Democrats will choose President Joe Biden as their nominee in a virtual session after Ohio lawmakers stalled in altering a state deadline that conflicted with the party’s convention.
Before its convention in Chicago on August 19 and before Ohio’s deadline of August 7 to certify the ballot, the Democratic National Committee will virtually perform a roll call, party leaders said on Tuesday. The action was taken in spite of Ohio’s special legislative session this week, which Governor Mike DeWine (R) claimed would address the matter.
“Joe Biden will be on the ballot in Ohio and all 50 states, and Ohio Republicans agree,” DNC chair Jaime Harrison stated. “But when the time has come for action, they have failed to act every time, so Democrats will land this plane on our own. 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.”
The Ohio ballot problem first arose in April when Secretary of State Frank LaRose informed Democrats that the DNC certification deadline is 12 days away. Three choices remained for the party and Biden campaign: alter convention rules, file a lawsuit against Ohio, or let state legislators extend the deadline as they did in previous elections.
