ATLANTA – The Georgia Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday regarding the ballot access of presidential candidates Cornel West and Claudia De la Cruz, sparking a debate about whether their votes should count in the upcoming election.
Those who oppose their inclusion on the ballot claim that West and De la Cruz did not meet the necessary requirements to qualify, as their electors did not submit individual petitions with the required signatures. Only one petition per candidate was submitted, raising concerns about their eligibility.
Despite being categorized as independent candidates in Georgia, De la Cruz is the nominee of the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
If the justices decide to disqualify West and De la Cruz, their names could still appear on the ballots, but the votes cast for them would not be counted. The Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, raised concerns about reprinting ballots and potential issues with voting machines if changes were made at this stage.
Chief Justice Michael Boggs promised a swift decision on the matter to provide clarity ahead of the election.
Should West and De la Cruz be disqualified, Georgia voters would have a choice between four presidential candidates including Harris, Trump, Oliver, and Stein, marking the most candidates on the ballot in Georgia since 2000.
The legal debate centered on the interpretation of a federal court decision in 2017 that lowered the signature threshold for ballot access and subsequent changes to state election laws.
The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for third-party and independent candidates, as well as the overall electoral process in Georgia.
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