Trump Disqualified for May presidential elections

The Secretary of State in Maine has removed the name of former American President Donald Trump from the ballot for the presidential election, calling at a clause in the Constitution that concerns the uprising.

Shenna Bellows becomes the first election official to take a unilateral action, while the US Supreme Court is expected to decide whether Trump will be able to compete to return to the White House.

Trump is considered the main candidate to get the republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election.

Secretary Bellows' decision follows the verdict made earlier this month by the Supreme Court in Colorado that disqualifys Trump from the election race, calling at the 14th amendment to the US Constitution. That ruling stated that until the U.S. Supreme Court decides on the case, Trump will be barred from participating in the elections under this provision of the Constitution, which belongs to the Civil War era and prohibits persons from being involved in the “uprising to hold institutional post.

Trump's campaign said it will appeal Bellow's decision to Main state courts. In the end, the final decision is likely to be made by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding whether Trump's name will appear on the ballot papers in Maine and other states.

Bellows' decision said that Trump cannot compete again for president because of his role in the January 6th events of 2021, as the attack on the US Congress constitutes a violation of point 3, preventing people from competing for office if “are involved in the” uprising. The decision came after several Mein residents, including a group of former lawmakers, demanded that Trump not be allowed to participate in the election”.

The “E knows that no secretary of state has ever prevented a presidential candidate from being involved in the election race by taking the 14th amendment point. However, I know that no presidential candidate in the past was involved in the” uprising, Bellows wrote in her 34-page decision.

Trump's campaign immediately reacted to the decision.

“We are witnessing the attempt to steal elections and deceive American voters”, campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said.

Legal experts said Mei's decision proves there is a need for the highest court of state, which has never addressed point 3 to clarify what states can do in this regard.

Maine has four electoral votes. Trump had won an election vote in Maine in 2020, so his disqualification from this race could have an impact on the expected tight presidential race.

In her decision, Bellows acknowledged that the U.S. Supreme Court would likely have the final say on the case, but she added it was her duty to make that decision.