New York courts on Tuesday ruled that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an independent presidential candidate on Nov. 5, will not be able to run in New York state because of a false declaration of residency.
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A court in the state capital, Albany, ruled that Kennedy violated local law, according to a decision released Tuesday.
The heir to the famous American dynasty, who will appeal the decision, has declared himself a resident of a room rented for $500 a month from friends in New York State.
But Judge Christina Ripa ruled that Robert Francis Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) was living well at home with his wife in California.
The result: For the Nov. 5 presidential election, in which Kennedy is running in 19 of the 50 states, New York's election commission will not be able to print ballots with the illustrious name of former Attorney General Bobby Kennedy's son, who was assassinated in 1968, and former President John F. Kennedy's nephew, who was killed in 1963.
Due to the constitutional strictures and indirect method of presidential voting in the United States, candidates for president and vice president cannot reside in the same state, putting them at risk of not being able to win all the primary electoral votes.
However, RFK Jr. and his deputy, Nicole Shanahan, live in California.
Voters directly elect the president and vice president of the United States, and California, which was won by Democrats, has 54 representatives, the largest group in the country.
The New York court’s decision — following voter action from a Democratic political action committee — could set a precedent in other states against Mr. Kennedy and Ms. Shanahan.
Kennedy's lawyer, William Savino, told AFP they would appeal the decision.
“Democrats show contempt for democracy. They are not sure they can win at the ballot box, so they are trying to prevent voters from choosing.
RFK Jr., 70, has presented himself as an alternative candidate in the duel between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
After dropping out of the Democratic primary, he considered joining the Libertarian Party for a time before running as an independent.
This environmental lawyer, who has been shunned by much of the Kennedy family, has almost no chance of winning in November.
Voting intentions have dropped below 10% in polls since President Biden withdrew in favor of his vice president, Kamala Harris.
