ruled that Kennedy’s name would stay on the ballot, as he had requested. However, following an appeal, the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled in his favor on September 6, coinciding with the deadline for counties to start distributing mail-in absentee ballots.

The State Board of Elections appealed to the North Carolina Supreme Court, which issued its final ruling on September 9.

Justice Trey Allen, writing for the majority, acknowledged the difficulties posed by the decision. “We understand that expediting the process of printing new ballots will require considerable time and effort from our election officials and will incur significant costs to the State,” he noted. However, he emphasized that ensuring voters can exercise their right to vote their conscience and have that vote count is paramount.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections announced on September 10 that counties would begin distributing the new ballots simultaneously across the state, although the specific date remains uncertain. Preparing and reprinting ballots, excluding Kennedy’s name, could take several weeks.

Additionally, the State Board is in discussions with the U.S. Department of Defense regarding a potential waiver, in case the state fails to meet the federal deadline of September 21 for sending military and overseas ballots. Under federal law, these ballots must be dispatched at least 45 days before the election.

Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell expressed determination during the election board’s release. “We will continue to work with counties and ballot vendors to establish a feasible start date for distributing absentee ballots statewide, while striving to adhere to the 45-day federal requirement,” she stated. She acknowledged the substantial burden this ruling presents to county election boards during an already hectic period, yet she expressed confidence in their expertise.

On September 10, Corinne Duncan, Buncombe County Elections Director, revealed in a Facebook Live event that approximately 5,300 ballots will need to be reprinted. The initial cost for printing these ballots was $30,000, and the reprinting is estimated to cost around $28,500.

While the overall cost of reprinting ballots for the state remains unclear, Common Cause North Carolina—a nonpartisan organization advocating for democracy—estimates that it might cost taxpayers close to $1 million in total.

Bob Phillips, Executive Director of Common Cause North Carolina, criticized the ruling, stating, “This decision hurts voters. And it places an undue burden on already-strained county election budgets, especially since the state legislature has not provided adequate funding for our elections.”

This decision has sparked significant debate regarding the implications for both voters and election officials in North Carolina as the 2024 election approaches.

Source: Asheville Citizen Times