State Board of Elections delays decision on third-party candidates, citing petition-gathering concerns.
On June 26, 2024, North Carolina’s state Board of Elections voted to deny initial ballot access to new parties supporting presidential candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West. The decision, which is not final, will be revisited before the November election. The vote was split along party lines, with the three Democratic members voting to keep both candidates off the ballot “for now,” while the two Republican members expressed disappointment over the decision.
The Democratic majority cited concerns raised by an NBC News report, which revealed that out-of-state operatives, connected to a GOP firm, had been collecting signatures for West in what appeared to be an attempt to influence the election by siphoning votes away from President Joe Biden. Additionally, they raised issues with how Kennedy’s allies were utilizing election laws to establish a new party, allowing him to secure a spot on the ballot without meeting the stricter requirements for independent candidates.
Chairman Alan Hirsch emphasized that further investigation was necessary to address concerns about the petition-gathering process before making a final ruling. He and other Democratic commissioners voiced worries about the manipulation of election laws and how such tactics could create undue influence in the state’s elections.
Siobhan Millen, a Democratic appointee, stated, “If this board keeps rubber-stamping thinly veiled so-called parties, national operatives are going to continue to come in and keep manipulating our system.” The concern was that these efforts could be politically motivated, potentially benefiting one party over another.
Republicans on the panel objected, pointing out that the pro-West and pro-Kennedy parties had met the necessary signature requirements for ballot access. Stacy “Four” Eggers IV, a Republican commissioner, criticized the decision, claiming that it seemed to yield to political pressure rather than focus on the legal process.
This decision highlights the growing tensions between the two major political parties over third-party candidates. Democrats are particularly wary that such candidates may fracture the vote, potentially harming Biden’s chances, while Republicans have a more nuanced view of the role independent candidates may play in the election. The controversy is likely to continue as the election approaches.
