Revised Title: Trump Challenges Maine’s Ban: Taking a Stand for the Primary Ballot

President Donald Trump is appealing a decision by Maine officials to keep him off the primary presidential ballot this year. Last week, Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap determined that the President and his campaign did not maintain adequate control over the petitions they had submitted to get on the ballot for the Republican primary. The appeal, sent to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, argues that the Maine Elections Commission was wrong to reject the candidacy of Mr. Trump and that the decision is “arbitrary and capricious.” The petition notes that the Trump campaign had adequately complied with the applicable laws and regulations and accused the Commission of unfairly deciding to reject the petitions. The petition takes issue with how the Commission rejected the petitions. It claims that the Commission has “erroneously applied a new, undefined standard to the Trump campaign’s submissions.” The Commission has previously accepted similar petitions from other candidates without issue, according to the appeal. The documents also cite several instances where the Secretary of State’s office rejected signatures that could have been counted. This includes instances where names had been printed instead of signed, names printed in different type sizes than the remainder of the page, and signatures that were written on a line or a box beside the printed name. The President is asking the Supreme Judicial Court to overturn the decision, so that he can appear on the Maine ballot for the Republican primary. If the appeal is unsuccessful, it would not prevent Trump from appearing on the general election ballot, as long as he is the Republican nominee. Campaign officials in the President’s team are confident that he will win the appeal and appear on the ballot. Meanwhile, they are pushing ahead with efforts to campaign in Maine and secure the state’s votes in the upcoming general election. President Donald Trump is appealing a decision by Maine officials to keep him off the primary presidential ballot this year. Last week, Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap determined that the President and his campaign did not maintain adequate control over the petitions they had submitted to get on the ballot for the Republican primary. The appeal, sent to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, argues that the Maine Elections Commission was wrong to reject the candidacy of Mr. Trump and that the decision is “arbitrary and capricious.” The petition notes that the Trump campaign had adequately complied with the applicable laws and regulations and accused the Commission of unfairly deciding to reject the petitions. The petition takes issue with how the Commission rejected the petitions. It claims that the Commission has “erroneously applied a new, undefined standard to the Trump campaign’s submissions.” The Commission has previously accepted similar petitions from other candidates without issue, according to the appeal. The documents also cite several instances where the Secretary of State’s office rejected signatures that could have been counted. This includes instances where names had been printed instead of signed, names printed in different type sizes than the remainder of the page, and signatures that were written on a line or a box beside the printed name. The President is asking the Supreme Judicial Court to overturn the decision, so that he can appear on the Maine ballot for the Republican primary. If the appeal is unsuccessful, it would not prevent Trump from appearing on the general election ballot, as long as he is the Republican nominee. Campaign officials in the President’s team are confident that he will win the appeal and appear on the ballot. Meanwhile, they are pushing ahead with efforts to campaign in Maine and secure the state’s votes in the upcoming general election.