North Carolina elections board delays certifying RFK Jr and Cornel West.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Cornel West, two independent presidential candidates, are facing obstacles in North Carolina as the state’s elections board has deferred granting certification to them due to concerns over the legitimacy of their nominating signatures.

During a hearing, members of the North Carolina State Board of Elections raised concerns about how signatures were obtained for Kennedy and West’s parties. They revealed that upon contacting voters who signed the petitions, some were unaware that they had been nominating the candidates.

The board reached out to 26 voters who signed petitions for Kennedy’s We The People party and 66 who signed for West’s Justice for All party. While it is unclear how many were confused about the purpose of their signatures, 12 signers of the Justice for All petition reportedly did not remember signing it.

However, every individual contacted from the We the People party petition recalled signing their name, as reported by local outlet Port City Daily. State election officials had previously confirmed that both parties had submitted more than the required number of valid signatures to register as political parties for the upcoming 2024 election.

The decision to defer granting certification has sparked a debate in the state, with some questioning whether the opposition to Kennedy and West’s names on the ballot is driven by legitimate ethical concerns or political maneuvering to protect President Biden from third-party candidates.

Republican member of the election board, Kevin Lewis, expressed frustration with the continued obstacles facing Kennedy and West, casting doubt on the motives of his Democrat colleagues. “You know how I voted the last time and I hope fellow board members will do the right thing and approve these petitions today,” Lewis stated, as reported by Port City News.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has refuted accusations that he is running as a spoiler against Biden, emphasizing that his goal is to disrupt the traditional two-party system by challenging both the current president and his opponent, former President Trump.

The ongoing saga surrounding the certification of Kennedy and West in North Carolina highlights the complexities and controversies that often arise in the electoral process, shedding light on the intricate dynamics of politics at both the state and national levels.