MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s Democratic governor, Tony Evers, on Friday signed a bipartisan bill that will allow candidates to remove their names from the ballot, addressing an issue that arose last year when Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attempted to withdraw from the presidential ballot. Previously, Wisconsin had one of the most restrictive laws in the country regarding ballot removal, permitting it only in the event of a candidate's death.
Kennedy, running for president in 2024 as an independent, sought to remove himself from ballots in Wisconsin and six other crucial swing states after endorsing Republican President Donald Trump in late August and dropping his bid. While he succeeded in removing his name from the ballot in several states including Pennsylvania and Arizona, he was thwarted in Michigan and Wisconsin due to the timing of his request and existing laws.
The new legislation allows candidates for state and federal offices to rescind their names from ballots, specifically benefiting independent candidates like Kennedy. To withdraw, candidates must submit a sworn statement to the Wisconsin Elections Commission along with a nominal fee. Evers signed the bill without any accompanying comments.
In the previous election, Kennedy received fewer than 18,000 votes in Wisconsin, accounting for about 0.5% of the total. He also competed in Michigan, accruing approximately 27,000 votes. Ultimately, Donald Trump won both states by narrow margins. As a recent development, Kennedy is now serving in the Trump administration as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy, running for president in 2024 as an independent, sought to remove himself from ballots in Wisconsin and six other crucial swing states after endorsing Republican President Donald Trump in late August and dropping his bid. While he succeeded in removing his name from the ballot in several states including Pennsylvania and Arizona, he was thwarted in Michigan and Wisconsin due to the timing of his request and existing laws.
The new legislation allows candidates for state and federal offices to rescind their names from ballots, specifically benefiting independent candidates like Kennedy. To withdraw, candidates must submit a sworn statement to the Wisconsin Elections Commission along with a nominal fee. Evers signed the bill without any accompanying comments.
In the previous election, Kennedy received fewer than 18,000 votes in Wisconsin, accounting for about 0.5% of the total. He also competed in Michigan, accruing approximately 27,000 votes. Ultimately, Donald Trump won both states by narrow margins. As a recent development, Kennedy is now serving in the Trump administration as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
