NY Judge Bars Kennedy Jr. from Ballot Over Residency Dispute

An Albany County Supreme Court judge has barred Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from appearing on New York's ballot in the upcoming November 2024 presidential election. The ruling comes after Kennedy, an independent candidate, provided inaccurate information regarding his residency on qualifying petitions.

Justice Christina Ryba determined that Kennedy's claim of residing in a friend's spare bedroom in Katonah, New York, was unfounded. Evidence showed he had only stayed there for one night in July 2024, following a lawsuit challenging his residency.

This decision marks Kennedy's first setback in his efforts to secure ballot access across the United States. The ruling could potentially impact his campaign's strategy, as the same address was used in election filings nationwide.

The Clear Choice super PAC, aligned with the Democratic Party, initiated the challenge against Kennedy's application in New York and other states. Formed in January 2024 to oppose Kennedy's candidacy, the PAC highlighted inconsistencies in his paperwork.

Kennedy, son of Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, expressed his disappointment with the ruling. He stated, "The Democrats are showing contempt for democracy. They aren't confident they can win at the ballot box, so they are trying to stop voters from having a choice. We will appeal and we will win."

The Democratic National Committee and Clear Choice welcomed the court's decision. They emphasized Kennedy's alleged dishonesty regarding his residency and the provision of false information on official documents.

"Today's ruling makes clear that Mr. Kennedy lied about his residency and provided a false address on his filing papers and candidate petitions in New York, intentionally misleading election officials and betraying voters' trust."

It's worth noting that ballot access laws vary significantly by state, often imposing more stringent requirements on independent candidates compared to those from major parties. Kennedy, who announced his presidential campaign on April 19, 2023, initially as a Democrat, switched to an independent run on October 9, 2023.

While the New York ruling poses a challenge for Kennedy's campaign, the Democrats faced a setback in North Carolina. A separate case, where they argued against granting ballot access to Kennedy's political party, was unsuccessful.

As the 2024 United States presidential election, scheduled for November 5, 2024, approaches, these legal battles highlight the complexities of the electoral process and the challenges faced by independent candidates in securing ballot access across the nation.