Ohio State Legislators Face Deadline to Change Law to Ensure President Biden’s Spot on Ballot

Ohio legislators are facing a tight deadline to change a law that could potentially keep President Joe Biden off the state’s ballot this fall. The issue stems from the Democratic Party’s nominating convention in Chicago being scheduled after Ohio’s presidential candidate certification deadline of August 7.

The Ohio Democratic Party received a notification from Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, urging them to take action by May 9 to either move up the convention or change the deadline. Failure to do so could result in Biden being excluded from the ballot, as the current deadline does not align with the convention dates.

However, Senate President Matt Huffman, a Republican, has expressed confidence that Biden will ultimately be on the ballot. He cited a previous U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed Republican candidate Donald Trump to be included on the ballot in Colorado despite a similar issue.

Huffman emphasized the importance of ensuring that major political candidates are not unfairly excluded from the ballot due to technicalities. He stated that if Ohio’s deadline is not changed, a federal court would likely intervene to rectify the situation.

While Huffman has expressed willingness to work with Democrats on a solution, some Republican senators have indicated opposition to assisting the Democratic Party in this matter. The Ohio Democratic Party is currently exploring options and consulting with the Biden campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

A Biden campaign official has reassured that the President will be on the ballot in all 50 states, highlighting that provisional ballot access certification can be granted prior to the conclusion of nominating conventions. Several states have allowed such provisions for nominees in the past.

This situation marks the first time that one of the major party conventions will miss Ohio’s 90-day deadline for presidential candidate certification. The deadline was originally established in a 2010 law aimed at providing bonuses to veterans of certain wars, with adjustments made for subsequent elections due to convention scheduling conflicts.

As the deadline looms, Ohio legislators are under pressure to find a resolution that ensures President Biden’s presence on the state’s ballot come fall. The outcome of their decision could have significant implications for the upcoming election.