Amy Bernstein, a traffic court judge in Brooklyn, encountered a young man carrying a clipboard on the subway platform one evening in late April. The man asked her to sign a petition to support independent candidates in New York, but when she inquired further, he abruptly removed the clipboard upon learning she was a judge. The petition turned out to be for Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential campaign, aiming to collect over 100,000 signatures for ballot access in New York State.
Several New Yorkers, including journalists from The New York Times, shared similar experiences of being approached by petition gatherers for Mr. Kennedy in Brooklyn. The signature gatherers concealed the names of the candidates by folding the petition, leading to confusion and suspicion among those approached.
The Kennedy campaign manager, Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, denounced the deceptive conduct reported by individuals, emphasizing the campaign’s commitment to honesty and transparency. The campaign has deployed volunteers and paid contractors to collect signatures, facing challenges in securing ballot access in various states.
While some legal experts raised concerns about the misleading tactics used in signature gathering, others questioned the legality and potential consequences of such actions. Instances of folding petitions to conceal candidate names were viewed as potentially fraudulent by some experts.
Mr. Kennedy, known for his environmental advocacy and controversial views on vaccines, faces obstacles in getting on the ballot in states like New York. The stringent rules for independent candidates and the prevalence of misleading tactics in signature gathering pose challenges for his campaign.
New York residents with backgrounds in law and politics shared their encounters with petition gatherers for Mr. Kennedy, highlighting the deceptive practices observed. The volunteers and paid canvassers working on behalf of the campaign have faced scrutiny for their approach in collecting signatures.
The incidents of concealing candidate names on petitions have raised legal and ethical questions, with experts weighing in on the implications of such actions. The need for transparency and integrity in the signature-gathering process has been underscored amid the scrutiny faced by the Kennedy campaign.
As the controversy surrounding the signature-gathering tactics continues, the Kennedy campaign remains focused on its goal of securing ballot access across the country. With legal challenges looming and the scrutiny of election officials, the campaign’s methods and practices are under heightened scrutiny.
The incidents reported in New York reflect broader challenges faced by independent candidates in navigating the complex process of ballot access. The debate over misleading tactics and fraudulent practices in signature gathering underscores the importance of upholding democratic principles in the electoral process.
