Pennsylvania is once again poised to play a crucial role as a swing state in the upcoming 2024 election. In a recent development, a court ruling in Pennsylvania on Aug. 23 stated that independent presidential candidate Cornel West will not be allowed to appear on the state’s presidential ballot. This decision is significant as Pennsylvania is a key battleground state that could ultimately impact the outcome of the 2024 election.
The ruling, made by Commonwealth Court Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer, favored the Secretary of State’s office under Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, which rejected West’s candidacy paperwork. The court agreed with the office’s argument that West and his running mate, Melina Abdullah, did not have the necessary affidavits for 14 out of West’s 19 presidential electors.
Furthermore, the court upheld that minor-party presidential electors must file affidavits, even though major-party presidential electors are not required to do so. The Secretary of State’s office is mandated to certify the ballot in a timely manner for the printing and mailing of absentee ballots to military electors.
Due to various reasons, including a lack of due diligence on West’s part, the court ruled that he would be barred from appearing on the ballot. West’s lawyer, Matthew Haverstick, expressed disappointment at the decision, stating that there was no valid reason to exclude West from the ballot.
In a separate development, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his withdrawal from Pennsylvania’s ballot, endorsing former President Donald Trump instead. The Green Party’s Jill Stein and the Libertarian Party’s Chase Oliver successfully submitted petitions to be on the ballot, while the Party for Socialism and Liberation is appealing a decision to remove its candidate, Claudia De la Cruz, from the ballot.
The upcoming election in Pennsylvania, scheduled for Nov. 5, is anticipated to be closely contested. Several polls suggest that candidates like West and Stein, who focus on resolving conflicts such as the one between Israel and Hamas, could influence the election outcomes. West recently secured a legal victory in Michigan, another battleground state, where he will be included on the ballot.
Overall, the 2024 election is shaping up to be competitive, with key states like Pennsylvania and Michigan playing crucial roles in determining the final outcome. Please rephrase that.
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