The Michigan Supreme Court on Monday reversed a lower court ruling requiring the state election board to remove Robert F. Kennedy's name from the ballot, meaning that voters will see his name as an option when they vote absentee or in person between September 21 and November 5.
The Democrat-majority court ruled 3-2 against Kennedy's request on the grounds that no specific law requires a name to be removed.
The proceeding only became necessary after Kennedy sued Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) when she refused his request to be removed from the ballot. Kennedy suspended his campaign and endorsed former President Donald Trump, and he
Benson and the Supreme Court Democrats, of course, acted consistent with their partisan interests, whether or not it's what they really believe the law intends.
The Republican justices wrote a strong dissent to the majority ruling, however.
“The ballots printed as a result of the Court’s decision will have the potential to confuse the voters, distort their choices, and pervert the true popular will and affect the outcome of the election,” they wrote. “In short, the Court’s ruling will do nothing to rebuild the public’s trust in the fairness and accuracy of our elections.”
As Kennedy had argued, voters shouldn't be given a chance to vote for someone who isn't willing to serve, if he wins.
But Democrats believe that Kennedy's name being on the ballot will benefit their candidate and hurt Trump, so they want to keep his name on the ballot anyway.
Michigan is a swing state, which means the vote count could be very, very close. If even a small number of voters mark their ballots for Kennedy instead of Trump or Harris, it could change the outcome of a close election.
The state is now on a rushed schedule to print and mail absentee ballots to overseas military by the September 21 deadline.
Michigan is not the only state dealing with a decision about whether to remove Kenned's name from ballots.
The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled the opposite way from Michigan on Monday, ordering Kennedy's name removed from the ballot there.
Kennedy has focused his efforts on swing states where he can have the most effect in removing his name.
The battle is still going on in Wisconsin, where Kennedy has asked an appeals court to rule in his favor after the lower court ruled to keep his name on the ballot.
