Cornel West and Melina Abdullah on Virginia presidential ballot

Dr. Cornel West, an independent candidate for the 2024 presidential election, has successfully qualified for the Virginia ballot after overcoming previous challenges related to the necessary paperwork. The Virginia Department of Elections confirmed this decision in a letter to West's campaign, which was obtained by CBS News. Initially, the campaign faced denial due to issues with the validity of their elector forms, which were not properly submitted according to the updated requirements after July 1. The West-Abdullah campaign had submitted their paperwork in April but was unaware of the new form needed to verify the electors' citizenship and residency. Following the confirmation of their ballot access, a spokesperson expressed optimism, stating that Virginia voters will now have the chance to select a candidate who aligns with their values. In addition to Virginia, West and his running mate, Dr. Melina Abdullah, are also aiming for ballot access in several battleground states, including Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Georgia. Despite Virginia not being classified as a battleground state, the Trump campaign has made efforts to engage voters there through rallies. The campaign has faced setbacks in other states, such as Arizona and Nevada, where they missed deadlines for necessary paperwork and signatures. In Pennsylvania, they lost a legal challenge regarding the required affidavits for electors. Despite these challenges, the campaign remains determined to pursue federal court options to address what they view as unfair burdens on their First Amendment rights.