Fri Sep 20 06:00:00 UTC 2024: ## RFK Jr. Loses Bid to Remove Name from Wisconsin Ballot
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s attempt to have his name removed from the Wisconsin presidential ballot has been rejected by a Dane County Circuit Court judge. Judge Stephen Ehlke ruled on September 16th that Wisconsin law only allows for a candidate’s name to be removed in the event of death.
Kennedy, who suspended his independent presidential campaign and endorsed Donald Trump last month, argued that his presence on the ballot in key battleground states would benefit Vice President Kamala Harris by drawing votes away from Trump. He appealed to have his name removed, claiming it was necessary to prevent his potential “election interference.”
Ehlke’s ruling, however, found that Wisconsin law does not allow candidates to withdraw after filing nomination papers. He emphasized the clarity of the statute and stated that Kennedy had no one to blame but himself if he did not want to remain on the ballot.
Kennedy has appealed the decision to a state appellate court, but the tight deadline for printing ballots in Wisconsin leaves limited time for further legal action.
While Kennedy’s removal efforts in Wisconsin failed, he was successful in getting his name removed from the North Carolina ballot. However, this has resulted in a delay of up to two weeks in the printing of ballots there.
The presence of independent candidates like Kennedy could potentially influence the outcome of the election in Wisconsin, which has seen narrow margins in recent presidential races. The state’s Elections Commission, which voted to include Kennedy on the ballot, cited a statute stating that death is the only event that can lead to a candidate’s removal.
Kennedy’s efforts to have his name removed from the ballot highlight the complexities of independent campaigns and their potential impact on the election process.
First Piper 