In a recent decree by the North Carolina Supreme Court, it was mandated that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name be excluded from the presidential ballots in the state. This decision, with a close vote of 4-3, supports the judgment made last Friday by an appellate court that also ordered Kennedy’s name be eliminated from the ballot, according to a report by NBC News.
This latest court outcome is beneficial for Kennedy, the former independent candidate who has publicly supported the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, a Republican. Kennedy, who wishes not to stand in opposition to Trump in critical swing states such as North Carolina, faced rejection of his removal request by a lower court. Consequently, the state is now tasked with reprinting all its presidential ballots.
Justice Trey Allen wrote in Monday’s leading opinion, “We acknowledge that expediting the process of printing new ballots will require considerable time and effort by our election officials and significant expense to the State. But that is a price the North Carolina Constitution expects us to incur to protect voters’ fundamental right to vote their conscience and have that vote count.” The dissent in this case came from Justices Anita Earls, Richard Dietz, and Allison Riggs.
While Kennedy and his alignment with Trump see this outcome as a win, his name will still be seen on the presidential ballots in Michigan. In that state, the Supreme Court did not favor his plea for removal. Kennedy, initially eager to have his name on as many presidential ballots as possible, is now focused on removing his presence to avoid competing against Trump in crucial states.
At a press conference, Kennedy pledged to seek the removal of his name from the presidential ballots in 10 key battleground states.
The ruling in North Carolina was significantly influenced by the state constitution’s Free Elections Clause, which underscores the importance of both the right to vote and to vote accurately. The majority of the justices concurred that Kennedy’s name on the ballot “could disenfranchise countless voters who mistakenly believe that plaintiff remains a candidate for office.”
