Reports indicate that President Joe Biden may encounter difficulties in appearing on the general election ballot in Ohio due to a conflict in state law regarding the timing of the Democratic National Committee’s nominating process and the deadline for certifying the party’s presidential nominee to the Ohio Secretary of State’s office.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose highlighted the issue in a letter addressed to Ohio Democratic Chair Liz Walters on April 5, as reported by several news outlets.
According to the letter, the deadline to certify a presidential candidate to the Secretary of State’s office is Aug. 7, 2024, while the Democratic National Convention is scheduled for Aug. 19, 2024—about a week later. This timing discrepancy could prevent President Biden from appearing on Ohio’s general election ballot.
Joe Biden (Credits: CNN)
Ohio state rules stipulate that the political party must certify their chosen presidential candidate “on or before the ninetieth day before the day of the general election,” which falls on Nov. 5 in the 2024 election cycle, setting the certification deadline on Aug. 7.
To address this issue, Mr. LaRose’s legal counsel, Paul Disantis, suggested either moving up the DNC’s nominating convention or enacting an exception to the statutory requirement through legislation by May 9, 2024.
While neither the Biden campaign nor the DNC has provided official comments, a Biden campaign spokesperson expressed confidence in resolving the issue. At the same time, the DNC stated that it is reviewing the letter.
Biden campaign (Credits: BBC)
President Biden, who secured the Democratic nomination in March, is facing criticism from both parties for his handling of immigration policy despite a surge in illegal border crossings.
This ballot challenge in Ohio emerges as the Biden campaign boasts a major fundraising lead over the Trump campaign, setting the stage for what is anticipated to be another record-breaking election cycle in terms of spending.
