Ohio Democrats sought to have President Biden and Vice President Harris placed on the state’s 2024 general election ballot despite missing the certification deadline, but state officials rejected the effort.
Secretary of State Frank LaRose notified Democrats that their national convention certifying the nominees was after Ohio’s August 7 deadline.
Attorney Donald McTigue argued LaRose could provisionally accept certification before the convention since Biden and Harris had enough delegates.
However, Attorney General Dave Yost’s office stated that only actual certification by the deadline is allowed under Ohio law, rejecting the proposed “provisional certification” as unauthorized.
“The Democratic Party’s notion of providing a ‘provisional certification’ by the statutory deadline simply is not provided for by law,” Yost’s office stated. “Instead, the law mandates the Democratic Party to actually certify its president and vice-president candidates on or before August 7, 2024. No alternative process is permitted.”
“Thus, the Secretary of State lacks authority to accept ‘provisional certifications’ from the Democratic Party pursuant to [the law]. The Democratic Party must actually certify its presidential candidates on or before August 7, 2024 to be placed on the 2024 General Election ballot,” the statement added.
With Democrats set to certify after the deadline, Yost’s opinion means Biden and Harris may be left off the Ohio ballot unless the law is changed.
Biden’s campaign maintains they will be on ballots in all 50 states.
