Ohio Rejects Democrats' Plan to Certify Biden for November Ballot

Ohio officials have rejected a plan from Democrats to get Biden on the ballot after the party scheduled its convention past a state election deadline. Secretary of State Frank LaRose warned Ohio Democrats earlier this month that Biden is at risk of not making the Nov. 5 ballot due to a state law that requires officials to certify the ballot 90 days before an election, which is Aug. 7 this year.

The Democratic Party attempted to provisionally certify Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the Aug. 7 deadline, but the Attorney General's office says this process is not permitted by law. Democrats are now left with two options: rely on the Legislature to pass an exemption to the 90-day deadline, which is unlikely, or sue.

The Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee are working closely with Ohio Democrats on potential solutions, and they are confident that Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states. Similar issues have arisen in other states like Alabama and Washington, where state officials have also rejected the idea of provisional certifications.

Why this matters: The dispute over Biden's ballot certification in Ohio highlights the complexities and legal technicalities involved in the presidential election process. It also highlights the importance of coordination between political parties and state election officials to ensure that candidates are properly certified and appear on the ballot.

In a statement, the Biden campaign said they will pursue legislative action, like they have done in the past in Ohio, to carve out exceptions to the state's deadlines. However, it remains unclear how willing the majority-Republican legislature in Ohio would be to work with Democrats on this issue. The campaign emphasized that they are confident Biden will eventually appear on the ballot in Ohio and all other states for the November election.

Key Takeaways

• Ohio officials rejected Democrats' plan to get Biden on the ballot.
• Ohio's election law requires ballot certification 90 days before the election.
• Democrats have two options: seek legislative exemption or file a lawsuit.
• Similar ballot certification issues have arisen in other states.
• The Biden campaign is confident Biden will appear on the ballot in Ohio.