Ohio’s top election official, a Republican, has issued a warning regarding the potential legal implications that could prevent President Joe Biden from appearing on the ballot in the Buckeye State. This concern arises from a possible conflict with the timing of the Democratic National Convention.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office recently sent a letter to the Ohio Democratic Party’s chair, highlighting that Ohio law mandates the nomination of each party’s presidential candidate by 7 August. This deadline, which is 90 days before the general election, was emphasized in a letter issued on 5 April, as reported by the Columbus Dispatch.
Mr. LaRose’s top lawyer, Paul Disantis, has sent a letter addressing a potential conflict in Ohio law. The conflict arises between the timing of the convention and the statutory deadline for certifying the party’s candidates for president and vice president. The letter seeks clarification on this matter.
He said that he has come to the conclusion that either the Democratic National Committee needs to advance its nominating convention or the Ohio General Assembly must take action by May 9, 2024, which is 90 days prior to the effective date of a new law, in order to create an exception to this statutory requirement.
The deadline for Ohio’s legislature to take action and waive the deadline is fast approaching. If no action is taken, it will have already passed by the time Democrats gather in Chicago for the official nominating convention on August 19th.
Prior to the later scheduling of party conventions, Buckeye State lawmakers waived the August 7 deadline. Because of the scheduling of the upcoming party conventions, state legislators made a one-time amendment to the legislation in 2019, cutting the pre-election period from 90 days to 60 days prior.
In a statement, a representative for President Biden’s 2020 re-election campaign said it was “monitoring the situation” and was “confident” that Mr. Biden would be “on the ballot in all 50 states.”.
