MADISON, Wis. (AP) — In a significant legislative move, Wisconsin's Democratic Governor, Tony Evers, has signed a bipartisan bill permitting candidates to withdraw their names from election ballots. This decision follows issues that arose during Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s presidential campaign last year, where he sought to remove his name from ballots in Wisconsin and several other swing states after endorsing President Donald Trump.
Prior to this new legislation, Wisconsin was noted for having one of the country's most stringent laws regarding candidate removal from ballots, allowing name withdrawals only upon the death of a candidate. The new law enables candidates for state and federal offices, including independent candidates like Kennedy, to rescind their names. However, it does not apply to major party candidates, reflecting the unique methods used in their selection processes.
To formally withdraw, candidates must provide a sworn statement to the Wisconsin Elections Commission and pay a nominal fee. Critics have previously argued that the law in Wisconsin limited candidates' rights, especially as candidates like Kennedy contended for the presidency amid a crowded political landscape.
Kennedy's attempts to get off the ballot were extensive; he succeeded in swing states of Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, and Nevada, but encountered legal setbacks in Michigan and Wisconsin, where his requests were denied. Ultimately, he received fewer than 18,000 votes in Wisconsin and about 27,000 in Michigan during the election.
The change in law aims to offer more flexibility and protect the rights of candidates going forward.
