Ohio’s Republican Governor, Mike DeWine, announced on Thursday that he will convene a special session of the state’s legislature next week to pass a law ensuring President Joe Biden’s name appears on Ohio’s 2024 election ballot.
The special session is scheduled for Tuesday.
“Ohio is running out of time to include Joe Biden, the current President of the United States, on the ballot this fall. Failing to do so is unacceptable. This situation is absurd,” DeWine remarked.
The issue of Biden’s ballot inclusion has become entangled in a partisan dispute over keeping foreign funds out of state ballot initiatives.
Gov. Mike DeWine (Calvin Gates/Shutterstock)
This comes after money linked to a Swiss billionaire played a role in passing a measure to protect abortion rights in Ohio’s conservative-leaning constitution.
The Democratic National Convention, where Biden will be officially nominated, is scheduled after Ohio’s ballot deadline of August 7. The convention is set for August 19-22 in Chicago.
Ohio previously adjusted its certification deadline from 60 to 90 days before the general election. Lawmakers had to make temporary adjustments in 2012 and 2020 to accommodate candidates from both political parties. This year, lawmakers missed the May 9 deadline set by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose to resolve the issue.
