Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation into law to ensure that President Joe Biden will appear on the state’s November ballot, with the support of the Republican-controlled House and Senate. Charles Lutvak, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign, expressed confidence that Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states, citing the bipartisan consensus among states to allow nominees from both parties to be included in the election. This legislation was necessary due to concerns raised by Republican secretaries of state in Alabama and Ohio that Biden may not appear on the ballot in these states if the Democratic Party’s nominating convention occurred after the state deadline.
The legislation signed by Gov. Ivey includes a provision to delay Alabama’s certification deadline from 82 days before the general election to 74 days, in order to accommodate the Democratic Party’s nominating convention schedule. The state’s Secretary of State, Wes Allen, stated that current state law requires the national Democratic Party to supply a certificate of nomination for president and vice president by August 15, before the Democratic convention begins on August 19. A similar issue was raised in Ohio, prompting calls for the Democratic Party to move up its nominating convention or for the state legislature to create an exemption to the statutory requirement by May 9.
The Biden campaign had previously pointed to the ability of state officials to grant provisional ballot access certification before the conclusion of presidential nominating conventions, as has been done in 2020 in several states. This legislative action in Alabama reflects efforts to ensure that election laws are updated to accommodate changes in the political calendar and allow for all presidential nominees to appear on the ballot. The bill was sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Merika Coleman, who did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Alabama had faced a similar situation in the 2020 election, prompting state Republicans to ease the deadline to ensure that then-President Donald Trump appeared on the state’s ballot. This action exemplifies the need for states to adjust election laws to ensure that candidates from both major parties have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process. With the signing of this legislation, Alabama joins other states in taking steps to guarantee that voters can choose from a full range of presidential nominees in the upcoming election.
