In a significant political development, the Michigan Bureau of Elections this Friday disqualified Independent Presidential Candidate Cornel West, and his vice presidential running mate, from appearing on the upcoming November 5 General Election ballot. This decision came following a technical violation of state law by the civil rights activist and philosopher’s campaign.

A Glitch in the Process Leads to Disqualification

Jonathan Brater, the director of Michigan’s elections, penned a letter to the West campaign pointing out that the affidavits of identity submitted in June for West and his running mate, Melina Abdullah, were not properly notarized. This was a crucial factor leading to their disqualification. Up until the news broke, the West campaign has not made a public response regarding the disqualification.

Violation Not Addressed, Disqualification Upheld

The letter from Brater stipulated that the West campaign was informed about a challenge to the affidavits on July 26. The challenge came from the former Michigan Democratic Party Chairman, Mark Brewer, and was given time until Aug. 2 to respond. As per the letter, the campaign did not respond to the challenge by Friday. West’s affidavit of identity, which was notarized in Colorado, was expected to meet that state’s rules for proper notarization to be valid in Michigan.

There were apparent defects with the document, such as unfilled blanks on the form, a separately sent notary’s public stamp, and an absence of identification for the specific notarial act performed. Brater’s letter emphasized, “Your affidavit of identity was not notarized in compliance with the laws of the state where it was notarized (Colorado), and therefore is not a valid notarization under the Michigan Law on Notarial Acts.“

Campaign Hopeful Despite Disconcerting Poll Numbers

In contrast to the disqualification, the West campaign reported in a June 20 news release of their submission of exceeding required petition signatures for ballot candidacy in Michigan. Despite facing disqualification in Michigan, West remains optimistic about the support his campaign has attracted.

However, national polls reflect a dissimilar sentiment, showing West not gaining substantial sway in the Presidential race, both in Michigan and nationally. He languishes as the last of five candidates, with support from less than 1% of voters. Among the candidates leading ahead of him are Vice President Kamala Harris, ex-President Donald Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Jill Stein of the Green Party.

West on the Ballot in a Mere Five States

West’s campaign, despite disqualification in Michigan, successfully placed him on the ballot in Alaska, Colorado, South Carolina, Oregon, and Vermont. The journey leading up to the final vote is anticipated to bring more turns in this twisty race to the presidency.

Author: STAFF HERE NOVI WRITER

The NOVI STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENovi.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Novi, Oakland County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Motor City Comic Con, Michigan State Fair, and Novi Home and Garden Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Novi Chamber of Commerce and Novi Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in automotive, technology, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Gentherm, Stoneridge, and Daifuku North America. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.