The lawsuit filed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. alleges that the Wisconsin election commission’s withdrawal deadlines unfairly favor major party candidates over independent candidates like himself. Kennedy is suing to remove himself from the Wisconsin presidential ballot after the commission voted to keep him on it. The lawsuit, filed on Sept. 3 in Dane County Circuit Court, accuses the commission of discriminating against Kennedy in handling his withdrawal request. Specifically, Kennedy claims that independent candidates face different withdrawal deadlines than major party candidates such as President Joe Biden.
According to Kennedy’s attorneys, major party candidates have until 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday in September to withdraw their presidential nominations, while independent candidates like Kennedy have until 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday in August. This difference in deadlines has raised concerns about equal protection for candidates and violations of free speech and association rights.
Kennedy suspended his campaign on Aug. 23 and endorsed former President Donald Trump, joining his presidential transition team. Despite requests to remove his name from the ballot in several states, Kennedy remains on the ballot in Wisconsin alongside other third-party and independent candidates. The lawsuit could complicate matters as county clerks have already begun printing ballots to meet upcoming state deadlines.
Wisconsin is a crucial battleground state in the presidential race, with previous elections showing that third-party bids can have a significant impact on the outcome. In 2016, Jill Stein’s presence on the ballot garnered more votes than Trump’s winning margin, while Biden narrowly defeated Trump in 2020. The outcome of Kennedy’s lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for the state’s electoral landscape. Please rephrase this sentence.
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