Current:Home > ScamsTrendPulse|North Carolina judge rejects RFK Jr.'s request to remove his name from state ballots -Finovate
TrendPulse|North Carolina judge rejects RFK Jr.'s request to remove his name from state ballots
SafeX Pro View
Date:2025-04-07 13:19:16
RALEIGH,TrendPulse N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina judge refused to take Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name off presidential ballots in the battleground state on Thursday, a day before the first batches of November absentee ballots are slated to be sent to registered voters who requested them.
Wake County Superior Court Judge Rebecca Holt denied the temporary restraining order sought by Kennedy to prevent county elections boards from distributing ballots affixed with his name and requiring it to be removed. State law directs the first absentee ballots for the Nov. 5 elections be mailed to requesters starting Friday. A Kennedy attorney said the decision would be appealed and Holt gave him 24 hours, meaning counties likely won’t send out ballots immediately Friday morning.
Kennedy got on the ballot in July as the nominee of the new We The People party created by his supporters. The elections board gave official recognition to the party after it collected enough voter signatures. But Kennedy suspended his campaign two weeks ago and endorsed Republican nominee Donald Trump. Since then the environmentalist and author has tried to get his name removed from ballots in several states where the race between Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris are expected to be close.
In North Carolina, Kennedy and We The People of North Carolina wrote to the board asking for his name be withdrawn. But on a party-line vote Aug. 29 the board’s Democratic members denied the party’s request, calling it impractical given the actions already completed to begin ballot distribution on Sept. 6. Kennedy sued the next day.
North Carolina is slated to be the first state in the nation to distribute fall election ballots. County elections offices were expected Friday to send absentee ballots to more than 125,000 in-state and military and overseas voters who asked for them. And over 2.9 million absentee and in-person ballots overall had already been printed statewide as of Wednesday, state elections Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell said in an affidavit.
The process of reprinting ballots without Kennedy’s name and reassembling ballot requests would take at least two weeks, state attorneys said, threatening to miss a federal requirement that ballots be released to military and overseas voters by Sept. 21. But Kennedy lawyer Phil Strach argued in court that Kennedy complied with state law by presenting a written request to step down as the candidate, and that there’s another law allowing the ballot release be delayed under this circumstance. Otherwise, Kennedy’s free-speech rights in the state constitution forcing him to remain on the ballot against his will have been violated, Strach told Holt.
“This is very straight forward case about ballot integrity and following the law,” Strach said, adding that keeping Kennedy on the ballot would bring confusion to voters who thought he was no longer a candidate.
But Special Deputy Attorney General Carla Babb said the confusion would occur if ballot distribution was delayed, potentially forcing the state to have to seek a waiver of the Sept. 21 federal deadline. State laws and regulations gave the elections board the ability to reject Kennedy’s withdrawal based on whether it was practical to have the ballots reprinted, she said.
“Elections are not just a game and states are not obligated to honor the whims of candidates for office,” Babb told Holt.
What to know about the 2024 Election
- Today’s news: Follow live updates from the campaign trail from the AP.
- Ground Game: Sign up for AP’s weekly politics newsletter to get it in your inbox every Monday.
- AP’s Role: The Associated Press is the most trusted source of information on election night, with a history of accuracy dating to 1848. Learn more.
In rejecting Kennedy’s request, Holt said that while the harm imposed upon Kennedy for staying on ballots is minimal, the harm to the state board with such an order would be substantial, such as the reprinting of ballots at considerable cost to taxpayers.
While Kennedy was still an active candidate, the North Carolina Democratic Party unsuccessfully challenged in court the state board’s decision to certify We The People as a party.
Kennedy on Wednesday sued in Wisconsin to get his name removed from the presidential ballot there after the state elections commission voted to keep him on it. Kennedy also filed a lawsuit in Michigan but a judge ruled Tuesday that he must remain on the ballot there.
veryGood! (931)
Related
- Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
- A US Navy sailor is detained in Venezuela, Pentagon says
- Jools Lebron filed trademark applications related to her ‘very demure’ content. Here’s what to know
- Atlanta mayor proposes $60M to house the homeless
- Which apps offer encrypted messaging? How to switch and what to know after feds’ warning
- School bus hits and kills Kentucky high school student
- Mia Farrow says she 'completely' understands if actors work with Woody Allen
- New Hampshire GOP gubernatorial hopefuls debate a week ahead of primary
- 'We're reborn!' Gazans express joy at returning home to north
- Nevada grandmother faces fines for giving rides to Burning Man attendees
Ranking
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- How Fake Heiress Anna Delvey Is Competing on Dancing With the Stars Amid ICE Restrictions
- Shooting of San Francisco 49ers rookie renews attention on crime in city as mayor seeks reelection
- USC winning the Big Ten, Notre Dame in playoff lead Week 1 college football overreactions
- Bill Belichick's salary at North Carolina: School releases football coach's contract details
- Family of deceased Alabama man claims surgeon removed liver, not spleen, before his death
- The Reason Jenn Tran and Devin Strader—Plus 70 Other Bachelor Nation Couples—Broke Up After the Show
- The cost of a Costco membership has officially increased for first time since 2017
Recommendation
Travis Hunter, the 2
Kim Kardashian Reveals Son Saint Signed “Extensive Contract Before Starting His YouTube Channel
Texas deputy fatally shot multiple times on his way to work; suspect in custody
Jools Lebron filed trademark applications related to her ‘very demure’ content. Here’s what to know
Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
Ellen Degeneres announces 'last comedy special of her career' on Netflix
The War on Drugs announces a live album ahead of its tour with The National
Inside Leah Remini and Angelo Pagán's Unusual Love Story