In a legal battle that has sparked controversy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken legal action against the North Carolina State Board of Elections after they refused to remove his name from the 2024 ballot as a third-party presidential candidate. The lawsuit, filed in Wake County Superior Court, claims that the board's decision has violated Kennedy's rights and entitlements, while also accusing them of compelling speech in violation of the Constitution.

Kennedy had initially launched his candidacy under a new political party called "We The People" in North Carolina. However, he recently suspended his campaign and endorsed former President Donald Trump. In light of this, the party formally requested the removal of Kennedy's name from the state's 2024 ballots.

In response to the request, the state board's Democratic majority voted against removing Kennedy's name, citing practicality concerns. They argued that since a significant number of counties had already started printing ballots and the first batch was scheduled to be sent out on September 6, it would be impractical to remove his name at this stage. Notably, the two Republican members of the board disagreed, stating that they believed the board had the authority to delay the statutory deadline for sending out absentee ballots.

Kennedy's lawsuit argues that the board's decision to deny his request based on practicality is not a valid legal standard. It further alleges that the board was aware of his intention to be removed from the ballot even before the official request was made, yet failed to halt the printing of ballots featuring his name.

In response, Karen Brinson Bell, the board's executive director, informed members that pausing the printing of ballots could result in missing the statutory deadline for sending out absentee ballots. This, in turn, could complicate any potential court intervention pertaining to Kennedy's lawsuit. As it stands, the first ballots, including Kennedy's name, will be sent out on Friday.

Brinson Bell also noted that reprinting the already printed ballots without Kennedy's name would be a costly and time-consuming process, with an estimated cost in the "high six-figure range" and taking approximately 12 to 13 days to complete.

In the absence of court intervention, Kennedy's name will remain on the ballot, and any votes cast for him will be counted. The legal battle now stands at a critical point, with Kennedy seeking to have his name removed despite the challenges posed by the printing and distribution deadlines.

This dispute raises important questions about the rights of candidates and the responsibilities of election boards in balancing practicality with constitutional considerations. As the legal proceedings unfold, the outcome will undoubtedly have implications for the 2024 North Carolina election and its adherence to statutory deadlines.