Democrats are facing challenges in getting President Joe Biden on the ballot in Alabama and Ohio, as top Republican elections officials have warned that he may miss the deadline to be certified as the Democratic nominee in these states. The Democratic National Convention is scheduled from August 19-22, which is too close to the certification deadlines in Ohio (August 7) and Alabama (August 15). Historically, states have either adjusted deadlines or accepted provisional certifications in such cases, but each option comes with its own set of challenges.
The Biden campaign has urged Ohio and Alabama officials to follow past precedent, citing examples of other states accepting provisional certifications in similar situations. In Alabama, Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation to push back the certification deadline to accommodate the nomination process. However, Ohio’s Secretary of State advised Democrats to either move their convention or pass legislation, both of which seem unlikely. The campaign is also considering holding a remote version of the convention roll call or pursuing litigation to ensure Biden’s presence on the ballot in all 50 states.
The latest developments in Ohio and Alabama reflect broader concerns over ballot access, as attempts have been made in Democratic-led states to prevent former President Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, from being on the ballot. These efforts stem from arguments that Trump’s actions during the January 6, 2021 insurrection left him ineligible for public office under the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist” ban. Despite these challenges, the US Supreme Court ruled that Trump cannot be removed from the ballot in Colorado or any other state.