Republican secretaries of state in Alabama and Ohio have issued warnings to President Joe Biden’s campaign, stating that Biden may not be placed on the general election ballots in their states due to the Democratic Party’s late-August convention falling after state ballot deadlines. The Biden campaign remains confident that he will appear on every state’s presidential ballot and points to past instances where similar issues were easily resolved. The possibility of Biden not being on the ballot in Alabama and Ohio could lead to Democrats needing to make small changes to state law in order to ensure his inclusion.
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen has emphasized the importance of upholding the state’s laws and constitution, indicating that Biden must be officially nominated by the Aug. 15 deadline in order to be included on the Alabama general election ballot. While Allen and Alabama have faced a similar issue in the past with then-President Donald Trump, Democrats are now faced with the challenge of resolving this issue in a timely manner. Democratic lawmakers in Alabama have introduced legislation to amend the deadline, but they will require Republican support in the GOP-controlled Legislature to pass the bill and avoid a potential lawsuit for ballot access.
In Ohio, state law requires presidential and vice-presidential nominees to be certified to the Secretary of State or nominated by a certain deadline, which falls before the Democratic National Convention in August. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has warned of the potential for a missed deadline in a letter to the Ohio Democratic Party Chair, raising concerns about Biden’s inclusion on the election ballot. Republican lawmakers in Ohio are divided on whether to assist Democrats in changing the law to accommodate the convention schedule and ensure Biden’s presence on the ballot.
The Biden campaign has expressed confidence that President Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states, pointing to the possibility of provisional ballot access certification prior to the conclusion of presidential nominating conventions. Democrats in Ohio are working to provisionally certify Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominees by the statutory deadline, but it remains to be seen whether Republicans will support the necessary legislative changes to avoid potential ballot access issues. Ohio’s Republican leadership is still reviewing the situation and considering their next steps in addressing the deadline conflict.
Republican officials in Alabama and Ohio have raised concerns about the potential impact of the Democratic Party’s late convention schedule on ballot access for President Joe Biden in the general election. Past instances of similar issues being resolved without controversy have been cited as a reason for confidence in finding a solution. The role of state laws, deadlines, and potential legislative changes in addressing this issue will be crucial in determining whether Biden’s name will appear on the election ballots in these states. Both parties will need to work together to navigate these challenges and uphold the integrity of the election process.
