The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s bid to reinstate his name on the New York general election ballot. Kennedy, who suspended his independent presidential campaign in August, had endorsed Donald Trump and sought to have his name removed from several state ballots, including New York.

According to CBS News, the decision from the Supreme Court effectively bars Kennedy from appearing on the New York ballot just seven weeks before the 2024 election.

Kennedy, an environmental lawyer and anti-vaccine activist, had previously launched an independent presidential bid. Despite an initial effort to secure his place on the ballot in every state, Kennedy reversed course after suspending his campaign. He then began the process of removing his name from ballots in more than a dozen states, including New York, where he had collected over 120,000 signatures to qualify.

Kennedy Cites Residency Dispute in Ballot Removal

The controversy surrounding Kennedy’s ballot status in New York began when several individuals challenged his nominating petition, arguing that it contained an invalid address. Kennedy had listed a friend’s home in Katonah, New York, claiming to have stayed there once. However, the court ruled that this did not meet the state’s residency requirement, as it was not his permanent address.

A state court and an appeals court both ruled that Kennedy’s address failed to meet the requirements set by New York law. When the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, declined to hear the case, Kennedy’s campaign escalated the matter to federal courts. His campaign argued that the state’s residency requirement was unconstitutional and irrelevant to his qualifications as a presidential candidate.

Kennedy’s Appeal Argues For Voter Rights

In their appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, Kennedy’s campaign contended that New York voters had a constitutional right to vote for him, even though he was no longer actively campaigning. His team stressed that over 108,000 New Yorkers had supported his candidacy by signing his petition and that their right to have him on the ballot should not be dismissed. "Whatever inconvenience the state may have in adding Kennedy to the ballot," the campaign argued, "it seems inconceivable that those difficulties or expenses could outweigh the constitutional rights of New York voters."

Kennedy’s campaign further argued that disclosing his true home address posed a security risk, potentially leading to protests, harassment, or even attacks on his residence and family. They maintained that these risks made the state’s focus on residency irrelevant and harmful.

State Officials Cite Election Disruption

New York state officials, however, disagreed with Kennedy's claims. They argued that reinstating Kennedy on the ballot so close to the election would cause substantial confusion among voters and disrupt election procedures. The state's Board of Elections had already certified the general election ballot on September 11, excluding Kennedy.

State officials also pointed out that federal deadlines for mailing ballots to military and overseas voters had passed, and adjusting the ballot at this stage could further complicate the election process. Furthermore, they questioned Kennedy’s sincerity, noting that he had already worked to remove his name from ballots in multiple other states, including 18 where officials had already successfully removed his name.

Kennedy Endorses Trump After Suspending Campaign

Kennedy’s endorsement of Donald Trump has added further complexity to the situation. After suspending his campaign, he publicly supported Trump, the Republican nominee, and has urged his supporters to vote for Trump in the upcoming election. His campaign website now even declares that “a vote for Trump is a vote for Kennedy,” aligning his platform with Trump’s.

This endorsement raised questions about Kennedy’s motivations for trying to remain on certain state ballots. State officials argued that his attempts to remove himself from ballots in other states contradicted his claims of protecting voter rights in New York. They suggested that his lingering presence on the ballot could create confusion for voters and undermine Trump’s chances of success in a crucial state.

Supreme Court Ruling Closes Kennedy’s New York Case

Kennedy’s legal team had attempted to challenge the state’s decision in federal court, but their efforts were rebuffed by both a district court judge and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. With the Supreme Court’s unsigned order upholding the lower court's rulings, Kennedy’s bid to be reinstated on the New York ballot has come to an end.

The case marks the third election-related dispute of the 2024 cycle to reach the U.S. Supreme Court. Kennedy’s name will now remain off the ballot in New York, adding to the list of 18 other states where his name has already been removed.

Although Kennedy’s appeal argued that excluding him from the ballot infringed on voters' constitutional rights, state officials maintained that the decision was necessary to ensure a smooth and fair election process. The ruling officially closes Kennedy’s presidential campaign in New York, solidifying his shift toward supporting Donald Trump in the final weeks of the 2024 election.