In a significant ruling, the North Carolina Supreme Court has ordered the removal of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name from the state’s presidential ballot for the upcoming November election. The 4-3 decision, handed down on Monday night, is expected to have considerable implications for the race between Republican nominee Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, particularly in North Carolina, a critical battleground state.
Recent polling averages from RealClearPolling show that Trump holds a slim 0.1-percentage-point lead over Harris in a direct matchup in the state. However, in a six-candidate race, Harris leads by a slightly larger margin of 0.4 percentage points. North Carolina’s 16 Electoral College votes are crucial, as they could help decide the outcome of the national election.
The ruling came in response to Kennedy’s request to withdraw from the race in states where his candidacy could potentially harm Trump’s chances. After suspending his independent bid for the presidency in August and endorsing Trump, Kennedy stated that remaining on the ballot in swing states would likely hand the election to the Democrats.
Kennedy had previously filed lawsuits in several battleground states, including Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, seeking to have his name removed from the ballots. In Michigan, however, the state Supreme Court ruled that his name must remain on the ballot. Meanwhile, his case in Wisconsin is still pending.
The North Carolina Supreme Court ruling upheld a prior decision by the state Court of Appeals, which had sided with Kennedy in his challenge against the state Board of Elections. Kennedy had argued that the board had wrongfully determined that it was too late for him to withdraw his name from the ballot.
Justice Trey Allen, who authored the majority opinion for the North Carolina Supreme Court, argued that leaving Kennedy’s name on the ballot could disenfranchise voters who mistakenly believed he was still a candidate. Allen emphasized the importance of ensuring that ballots accurately reflect the choices available to voters.
The ruling also criticized the state Board of Elections for continuing to print ballots with Kennedy’s name even after being informed of his intent to withdraw. More than 2.9 million ballots had already been printed when the court made its decision. In response, the state Board of Elections has begun redesigning and reprinting ballots without Kennedy’s name. However, this process is expected to delay the mailing of absentee ballots, which was initially scheduled to begin on Friday.
Election officials are now working against the clock to ensure that the revised ballots are ready for distribution. The state Board of Elections is also in communication with the U.S. Department of Defense to discuss potential delays in sending military and overseas ballots, which are required to be mailed by September 21 under federal law.
Karen Brinson Bell, the executive director of the North Carolina Board of Elections, acknowledged the challenges posed by the court’s ruling but expressed confidence in the ability of election officials to meet the new requirements. Bell described the decision as a significant burden for local election boards but assured the public that officials would rise to the occasion.
The ruling is likely to benefit Trump in North Carolina, where he polls better in a two-candidate race than in a six-candidate contest. Political analysts suggest that the removal of Kennedy’s name from the ballot could provide Trump with an edge in a state where the race is expected to be closely contested. With North Carolina’s 16 Electoral College votes at stake, the decision could play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the 2024 presidential election.
