Pennsylvania Supreme court rejects Cornel West's presidential ballot bid

Within hours of the court’s decision, Secretary of State Al Schmidt certified the ballot for counties.

Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court on Monday upheld a lower court ruling that rejected a bid to get independent presidential candidate Cornel West on the ballot for the November election in the battleground state.

The courts sided with the Secretary of State’s office under Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro in rejecting West’s candidacy paperwork. The decision also sets in motion the process for counties to start printing, testing and sending out mail-in ballots to voters who requested one ahead of the November 5 election.

Within hours of the court’s decision, Secretary of State Al Schmidt certified the ballot for counties.

“Counties can now prepare their ballots to be printed, then begin sending mail ballots to voters who have requested one as soon as they are printed,” Schmidt said in a statement.