The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted 3-2 along party lines to delay certifying the We The People and Justice for All parties, which support presidential candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West, respectively. Despite both parties meeting the required 13,865 valid signatures, the board's Democratic majority cited concerns over how signatures were collected and the transparency of parties' goals. This decision temporarily blocks Kennedy and West from the November ballot, benefiting President Biden by potentially reducing competition. Board Chairman Alan Hirsch emphasized the decision was not final and aimed to ensure petition signers understood the parties' intent. Republicans criticized the move as politically motivated and vowed to explore all options to address the issue.