The deadline to submit your campaign materials to appear on the upcoming November ballot in Wisconsin was 5pm this past Tuesday, August 4.
It seems that Kanye's West's campaign may have missed that deadline by a matter of minutes.
A widely-circulated video showed Lane Ruhland, representing West's campaign, arriving at the state elections commissions office "just after 5."
@mattsmith_news Is this Lane Ruhland? Is she the same Lane Ruhland described in "attorneys for the plaintiff" (Don… https://t.co/gPxcpED06i— FordPrefect (@FordPrefect)1596591571.0
@mattsmith_news Wait... it's after 5? How is that accepted?— US Grant Fan Club 🥁 (@US Grant Fan Club 🥁)1596578846.0
After walking in, Ruhland would need to travel up to the third floor, placing her arrival at least another minute after the deadline.
“No comment” as woman enters election commission building just after 5p in Madison to drop off signatures for Kanye… https://t.co/92UNgAUA41— Matt Smith (@Matt Smith)1596578614.0
They called before 5p to alert election officials. (Building is locked and shut down because of COVID. Someone had to come let them in)— Matt Smith (@Matt Smith)1596578823.0
Reid Magney, a spokesperson for the elections commission, said that decisions about whether West's papers were filed in time would ultimately fall on the commissioners.
"That's a question the commissioners are going to have to answer."
"WEC staff will provide the Commission members with a detailed timeline surrounding the filing of the nomination papers as part of its report on ballot access for a future meeting."
"It will be up to the Commission to decide whether the deadline was met."
@mattsmith_news The GOP operative trying to submit signatures after the 5pm deadline to get Kanye West on the Ballo… https://t.co/cm3VtUyepp— Brent Allpress (@Brent Allpress)1596607505.0
The commission is made up of three Republicans and three Democrats.
@mattsmith_news The bigger story here is that she's a well known Wisconsin Republican election lawyer helping Kanye at the RNC's behest.— JayKay (@JayKay)1596588200.0
Black Milwaukee officials have publicly denounced West's run as a Republican-manufactured stunt intended to pull Black support away from Joe Biden.
We’ve been told Kanye West isn’t well; we should have compassion for him. My compassion may have to wait til AFTER… https://t.co/tUA8eCO3Yc— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@Ana Navarro-Cárdenas)1596802960.0
Many noted online that Ruhland is also a Republican operative and attorney for President Trump.
The chances that she's working for West's campaign because she honestly believes he'd make the best President seem slim at best.
The patsy speaks: Kanye West admits he's running a spoiler campaign to draw votes from Biden and see Trump reelec… https://t.co/qtkP2srrbV— Rick Wilson (@Rick Wilson)1596803287.0
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said:
"We are here to basically say that you cannot fool us. We see what is happening."
And now we have this Kayne ridiculousness. Not legal in US elections to create a straw candidate like this. It's… https://t.co/8hR43DabnK— Simon Rosenberg (@Simon Rosenberg)1596807029.0
Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson agreed with the sentiment, saying:
"Kanye West is supporting Trump. Do not be mistaken."
At least five of West's ten Wisconsin electors are connected to the GOP in some way.
to recap Kanye's ballot efforts... – WISCONSIN: ballots submitted by *Trump campaign attorney*; electors are GOP a… https://t.co/vIc4tQaec8— Jesse Lehrich (@Jesse Lehrich)1596599941.0
Right now, in Wisconsin, Kanye Trump's campaign is one of uncertainty. Whether he's ultimately running to help Donald Trump and whether he'll be on the ballot at all are both unknowns voters will have to grapple with before November.