Joe Biden's name may not be on the ballot in Ohio. Reuters
US President Joe Biden may not appear on the November 2024 presidential election ballot in Ohio. Unless resolved, state laws requiring early certification deadlines for presidential candidates pose a barrier that could prevent one of the nation's top presidential candidates from even appearing on the ballot as a choice for nearly 8 million voters. There is a possibility of falling.
We dig into the details of Ohio’s law, which goes to the heart of the issue, and explain why the issue remains unresolved even as other states address similar barriers.
Ohio law and its impact
Ohio law requires political parties to certify their presidential candidates to the Secretary of State at least 90 days before an election. The rule, introduced in 2010, has been an issue in past elections, but it has usually been resolved with bipartisan cooperation.
A key issue is the Democratic National Convention, the event where the Democratic Party formally nominates its presidential and vice presidential candidates. Biden is expected to be formally nominated at the convention, which is scheduled to begin on August 22, 2024, just 75 days before the election.
By contrast, the Republican National Convention will conclude well before Ohio's Aug. 7 deadline, ensuring that Donald Trump's name will appear on the ballot.
Resolutions in other states
Ohio is not the only state in the United States. But other states with earlier deadlines have found ways to accommodate later national nomination dates. For example, Washington state officials agreed to accept provisional certification of Biden's nomination before the convention. Similarly, the Alabama Legislature adjusted the deadline to allow Biden to qualify to vote in the state. These adaptations demonstrate that solutions are available to alleviate such procedural conflicts.
So why isn't Ohio's problem solved?
Ohio State Impasse
Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose said he would exclude Biden from the vote unless the law is changed.
Two weeks ago, the House and Senate proposed different approaches to extending the amendment deadline, moving it to 74 days before the election. The Senate bill includes ballot amendments and an amendment banning foreigners from making contributions to political campaigns, which were added to the campaign child care bill, House Bill 114. The Senate passed the bill during its session on May 8.
Meanwhile, the House adopted Senate Bill 92, removing previous language regarding last year's special elections and replacing it with language for presidential candidates, creating a substantially cleaner bill. However, the House adjourned before voting to approve the bill. Ohio laws typically take effect 90 days after enactment. As a result, the deadline change had to be passed by May 9, but Congress ended up taking no action, according to the essay. conversation.
LaRose said passing the ban is the price Democrats must meet to get Biden on the ballot. He also said he would otherwise enforce the law as is.
Problems with court battles
If the stalemate continues, the Biden campaign may have to sue Ohio. They can argue that arbitrary and unusually long deadlines barring presidential candidates from major parties violate their rights to vote and organize under the First and Fourteenth Amendments, so There is a possibility of filing a lawsuit. Democrats could mount a strong legal case, but success is not guaranteed and a lengthy legal battle could ensue, lasting for months.
Despite these obstacles, the Biden campaign is confident the president will be on the ballot in all 50 states. Biden campaign spokesman Charles Rutbak stressed that states typically ensure that presidential candidates from both major parties are on the ballot. “Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states,” Rutbak said. He added that “in election after election, states across the country have acted in bipartisan agreement to take the steps necessary to ensure that presidential candidates from both parties are on the ballot. And this election will be no exception.”
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