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The clock is ticking for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/strong> to qualify for next week\u2019s presidential debate<\/a> hosted by CNN<\/a>. Kennedy\u2019s campaign must demonstrate no later than 11:59 p.m. Wednesday that he is on enough statewide ballots and meets a specific polling threshold to participate, but it\u2019s not looking likely.<\/p>\n The cable network requires<\/a> that participating candidates be legally able to run for president\u2014per Article II, Section 1 of the US Constitution\u2014in addition to filing a formal statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission. President Joe Biden<\/strong> and former President Donald Trump<\/strong> both clear these bars\u2014and so do candidates Cornel West<\/strong>, Jill Stein<\/strong>, and RFK Jr.<\/a><\/p>\n The network also requires that debaters appear on enough state ballots to reach the 270 electoral votes needed to win a presidency and receive at least 15% in four separate approved national polls of registered or likely voters.<\/p>\n Since early June, Kennedy\u2019s team has claimed<\/a> he is on the ballot in enough states to take the stage. But the numbers don\u2019t add up.<\/p>\n For months, Kennedy has been strategically navigating how to get on ballots across the country, and each state has specific election laws concerning independent candidates. Typically, those trying to get into the mix have two options: gain enough signatures to petition to be on the ballot or be nominated by an established political party in the state. Kennedy has been trying both.<\/p>\n According to reporting<\/a> by The Washington Post<\/em>, a \u201csurvey of state election officials found Kennedy is not on the ballot in several states where he has claimed he is \u2014 and he will not reach the requirement by Thursday\u2019s deadline.\u201d<\/p>\n Election officials in Utah, Delaware, Oklahoma, Michigan, and Tennessee have confirmed Kennedy\u2019s place on the ballot, and CNN has counted California and Hawaii, where Kennedy is poised to be the nominee of minor parties. Altogether, that\u2019s 100 electoral votes. He is also yet to meet the polling requirements.<\/p>\n A ballot effort tracking<\/a> map on Kennedy\u2019s campaign website highlights 23 states as \u201cPetitioning Complete\u201d and claims that the independent candidate is eligible for 310 electoral votes. A \u201cWe\u2019re on the ballot\u201d message pops up when clicking on a highlighted state. Yet, as New York Board of Elections spokeswoman Kathleen McGrath<\/strong> told the Post<\/em>, \u201c\u2018petitioning complete\u2019 is accurate, the statement below, \u2018We\u2019re on the ballot\u2019 is premature.\u201d<\/p>\n Kennedy campaign spokeswoman Stefanie Spear<\/strong> told the Post<\/em> that even questioning the candidate\u2019s failure to meet the 270 electoral votes requirement was \u201cnonsensical.\u201d<\/p>\n The June 27 debate in Atlanta will be the first time Biden and Trump face off since fall 2020. Kennedy\u2014who claimed<\/a> his brain was partially eaten by a worm that crawled inside and died, and then later said<\/a> that he could eat five more brain worms and \u201cstill beat President Trump and President Biden in a debate\u201d\u2014would really like to be there.<\/p>\n While Biden and Trump must also meet CNN\u2019s polling and electoral vote prerequisites, it\u2019s a bit different for them. As the presumptive nominees for both of their parties, most states will automatically allow them ballot access without having to petition, a CNN spokesperson has clarified<\/a>.<\/p>\n In May, Kennedy\u2019s campaign filed<\/a> a complaint<\/a> with the Federal Election Commission, alleging that CNN, Biden, and Trump colluded and engaged in \u201cflagrant violations\u201d of the law to keep Kennedy off the stage.<\/p>\n The campaign called on the FCC to take action before the Thursday deadline, according to a June 18 press release, and claimed that \u201cCNN, and every member of CNN who is participating in planning, executing, and holding this debate, is at risk of prosecution. \u201cThis risk,\u201d the release continues, \u201cis now acute given that any further violation would be knowing and willful, and thus could carry with it serious jail time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe bottom line is he is eligible for more electoral votes than both Presidents Trump and Biden,\u201d Spear wrote in an email to the Post<\/em>.<\/p>\n For the candidates who do get to take the stage next week, CNN has implemented<\/a> some other rules, too.<\/p>\n The 90-minute debate, hosted by CNN\u2019s Jake Tapper<\/strong> and Dana Bash<\/strong>, will feature mics that can be muted and have no studio audience, as part of the moderators’ effort to \u201cuse all tools at their disposal to enforce timing and ensure a civilized discussion,\u201d according to the network. There will be no opening statements, and no prewritten notes will be allowed. Each candidate will be given a pen, notepad, and a bottle of water at their podium, chosen by the flip of a coin.<\/p>\n While CNN said on Saturday that it\u2019s \u201cnot impossible\u201d for Kennedy to meet the guidelines, time is running out. And for RFK Jr., this is personal.<\/p>\n \u201cPresidents Trump and Biden are colluding to lock America into a head-to-head match-up,\u201d he posted<\/a> on X, formerly known as Twitter. \u201cThey are trying to exclude me from their debate because they are afraid I would win.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n