Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen sent a letter to officials of the Alabama Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee warning them that President Biden’s name may not appear on the state’s general election ballot in November due to missing a key deadline. The deadline for the party to provide a certificate of nomination for president and vice president of the United States is August 15, which falls before the national convention on August 19. Without the certificate, Alabama state officials will be unable to certify the names of the Democratic Party’s candidates for the ballot.
The letter from Allen cited Alabama code section 17-14-31(b), which requires parties to certify their candidates “no later than the 82nd day preceding the day fixed for the election.” With the general election for president and vice president scheduled for November 5, 2024, the 82nd day preceding it would be August 15, 2024. The National Democratic Convention is set to begin four days after this deadline, making it crucial for the party to provide the necessary nomination certificate in time to ensure their candidates’ names appear on the ballot.
President Biden’s re-election campaign, the Alabama Democratic Party, and the DNC have not provided immediate responses to Allen’s letter, which raised concerns about the potential absence of Biden’s name on the Alabama ballot in November. This issue comes after Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, another Republican official, issued a similar warning to Ohio Democratic Party officials, pointing out the discrepancy between the party’s national convention date and the state’s deadline for certifying a presidential candidate.
In response to LaRose’s warning, the Ohio Democratic Party must either adjust their nominating convention date or the Ohio General Assembly must act to create an exception to the statutory requirement for certifying a presidential candidate by the deadline. With the national convention scheduled to occur after the state deadline in both Alabama and Ohio, Democratic Party officials face the challenge of ensuring that the necessary certificates of nomination are provided in a timely manner to secure their candidates’ spots on the general election ballots in these states.
The potential absence of President Biden’s name on state general election ballots due to missed deadlines underscores the importance of adhering to state election laws and deadlines in the nomination process. Failure to provide the required certificates of nomination could have significant implications for the Democratic Party’s candidates’ ability to appear on the ballot in states like Alabama and Ohio. As these issues are addressed, party officials will need to take swift action to ensure compliance with state requirements and avoid any disruptions to the nomination process leading up to the November general election.
