The Ohio Secretary of State recently reached out to Liz Walters, Chair of the state’s Democratic Party, regarding a potential issue with Joe Biden’s inclusion on the ballot. There seems to be confusion surrounding the deadline for submitting nominees’ lists to the Secretary of State’s office. While the law requires this by August 7, the Democratic National Convention (DNC), where Biden’s nomination would be confirmed, is scheduled for August 19 in Chicago, Illinois.
This discrepancy could jeopardize Biden’s right to be included on the ballot. Paul DeSantis, an attorney with the Ohio Secretary of State’s office, outlined two possible solutions to address this issue. One option is for the DNC to move up its convention date, while the other involves the Ohio General Assembly creating an exception to the current statutory requirement by May 9, 2024.
Leaders from Ohio’s Second and Third Congressional Districts, including State Senator Nickie Antonio and State Representative Allison Russo, were part of the discussion. Despite the uncertainty, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign expressed confidence that Biden would ultimately appear on the ballot in all 50 states.
Ohio, a pivotal state in recent presidential elections, has once again found itself at the center of political activity. In both 2016 and 2020, Ohio played a significant role in securing victories for former President Donald Trump. Now, with potential challenges surrounding Biden’s inclusion on the ballot, the state remains a focal point of attention.
This situation echoes past ballot-related challenges for Biden. During the primary season, he faced a similar issue in New Hampshire, where he was not listed on the ballot due to scheduling conflicts with the DNC. However, voters in New Hampshire still showed their support for Biden through write-in votes.
As the deadline approaches and discussions continue, all eyes are on Ohio to see how this issue will be resolved and whether Joe Biden’s name will indeed appear on the state’s ballot come election time.
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