Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is facing obstacles in his bid to appear on Nevada’s ballot as an independent candidate for the presidential election. His campaign is considering legal action after concerns were raised about the validity of the signatures he collected. This arose because his petition lacked a designated vice-presidential candidate, a requirement in Nevada since 1993.
Kennedy’s campaign asserts that the Democratic Party and Nevada’s Secretary of State are unfairly enforcing this rule, which they claim was suddenly invented. They argue that the petition form provided no space for a vice presidential candidate’s name. They even pointed to email correspondence with the Secretary of State’s office, where staff initially stated that a VP candidate wasn’t required.
However, it’s come to light that Kennedy’s petition did not follow Nevada’s statutes, as it failed to designate a nominee for Vice President. The Secretary of State’s office admitted that they had given incorrect guidance to Kennedy’s campaign but emphasized that it’s the responsibility of the candidate to adhere to the law.
Kennedy, who has secured ballot access only in Utah so far, intends to announce his running mate soon. Despite setbacks, his campaign claims to have gathered enough signatures to potentially qualify for the ballot in other states as well.
The situation underscores the complexities of navigating election rules and highlights the importance of careful adherence to legal requirements in the political process.