Breaking News: Kennedy Scores Ballot Access Victory in Utah
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has won his first ballot access victory.
Earlier in the week, Kennedy sued the State of Utah over ballot requirements for his independent run, which included a mandate to collect 1,000 signatures from registered Utah voters by January 8, 2024. Kennedy and his legal team argued that imposing such an early deadline was unconstitutional, violating Utah voters’ rights.
On Thursday, Utah’s top public official agreed.
As reported in Utah’s Deseret News, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson announced that her state had extended the ballot collection deadline. Henderson stated that, as Deseret News writes, “candidates would be permitted to file through March 5, 2024, nearly two months after the original deadline.” Kennedy’s legal counsel, Paul Rossi, celebrated the decision. Read more in the Deseret News, here:
“I am pleased Lt. Gov. Henderson had the courage to correct the wrong committed by the state Legislature in their intentional assault on the constitutional right of Utah voters to cast their vote for Mr. Kennedy in 2024,” said Rossi in a news release. Utah agrees to extend independent presidential candidate signature deadline after RFK Jr. lawsuit – Salt Lake City Tribune
Kennedy said, “In a democracy, the people are supposed to decide with their votes who gets into office. Not state officials who prevent popular candidates from getting on the ballot.”
Leadership in the Utah State Legislature deserve credit for agreeing that the Kennedy Campaign was justified in filing the action.
“This decision has been made in the spirit of affording every reasonable opportunity for unaffiliated presidential candidates to participate in our general election,” (Governor) Henderson said in a statement. “Key legislators are aware of the potential problems with the current statute. I am confident these issues will be addressed in the upcoming legislative session.” - Utah loosens ballot access rules after RFK Jr. sues - Deseret News
Defendants agree and represent to the Court that, until at least March 5, 2024, they will not reject any unaffiliated candidate’s Certificate of Nomination to be placed on the ballot in Utah for the office of President of the United States, simply because the Certificate and verified nomination petitions were not filed by January 8, 2024,” the stipulation states. “This action provides at least an additional 60 days for the Plaintiff Kennedy to file the Certificate and other necessary papers or for the parties to litigate or otherwise resolve the present dispute.” - Partial agreement reached in RFK Jr. lawsuit over early filing deadline - Fox13 Salt Lake City
“I am confident these issues will be addressed in the upcoming legislative session,” (Governor) Henderson said. - Utah agrees to push back signature deadline following RFK Jr. lawsuit - ABC
Utah Agrees to Move Signature Deadline Following RFK Jr.’s Lawsuit – The Messenger
Louis Conte, Headlines Editor
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Maybe Bobby can sue his way into the White House and sue to get our freedoms and protections back. Finally, a candidate who knows the law and is willing to fight to see it enforced.
Excellent!!!