DNC Plans to Virtually Nominate Biden Ahead of Convention Amid Ohio Ballot Issues
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The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is set to virtually nominate President Biden before the party’s convention due to a deadlock in the Ohio state Legislature, which has created concerns about getting the president on the ballot in November.
DNC Chair Jaime Harrison announced that the Democrats will conduct a virtual roll call to ensure Biden’s presence on the ballot in all 50 states. This announcement came on the same day Ohio state lawmakers reconvened for a special session to address Biden’s ballot access issue.
“Joe Biden will be on the ballot in Ohio and all 50 states, and Ohio Republicans agree. But when the time has come for action, they have failed to act every time, so Democrats will land this plane on our own,” Harrison stated.
“Through a virtual roll call, we will ensure that Republicans can’t chip away at our democracy through incompetence or partisan tricks and that Ohioans can exercise their right to vote for the presidential candidate of their choice,” he added.
Earlier this year, Democrats were informed that the timing of their convention did not meet a state deadline for certifying the party’s presidential nominee. The deadline to certify Biden was August 7, but the Democratic National Convention begins on August 19.
Ohio legislators faced difficulties in reaching a legislative solution. Senate Republicans passed a bill to allow a one-time adjustment to the certification deadline, enabling the Democrats to meet the requirement. However, the bill included a provision banning foreign contributions in ballot initiatives, which Democrats opposed.
The state House worked on a more permanent solution to change the certification deadline, but neither of these bills was officially voted on in the lower chamber.
Liz Walters, chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, accused Republicans of “playing politics with our democracy” in a statement on Tuesday.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) directed lawmakers to return to the Capitol to find a solution for getting Biden on the ballot, expressing support for the Senate’s proposal, which included the foreign contribution provision.
The DNC’s virtual roll call strategy provides a way for Biden to get on the ballot without resorting to an expensive lawsuit, ensuring that the electoral process remains intact.