Michigan, Wisconsin rule Robert F. Kennedy Jr. must remain on ballots

Aug. 28 (UPI) -- Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will not be allowed to remove his name in the key battleground states of Michigan and Wisconsin, officials ruled.

Both states cited their own state rules in preventing Kennedy from exiting the ballot at such a late stage of the campaign. Kennedy, who has endorsed former President Donald Trump, wanted to remove his name to give Trump a better chance at winning those battleground states.

Ann Jacobs, chair of the election commission of Wisconsin said state law gave it no wiggle room in keeping Kennedy on the ballot as it voted for him to remain, even after a removal request.

In Michigan, Kennedy was voted as the candidate for the Natural Law Party at its convention. His nomination was already formally confirmed by the secretary of state under a law meant to protect minor party candidates.

In Nevada, Kennedy dropped a lawsuit that he filed earlier trying to win a spot on that ballot, thus making sure he will not appear as a candidate in that state's presidential election.

Kennedy's name will not appear on the ballot in Arizona and Pennsylvania as well while his status in North Carolina remains in limbo.

Kennedy said he would remain on the ballot in solidly "red" and "blue" states to give his supporters a choice without affecting the results of the presidential election.