Federal Judge Orders Cornel West On North Carolina Ballot

Harvard Professor Cornel West speaks at a campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., at the Whittemore Center Arena at the University of New Hampshire, Feb

A federal judge has ruled that Cornel West must be placed on North Carolina's ballot in November, overturning the state's elections board's decision to reject the independent presidential candidate's petition. The North Carolina State Board of Elections had initially rejected West's ballot access petition in July due to concerns about the legitimacy of signatures gathered by paid petition circulators with Republican ties.

Upon investigation, the board found that 21 out of 49 petition signers either denied signing the petitions or could not recall doing so. Board chair Alan Hirsch expressed doubts about the legitimacy of West's signature gathering process, stating he had 'no confidence' in its authenticity.