Currently, President Joe Biden’s name will not be included on the ballot in the crucial state of Ohio. It appears that state legislators are not inclined to come to his and the Democratic Party’s rescue, although the issue is not yet definitively resolved.
According to The Center Square, “both House Speaker Jason Stephens, R-Kitts Hill, and Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, said lawmakers are unwilling to vote on a change in state law that would allow Biden to appear on the ballot despite the timing of the Democratic National Convention.”
Russo informed journalists the previous week that a resolution would probably need to be reached either through legal action or by means of the national Democratic Party. The predicament lies in the fact that Ohio’s deadline for including candidates on the November election ballots occurs before the Democratic Party’s national convention, where Biden is expected to be formally nominated as the party’s presidential candidate.
“While political dysfunction appears to have closed the door on a legislative solution ensuring President Biden would be on the November ballot, multiple pathways that have always been better options remain open for meeting the Aug. 7 deadline,” Russo said in a statement.
“Every elected and party official involved in this is well aware that the deadline is fast approaching. The secretary of state’s latest letter offers no new or additional information. Come November, the voters will get what they are constitutionally guaranteed – President Joe Biden on the ballot and a means to exercise their freedom to vote,” she claimed.
The Democratic National Convention and the nomination process are set to commence on August 19th in Chicago. Biden has secured sufficient pledged delegates for the nomination and is anticipated to become the official nominee. In early April, the primary legal advisor of Secretary of State Frank LaRose wrote a letter to Liz Walters, the Chairwoman of the Ohio Democratic Party, highlighting the deadline. As per state legislation, a political party that nominates and certifies candidates must submit the names of the candidates to the secretary of state no later than the 90th day before the general election. Paul Disantis, the chief legal advisor for LaRose, emphasized that either state legislators should modify the law or national Democrats should adjust their nomination date. On Tuesday, LaRose sent another letter to Walters, stating that the party has not yet adhered to the state’s deadline for ballot access.
“With a legislative remedy taken off the table, I must remind you that the deadline is fast approaching, and the matter remains unresolved. Unless your party plans to comply with the statutory deadline, I am duty-bound to instruct boards of elections to begin preparing ballots that do not include the Democratic Party’s nominees for president and vice president of the United States,” LaRose wrote.
