New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan recently addressed the controversy surrounding the removal of a former president's name from the state's ballot. Despite facing tremendous pressure, Scanlan decided against removing the name, emphasizing his obligation to uphold the state's constitutional requirements for presidential candidacy. In an informative interview, Scanlan clarified his position and shed light on the potential consequences of yielding to such demands.
The issue of removing a former president's name from the ballot initially arose in New Hampshire. Constitutional academics produced a white paper on the matter, and some politicians in the state aimed to promote the idea. To address these concerns, Scanlan collaborated with the state's Attorney General and thoroughly examined both the relevant statute and the Constitution. It became apparent that New Hampshire law clearly stipulates the qualifications for presidential candidacy, including being 35 years old, a natural-born United States citizen, and having lived in the country for at least 14 years.
