Putting an electric choke on my original carter (71 440). What is the little lever in the pics? When you get off the throttle the throttle linkage hits it when it returns (gas cutoff??) And more importantly, how can I get rid of it?

Look like the idle vent valve lever. Opens the bowl to atmosphere at idle to prevent over rich idle.
Not an expert on carbs, though.

That lever either opens or closes(I forget which) the bowl vent when the throttle returns to idle & the bowl vapors come out the large nipple you see which(originally) went to a charcoal canister which absorbed tha vapors & kept them out of the atmosphere. Leave it, the carb needs it to function correctly. & since this bowl vent nipple is outside the air cleaner(unlike a holley) I would consider adding a filter or plumbing it to the inside of the aircleaner so that dirt/debris dont have direct access to the float bowl though many are run open like yours & no problem.

Problem is, I need to mount an electric choke to the carb and the lever is directly in the way. The bowl vent nipple is plumbed to the breather then to the air cleaner so it should be fine, but can I cut the lever off? How can I take it out an ensure the carb still functions correctly? This isn't a hi-po application so a reliable fix would be the best

You might take it out which would leave the bowl vent closed all the time & see how it acts. EDIT the top needs to come off to get it out.