Arizona State Judge Scott McCoy ruled Monday that the plaintiff in the Arizona lawsuit was likely to win because state law prevented the West from participating in the ballot as an independent candidate for president because he is a registered Republican.
Racine Clayton, a Maricopa County resident, argued that under Arizona law, the slate of 11 voters who pledged to support West and him could enter the ballot by collecting enough signatures “unless he is a registered member of a recognized political party.”
The lawsuit alleges that West and 10 of his 11 voters are registered Republicans.
Richmond Circuit Judge Joey Taylor’s order prevented state election officials from printing West’s name on ballots and giving voters notice that officials in any category whose name has already been printed are disqualified.
West’s campaign and his lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment following Thursday’s decisions.
Trump campaign aides have denied involvement in the West’s political operation.
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, a Democrat, sought emergency court action this week to prevent the West from appearing on the ballot as the deadline to print ballots in the November general election approaches.
Virginia absent ballots will be mailed by September 19th.
Officials in Arizona counties are preparing to print ballots as early as next week. Friday is the deadline for submitting petitions to get the ballot in Grand Canyon State.
West’s attorney filed the petitions Tuesday with the Arizona Secretary of State for 57,892 signatures. In Arizona, approximately 40,000 certified signatures are required to qualify for the presidential independent ballot.
The lawsuit, which seeks to keep West out of the ballot, alleges that by law, his voters failed to file notices of interest by August 31, and that signatures collected before that date were invalid.
The document filed with the lawsuit states that in the week before August 31, 73 payment circulars were registered to collect signatures for the West.
In a telephonic hearing Thursday, West’s attorneys argued that the law did not apply to his candidacy and should apply to people running for office across the state of Arizona. They argue that his voters are exempt from the interest control statement.
Advocate Timothy Lasota said blocking the West ballot would reduce voter turnout.
With Thursday’s verdicts, the West has so far qualified to appear on the ballot in just 10 states – far less likely to capture the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.
This story has been updated with additional developments.
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