Ohio Lawmakers Gather for Special Session to Ensure President Biden Appears on State’s Fall Ballot

Ohio Lawmakers Ensure President Joe Biden Appears on State’s Fall Ballot

In a rare special session called by Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio lawmakers gathered to pass legislation ensuring President Joe Biden appears on the state’s fall ballot. The issue arose because the Democratic National Convention, where Biden would typically be formally nominated, falls after Ohio’s ballot deadline of August 7.

Legislators have previously adjusted the deadline for candidates of both parties, but negotiations between the House and Senate on a solution for Biden’s ballot conundrum are ongoing. The legislation simply needs to move Ohio’s ballot deadline to after the Democratic National Convention, scheduled for August 19-22 in Chicago.

However, the Senate’s version of the bill includes a prohibition on foreign nationals donating to Ohio ballot campaigns, which has caused some contention. Democrats argue that the proposal goes beyond the foreign nationals ban and adds requirements that could make it more difficult to mount future ballot campaigns in the state.

Ohio voters have recently approved several ballot measures, including a constitutional amendment protecting access to abortions and an initiated statute legalizing adult-use marijuana, which Republicans opposed.

The Ohio Senate scheduled a single day of activity for Tuesday, while the House plans to begin with two days of committee hearings before taking a vote on Thursday. A “clean” House bill containing only the adjustment to Ohio’s ballot deadline may also be considered.

The virtual roll call to formally nominate President Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee will take place ahead of the party’s official convention in Chicago in August, allowing Biden to appear on the November ballot in Ohio. The process will be similar to the one used in 2020 when the convention went virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overall, the efforts to ensure President Biden’s presence on Ohio’s fall ballot highlight the complexities and intricacies of the state’s election process, as lawmakers navigate the requirements and deadlines to accommodate candidates of both leading parties.