Democrats plan virtual nomination of Biden to meet Ohio ballot deadline

The Democratic Party will nominate President Joe Biden for president through a virtual roll call ahead of Ohio’s Aug. 7 filing deadline, according to a statement cited by the Associated Press. The move would allow Biden’s name to appear on the Ohio ballot in November. The state's filing deadline is 90 days before the election, but the party will hold the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19-22.

When will this take place? The national committee’s rules and bylaws committee plans to vote on June 4 to allow the virtual vote. DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison said in a Tuesday statement that the nomination would take place by a virtual, state-by-state roll call, but he didn’t say when the vote would occur.

What would happen without a virtual nomination? In the 2012 and 2020 elections, Ohio’s legislature temporarily extended filing deadlines for both parties. However, Ohio’s General Assembly has not yet extended it for the 2024 election. Republican Gov. Mike DeWine called the legislature to a Tuesday special session to pass legislation allowing Biden’s name on the ballot.

The bill, which has been passed by the state House and Senate, would change the filing deadline only for the 2024 election. Before the bill goes to the governor, the House must approve the Senate’s amendments. The legislature could also consider a fresh bill to change the filing deadline permanently.

Dig deeper: Read Bekah McCallum’s guide in The Stew to the 2024 elections in Ohio.