The Georgia Supreme Court has paused orders disqualifying presidential candidates Cornel West and Claudia De la Cruz, allowing their votes to count for now. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office announced that military and overseas ballots will be mailed with West and De la Cruz listed as candidates, although their votes could still be disqualified by the state high court. These candidates are running as independent and Party of Socialism and Liberation nominees, respectively, and their inclusion would make this the first time since 1948 that more than four candidates seek Georgia’s presidential electors.
De la Cruz expressed awareness of the challenges in getting her name on the ballot, citing historical voter suppression in Georgia and the South. Democrats and Republicans have filed challenges to third-party and independent candidates in several states, including Georgia, with the aim of blocking candidates who could potentially take votes away from Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. In response to these challenges, a flurry of legal activity has ensued, ultimately leading to the state Supreme Court’s decision to pause orders disqualifying West and De la Cruz.
The decision to pause the disqualification orders comes amidst a larger political battle in Georgia, where Democrats argue that third-party candidates like West and De la Cruz should be denied access because their electors did not file petitions in their own names. On the other hand, Republicans in Georgia have intervened to keep all candidates on the ballot, potentially propping up liberal third-party candidates in an effort to undermine Harris. This complex legal and political landscape has led to conflicting rulings by administrative law judges, Raffensperger’s overruling, and subsequent disqualifications by Superior Court judges in Atlanta, setting the stage for the fight to move to the state Supreme Court.
The legal battles over ballot access for West and De la Cruz highlight the broader issue of democracy and voter suppression in the United States. De la Cruz emphasized the undemocratic nature of the electoral system and the challenges faced by third-party and independent candidates in gaining access to the ballot. Efforts to keep these candidates off the ballot are seen as part of a larger pattern of voter suppression, particularly in states like Georgia with a history of restricting voting rights. The outcome of these legal battles will not only impact the election in Georgia but also have implications for the democratic process and access to the ballot for all candidates.
As the state Supreme Court pauses orders disqualifying West and De la Cruz, the final decision on their inclusion in the presidential election in Georgia remains uncertain. The upcoming mailing of military and overseas ballots with their names listed as candidates adds a layer of complexity to an already contentious electoral process. With a crowded field of candidates seeking Georgia’s presidential electors, including Republican Donald Trump, Democrat Kamala Harris, Libertarian Chase Oliver, Green Party nominee Jill Stein, and potentially Cornel West and Claudia De la Cruz, the 2020 election in Georgia promises to be a closely watched and pivotal moment in American politics.
