Washington state has recently confronted a challenge similar to Ohio and Alabama, as election officials have expressed concerns about President Joe Biden potentially being left off the general election ballot due to conflicts between the Democratic National Committee’s nominating convention and state ballot deadlines. However, unlike Ohio and Alabama, Washington has proposed a solution to allow the Democrat to remain eligible. In a letter to DNC Chair Jamie Harrison, the Director of Elections in Washington signaled a willingness to make an exception for the party if they submit a provisional certification of nomination by the state’s deadline.
The scheduling conflict between the DNC convention and state ballot deadlines has sparked a unique situation where Republican Secretaries of State in Ohio and Alabama are enforcing state election codes in a way that experts view as unprecedented and potentially partisan. Historically, states have avoided keeping major party candidates off the ballot by granting provisional ballot access or extensions through legislation. However, the current red-state officials are using this issue against Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris in a way that experts believe is politically motivated.
In response to the potential ballot access issue in Ohio and Alabama, the Biden campaign and Democratic officials are exploring various strategies to ensure the President’s appearance on the ballot. These strategies include provisional certification, changing election filing deadlines through legislatures, litigation in court, and potentially holding a virtual nomination vote ahead of the convention. The Biden campaign remains confident that these efforts will ensure their presence on the ballots in both states, emphasizing that they are prepared to navigate any legal obstacles that may arise.