NC ballots remain in limbo as RFK Jr. case heads to state supreme court UPDATE
(UPDATE 9:15 p.m.) (WSOC) — In a 4-3 ruling, North Carolina’s highest court says Robert F Kennedy’s name should not be on the state’s presidential ballots.
The North Carolina Supreme Court sided with the three judges on the Court of Appeals who ordered ballots to be reprinted without RFK Jr.’s name. RFK Jr. sued to have his name removed from the state’s presidential ballot after endorsing former President Donald Trump. The North Carolina State Board of Elections resisted RFK Jr.’s initial attempts for removal, citing the large number of ballots that were already printed.
Original post follows:
BOLIVIA, NC (WWAY) — North Carolina’s presidential ballot remains uncertain after a court of appeals ruled in favor of removing Robert F. Kennedy Jr. From the ballot.
For months Kennedy fought to have his name on the ballot, but after he dropped out of the race and endorsed Donald Trump last month, Kennedy worried he could be an election spoiler for the former president.
The North Carolina State Board of Elections is now appealing that decision, hoping to keep Kennedy on the ballot.
The board said delaying the absentee process could make it harder for soldiers, students, and the disabled to vote on time. It could also cost taxpayers up to $1 million to reprint the ballots.
Brunswick County Board of Elections Director Sara Lavere told WWAY they are preparing for any possibility.
“Things are in limbo, but we are moving forward with ballot proofing and coding to remove Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from the ballot, so we are making progress in that goal, and also waiting to see what happens in the courts,” Lavere said.
Lavere noted that until the state supreme court decides on whether Kennedy can be removed, absentee ballots cannot be sent out; meaning it could be weeks before voters get a final decision.
“We probably by now have maybe 3500 ballots that we would need to print and prepare to go out, and that would take us several days once the ballots have been approved and tested,” Lavere explained.
Lavere added absentee ballots typically must meet a federal deadline to send military and overseas absentee ballots by September 21, but that deadline could also be pushed back.
For now—she says—no action is needed from voters.
“They will come. If you’ve already requested a ballot and expected it to be mailed Friday, you don’t have to request another one. We will still act on that absentee ballot request,” Lavere said.
With just 57 days until the election, Lavere says the most important thing people can do is register to vote.
You can register by going to vote.gov or visiting your county board of elections. The voter registration deadline in North Carolina is October 11th.
