Arizona Supreme Court Keeps Kanye West Off Ballot Because His Presidential Elector Candidates Didn’t File a Statement of Interest

On September 8, the Arizona Supreme Court issued a two-page order in West v Clayton. It says Kanye West can’t be on the ballot as an independent presidential candidate because his elector candidates didn’t file a statement of economic interest, per ARS 16-341(I). It says it will explain further later.

It is somewhat a relief that the court did not say West should be barred from the ballot because he is a registered Republican in his home state. No presidential candidate in history has ever been kept off any ballot on the basis of how he or she is registered, and if the Court had cited that as a reason for keeping him off, it would have violated precedent in Arizona and all other states. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.

The Arizona Secretary of State’s website, which has instructions for presidential candidates, had never said that presidential elector candidates must file a statement of economic interest, and chances are no candidate for presidential elector in Arizona has ever before filed such a statement.


Comments

Arizona Supreme Court Keeps Kanye West Off Ballot Because His Presidential Elector Candidates Didn’t File a Statement of Interest — 6 Comments

  1. Prez candidate’s name on ballots vs 2-1/12 Amdt Prez Electors.

    One more reason to abolish the ANTI-Democracy minority rule EC and ALL the ROT with it.

  2. Even though the AZ Supreme Court did not remove Mr. West because of his choice in party registration (and that is a relief) it still seems that they are making up the rules as they go along re: filing a statement of economic interest when, according to this article, they have never required one in the past.

    Does this mean Jo Jorgensen is the only other candidate than Trump or Biden printed on the AZ ballot or am I missing someone?

  3. Opinion makes no sense. That statute, ARS 16-341(I), expressly states that “this subsection does not apply to …
    3. Candidates for president or vice president of the United States.” So how could it be applied to West?

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