Democrats are exploring their options to get President Joe Biden on the ballot in Alabama and Ohio after top Republican elections officials warned that he would miss the deadline to be certified as the Democratic nominee in both states.
The offices of Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen have over the past week notified Democrats that their nominating convention this summer occurs too close to the general election for Biden to make their state ballots.
The Democratic National Convention will be held from August 19-22. Ohio’s certification deadline is August 7 and Alabama’s is August 15. The Republican National Convention will be held July 15-18.
Historically, when a political party’s nominating convention occurs after a state deadline for certifying nominees, states have either enacted laws to push back the deadline – as Ohio did in 2012 and 2020 – or accepted a provisional certification from the party.
The Biden campaign has called on Ohio and Alabama officials to follow past precedent. One state is following precedent now: In a letter obtained by CNN, Washington state’s director of elections informed the Democratic National Committee that it would accept a provisional certification of the Biden-Harris ticket by August 20.
The Biden campaign has insisted that it “will be on the ballot in all 50 states.”
It has proposed several options. Ohio and Alabama could push back their deadlines or accept provisional certifications that would be confirmed after the conventions – as Alabama did in 2020 for Republicans. Each come with their own challenges.
In Ohio, LaRose’s office advised Democrats to either move their convention or pass legislation, both unlikely.
Chris Redfern, who…
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