Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has initiated legal proceedings against the North Carolina State Board of Elections, seeking to have his name removed from the state’s ballot in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
The lawsuit, filed in Wake County Superior Court, argues that the board’s refusal to remove him as a third-party presidential candidate infringes upon state election law and his right to free speech.
With the November elections fast approaching and ballot deadlines nearing, Kennedy’s lawsuit emphasizes the urgent need for judicial intervention. Since suspending his campaign and endorsing former President Donald Trump in August, he has been attempting to withdraw his name from ballots in key battleground states like North Carolina.
Kennedy aims to remain on the ballot in states such as New York, where his candidacy is less likely to impact the race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. If the court does not act, Kennedy’s name will remain on the ballot in North Carolina this November.
This past Thursday, the North Carolina Board of Elections, controlled by a Democratic majority, voted against Kennedy’s request to withdraw him and his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, from the ballot under the “We The People” party line. The board noted that the timing was too late, with ballots already printed in 67 of the state’s 100 counties and the initial ballots required to be sent out by September 6.
Board Executive Director Karen Brinson Bell highlighted the complexity of the ballot printing process, revealing that over 1.7 million ballots had already been printed, and any reprints would incur substantial costs. The two Republican board members suggested that the board had the capacity to adjust the statutory deadlines for absentee ballots.
