Alabama lawmakers advanced legislation on Wednesday to ensure that President Joe Biden will appear on the state’s November ballot, similar to accommodations made for President Donald Trump four years ago. The bills pushed back the state’s certification deadline to accommodate the date of the Democrats’ nominating convention, moving the deadline from 82 days to 74 days before the general election. Alabama has one of the earliest candidate certification deadlines in the country, causing difficulties when the convention date is later.
The issue of Biden’s ballot access has also arisen in Ohio, where Republican secretaries of state have refused to extend certification deadlines to accommodate the Democratic National Convention date. The Biden campaign has asked for provisional certification, as has been done in past elections, but Republican officials have maintained that they do not have the authority to make such accommodations and will enforce the existing deadlines. This has sparked a debate over fairness and access to the ballot for all candidates.
While the two Alabama bills were proposed by Democrats, they received support from Republicans in the state Legislature, who hold a majority. The bills were approved with little discussion, with some Republicans framing the issue as a matter of fairness and ensuring that all candidates have equal access to the ballot. This bipartisan support reflects a commitment to upholding the democratic process and ensuring that voters have the opportunity to vote for the candidate of their choice.
Alabama had faced a similar situation in 2020 when Trump’s access to the ballot was in question due to the certification deadline conflicting with the Republican National Convention date. At that time, the Republican-controlled Legislature passed legislation to change the deadline and accommodate Trump’s candidacy. However, the Biden campaign and DNC have argued that provisional certification was what allowed Trump on the ballot, as there were still issues with the convention date. The current Secretary of State in Alabama has maintained that he does not have the authority to accept provisional certification.
Similarly, in Ohio, Republican officials have rejected requests to waive the state’s ballot deadline administratively to accommodate Biden’s candidacy. Democrats have been exploring alternative options to ensure that Biden will be on the ballot, including potential legislative fixes. The existing ballot deadline in Ohio, set 90 days before the general election, poses a challenge for candidates whose conventions fall later in the year. Democratic leaders in Ohio are waiting for guidance from the Democratic National Committee on how to proceed and are prepared to introduce legislation if needed.
Overall, the efforts in both Alabama and Ohio to address the ballot access issue for President Biden highlight the importance of ensuring fair and equal access to the electoral process for all candidates. This debate also raises questions about the role of state officials in determining ballot access and the potential need for legislative changes to accommodate changing election schedules. As the November election approaches, lawmakers are navigating these challenges to uphold the integrity of the democratic process and ensure that voters have the opportunity to vote for their preferred candidate.
