Democrats to Virtually Nominate Biden for Second Term, Bypassing Ohio Ballot Glitch

Democratic Party leaders announced on Tuesday their decision to nominate President Biden for a second term in office. This nomination will be conducted via a virtual roll call of delegates to the party’s national convention, ensuring his appearance on the November ballot in Ohio.

Overcoming Legal Hurdles

Ohio law stipulates that all candidates must be legally certified by August 7. However, Mr. Biden's official nomination was scheduled to take place after the Democratic National Convention begins on August 19. To bypass this legal discrepancy, the party will complete a virtual roll call before the Ohio deadline, ensuring compliance with the state's electoral laws.

Legislative Impasse

The decision to resort to a virtual roll call comes as the Ohio Legislature convened in a special session for the first time in two decades. Efforts to pass legislation addressing the ballot problem at the state level had encountered obstacles. Despite having swiftly resolved similar issues concerning presidential candidates in 2012 and 2016, deep divisions among Republicans had led to a protracted legislative deadlock.

Expressing frustration at the impasse, Republican Governor Mike DeWine had summoned the legislators to the special session last week, criticizing their inability to resolve the gridlock as "ridiculous" and "absurd."