Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a third-party presidential candidate known for his controversial views, has garnered enough signatures to be certified as a candidate by the Indiana Election Division. This means that Hoosiers may see Kennedy’s name on the ballot in November as an option to vote for.
As of noon on Monday, Kennedy met the submission deadline according to the Indiana Election Division. However, the division has not yet counted Kennedy’s signatures.
On July 1, Kennedy submitted a whopping 105,000 petition signatures to county election officials for his independent candidacy bid, surpassing the required minimum of 36,943. Kennedy was pleased to report that almost 39,000 signatures were certified by officials, granting him the opportunity to run on the ballot alongside the Democrat and Republican nominees.
According to a statement from Kennedy’s campaign, Dolores Lane, a volunteer in Indiana, shared that during her signature canvassing efforts, almost all the individuals she spoke with were eager to sign the petition to get Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the ballot. Lane expressed that the people of Indiana are determined to put an end to government corruption and endorse a lifestyle that promotes healthy individuals, nutritious food, fertile soils, and the reinstatement of their Constitutional liberties.
To be eligible as a third-party candidate, it is required to submit signatures to county election officials no later than noon on July 1. After the certification by the counties, these petitions must then be filed with the Indiana Election Division no later than noon on July 15.
After receiving the certifications, the election division meticulously examines each signature to ensure its validity. Subsequently, the division notifies the Secretary of State of the total number of valid signatures. The Secretary of State then evaluates whether the candidate has fulfilled the required threshold to be included in the ballot.
John F. Kennedy, along with his running mate Nicole Shanahan, a philanthropist from California, have claimed to have successfully filed for access on 10 state ballots. Additionally, they have submitted their applications to appear in 14 other states, including Indiana, and have announced that they already possess the necessary signatures to qualify in five more states. These 29 states hold a total of 390 electoral votes, which includes Indiana’s 11 electoral votes. It is important to note that candidates must secure a minimum of 270 electoral college votes in order to be elected as the President.
Unfortunately, Kennedy failed to meet the required ballot appearance threshold in order to participate in the recent debate featuring President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
Kennedy’s chances may seem like a longshot, but according to the FiveThirtyEight polling average, he currently has a 9% standing. However, this is still significantly behind Trump’s 42.4% polling average and Biden’s 40.3% polling average.