(USNewsBreak.com) – During years of presidential elections, both major parties and their conventions must nominate a candidate to run on their ticket. Those nominations typically occur in July and August. This year, pundits anticipate that the Republican National Committee (RNC) will name former President Donald Trump and the Democratic National Committee (DNC) will nominate incumbent President Joe Biden. However, there’s one problem. As it stands, the DNC certification will come too late for at least two states. One has taken measures to ensure Biden appears on its ballot, but the other, Ohio, has made things difficult. The DNC has come up with a remedy.
DNC Woes in Ohio
The Democratic National Convention doesn’t take place until August 19. Delegates would typically nominate Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 ballot during the convention. That poses a problem for Ohio, which requires political parties to certify their candidates at least 90 days ahead of the election. August 19 is only 75 days before the event.
The Biden campaign had asked Ohio to pass a bill that would relax the deadline, but the Republican supermajorities refused, saying they didn’t have the power to do so. By contrast, Alabama lawmakers unanimously voted to allow Biden to appear on the ballot, and Governor Kay Ivey (R) signed the measure into law the same day. The Cotton State did the same for Trump in 2020.
Facing resistance from the Ohio legislature, the DNC has decided to take matters into its own hands.
Virtual Certification
DNC Chair Jamie Harrison issued a statement saying that the party would hold “a virtual roll call,” ensuring “that Republicans can’t chip away at our democracy through incompetence or partisan tricks.” The move, Harrison continued, would allow “Ohioans [to] vote for the presidential candidate of their choice.”
The party’s Rules and Bylaws Committee has scheduled a vote on June 4 to allow them to cast a virtual certification, ensuring Biden and Harris will have a spot on the 2024 Ohio ballot.
Despite this effort, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R), frustrated with his party’s refusal to comply with the Biden campaign’s request, ordered lawmakers to convene for a special legislative session to ensure Biden is on the ballot come November. The legislature is considering two bills — one that would temporarily extend the state’s certification deadline and one that would bar foreign contributions to statewide ballot initiatives.
DeWine has urged lawmakers to pass legislation and send it to his desk immediately because “It’s the right thing to do.”
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