Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pushing to be removed from North Carolina’s ballot, but his efforts are causing disruptions to the state’s early voting schedule. North Carolina, a potential battleground state, is among the first to begin early voting, with ballots initially planned to be sent out this week.
Following the state Board of Elections’ rejection of Kennedy’s request to withdraw from the ballot, he filed a lawsuit seeking to force his removal. However, a Wake County judge denied his request on Thursday. The judge did, however, order a temporary pause in the mailing of absentee ballots to allow Kennedy time to appeal. In her ruling, Judge Becky Holt instructed the state to pause the distribution of absentee ballots before noon on Friday.
According to CNN, “The court can find no practical, personal, or pecuniary harm to the plaintiff should his name remain on the ballot,” stated Judge Holt. “The defendant, however, would have to reprint the ballots at considerable cost and effort and will likely find themselves in violation of the state-mandated deadline for distributing absentee ballots.”
Kennedy, a former environmental lawyer and known conspiracy theorist, launched an independent bid for president this year, backed in part by GOP megadonors. Many speculated that his candidacy was intended to siphon votes from Democrats. However, following a series of scandals and low polling numbers, Kennedy dropped out of the race last month and threw his support behind Donald Trump, pledging to remove his name from ballots in states where he could act as a spoiler.
His attempt to follow through on this promise has faced legal hurdles. In several states, including North Carolina and Michigan, the deadline for finalizing ballots has already passed. A similar request to be removed from the ballot in Michigan was also denied. A judge in that case ruled that officials are not obligated to accommodate the last-minute “whims” of candidates.
As Kennedy’s legal efforts continue, the pause in North Carolina’s absentee ballot distribution adds uncertainty to the state’s early voting process, which could have broader implications in this crucial election year.