Judge rules Robert F Kennedy Jr's name must stay on Wisconsin ballot

A Dane County Circuit Judge has ruled that Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s name will remain on the presidential ballot in Wisconsin.

Judge Stephen Ehlke’s decision on Monday stems from Wisconsin's strict election laws, which prohibit removing a candidate from the ballot once nomination papers have been filed, unless the candidate dies.

Kennedy, who suspended his presidential campaign in August and endorsed Republican candidate Donald Trump, sought to have his name removed from ballots in key battleground states.

He argued that the law unfairly discriminates against independent candidates by setting different deadlines for withdrawal compared to those for major party candidates.

Kennedy's legal team had pushed for his removal from the ballot in Wisconsin, but Judge Ehlke rejected their request.

The judge stated that the state statute clearly mandates that once nomination papers are submitted, candidates cannot be removed from the ballot.

Ehlke also noted the logistical challenges of altering ballots that have already been printed and sent to local election officials.

Kennedy had previously achieved a court order to remove his name from North Carolina’s ballot. However, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that he will remain on that state’s ballot.

The Wisconsin elections commission, which had voted to keep Kennedy’s name on the ballot earlier this month, cited the same legal reasoning.

With ballots needing to be finalised and distributed by Wednesday, Kennedy's options for removing his name from the Wisconsin ballot are rapidly diminishing.

The case has been forwarded to the state appellate court, which was waiting for Ehlke's ruling before deciding whether to take further action.

The presence of independent candidates on the ballot could influence the tight presidential race in Wisconsin.

In past elections, the state has been decided by narrow margins, highlighting the potential impact of third-party votes.

In 2016, Green Party candidate Jill Stein received over 31,000 votes in Wisconsin, more than the margin by which Trump won the state.

Kennedy’s attempt to withdraw from the ballot underscores his complex position in this year's presidential race, as he continues to navigate his political strategy amid a fiercely competitive election cycle.