North Carolina judge halts mailing of ballots with RFK Jr.’s name on them

A North Carolina judge on Friday halted the state from distributing mail-in ballots that still have Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name on them, delaying the start of voting.

The independent candidate, previously seen as a potential “spoiler” to the major party contenders, suspended his campaign last month, endorsed former President Trump and asked to be taken off ballots in key battleground states, but he’s met some hurdles in removing his name.

North Carolina’s State Board of Elections voted last week to reject Kennedy’s request for removal. Kennedy challenged the decision, and a Wake County Superior Court on Thursday ruled he must remain on the ballot.

But that judge also ordered a delay in sending ballots to give Kennedy time to appeal, and the latest order from the North Carolina Court of Appeals now stops the state from disseminating ballots listing him as a candidate for the White House.

The legal development will stall the start of absentee voting, and it’s unclear whether there will be another appeal.

In an email obtained by The Hill, North Carolina State Board of Elections general counsel Paul Cox told county election directors Friday morning not to send out any ballots Friday, the initially scheduled start date for distributing mail-in ballots.

“Our attorneys are reviewing the order and determining how to move forward. No decision has been made on whether this ruling will be appealed,” Cox wrote in the email.

Kennedy is backing Trump after suspending his bid, but his name could still hurt the Republican nominee. A judge in Michigan, where Trump and Vice President Harris are neck and neck, ruled this week that Kennedy must stay on the ballot. Wisconsin, another critical swing state, also declined to remove him.

Before Kennedy’s exit, he was polling in the single-digits, and his campaign is not expected to dramatically impact the race. Still, his presence on the ballot could make a difference in key purple states where the margins are already tight.

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