RFK Jr. removed from Michigan, North Carolina ballots

In a significant development in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has successfully removed his name from the ballots in Michigan and North Carolina, two pivotal battleground states. This decision follows a series of legal battles and appeals that have impacted the electoral processes in these states.

Kennedy initially gained ballot access in Michigan by running as a candidate for the Natural Law Party, which allowed him to bypass the signature collection requirement typically necessary for independent candidates. However, after suspending his campaign in August and endorsing Republican candidate Donald Trump, Kennedy sought to withdraw his name from the ballots in several states, including Michigan and North Carolina. His decision to withdraw aimed to avoid splitting the vote for the Republican nominee, as his presence on the ballot could potentially draw votes away from Trump.

In Michigan, Kennedy's request to remove his name was initially rejected by state election officials, leading him to file a lawsuit against Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. The Michigan Court of Claims initially ruled against Kennedy, stating that his name must remain on the ballot. However, the Michigan Court of Appeals later overturned this decision, allowing Kennedy to withdraw his name. The court ruled that Kennedy's request was timely and that there was no statutory prohibition against his withdrawal. This decision came despite the fact that Michigan's Secretary of State had argued that removing Kennedy's name would disrupt the election process and prejudice the Natural Law Party, which would be left without a candidate at the top of the ticket.

Similarly, in North Carolina, Kennedy's efforts to remove his name from the ballot faced challenges. The North Carolina State Board of Elections initially voted against his request, citing the impracticality of reprinting ballots that had already been prepared. However, Kennedy appealed this decision, and the North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled in his favor, ordering the state to remove his name from the ballots. This ruling delayed the distribution of absentee ballots, which were set to be mailed out as part of the state's election timeline.

The legal battles in both states have highlighted the complexities and challenges of ballot management in the U.S. electoral system. In North Carolina, the decision to remove Kennedy's name required the reprinting of millions of ballots, a process that election officials estimated could take up to two weeks and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The delay in mailing absentee ballots raised concerns about meeting federal deadlines, particularly for military and overseas voters, who rely on timely ballot distribution to participate in the election.

Kennedy's withdrawal from the ballots in these key states is expected to have implications for the 2024 presidential race. By removing his name, Kennedy aims to consolidate support for Trump in states where the race is expected to be closely contested. The decisions in Michigan and North Carolina may also influence similar legal challenges in other states, as Kennedy continues to seek the removal of his name from ballots in additional battlegrounds.

Overall, the removal of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from the Michigan and North Carolina ballots underscores the dynamic nature of U.S. elections and the legal intricacies involved in candidate nominations and withdrawals. As the election approaches, these developments will likely continue to shape the strategies of candidates and parties vying for victory in the 2024 presidential race.