Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens and House Minority Leader Allison Russo have assured that they are working to ensure President Joe Biden’s presence on the state’s November ballot, despite the Democratic National Convention being held after Ohio’s Aug. 7 deadline for presidential nominee certification. They emphasize the need for a permanent legislative solution to prevent future candidates from encountering similar problems. Ohio law requires presidential candidates to be certified by their party by Aug. 7, but this year’s Democratic National Convention will be held from Aug. 19-22. Secretary of State Frank LaRose presented two options: holding the DNC before Aug. 7 or passing legislation extending the deadline beyond Aug. 22. However, the specific course of action remains unclear. The Biden campaign is considering various options, including a potential court order or a virtual convention before Aug. 7. Lawmakers from both parties are reportedly in discussions about possible solutions. Speaker Stephens underscores the importance of ballot access for major-party candidates, while expressing confidence that Biden will be on the ballot. He acknowledges the need to resolve the issue through legislative action, benefiting both Republican and Democratic nominees in the future. Senate President Matt Huffman initially hesitated to support a legislative fix, but later indicated that the issue will be resolved. Huffman predicts that a federal judge may order Biden’s inclusion on the Ohio ballot, citing the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that states cannot prevent federal candidates from appearing on the ballot.
Ohio Lawmakers Vow to Ensure Biden on Ballot Despite Deadline Issue
