The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted against giving ballot access to new parties supporting presidential candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West. The decision split the board along party lines, with the Democratic majority voting to keep West and Kennedy off the ballot “for now,” while the Republican commissioners were disappointed by the process. The board cited concerns about out-of-state operatives secretly collecting signatures for West and the potential exploitation of election laws by Kennedy allies. They also denied certification for a far-right party founded by Randall Terry.
The decision comes in the midst of a national proxy war between the two major parties over independent and third-party candidates, with Democrats fearing that minor candidates will split the anti-Trump coalition and hurt Biden. Republicans objected to the decision, stating that the pro-West and pro-Kennedy parties had collected the necessary number of signatures. The Republican National Committee and Trump’s campaign criticized the move as “election interference” and threatened retribution.
The North Carolina Democratic Party and a pro-Biden super PAC raised issues with the signatures gathered and the methods used for collecting them for Kennedy and West. The board will investigate the matter further and take another vote next month. Overall, the decision reflects a contentious debate over ballot access for minor candidates and the potential impact they could have on the upcoming election.
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