MADISON, WI (Wisconsin Radio Network) – On a 5-1 vote, the state Elections Commission ruled that rapper Kanye West’s nomination papers to get on the November ballot in Wisconsin were filed too late.
Bob Spindell, Republican commissioner from Milwaukee, argued the papers were turned in close enough to the August 4th 5pm deadline. He also made this argument: “Mr. West is an African-American candidate, and I think we should do all we can, after the terrible treatment that the black population received during the April election, that we give them a choice.”
The rest of the commission, including Hudson Republican Dean Knudson, voted to reject the signatures. “While I regret that it’s the case, I do not feel like they filed timely.”
Democratic commissioner Mark Thomsen of Milwaukee said, “We all know, it’s undisputed, that no one made it in the building ’til after 5:00. We know that it’s after 5:00, we just don’t know how late after 5:00.”
Commissioners also learned that all of the more than 2400 signatures on West’s papers were gathered in the two days before the filing deadline.
Many political observers believe West’s candidacy is a ploy to help Donald Trump in battleground states by siphoning votes from Joe Biden. West is on the ballot in four states. Wisconsin becomes the third state to turn down his nominating papers. Cases are pending in 7 other states.
The West campaign could still challenge the decision in court.
