BREAKING: Ohio Secretary Of State Says Biden Will Not Be On November Ballot

On Wednesday, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R-OH) announced that President Joe Biden will not appear on the state's ballot in November. The announcement comes after the state legislature was unable to shift the certification date to after the Democrat National Convention, where Biden will be officially nominated as the party's candidate. Ohio's ballot certification deadline is August 7, 12 days before the DNC convention on August 19 in Chicago.

"I've said from here to Colorado that it's in the best interest of voters to have a choice in the race for president. I'm also duty-bound to follow the law as Ohio's chief elections officer," LaRose wrote on X. "As it stands today, the Democratic Party's presidential nominee will not be on the Ohio ballot. That is not my choice. It's due to a conflict in the law created by the party, and the party has so far offered no legally acceptable remedy."

In a letter to the Ohio Democrat Chairwoman Liz Walters, LaRose explained that the Speaker of the Ohio House told the press that there would not be a legislative solution to ensure Biden gets on the ballot. "I offered two possible remedies: a change in the date by which your party formally nominates a presidential candidate or action by the Ohio General Assembly to create an exception to this statutory requirement," LaRose wrote. "With a legislative remedy taken off the table, I must remind you that the deadline is fast approaching, and the matter remains unresolved."

The state legislature attempted to change the certification date, however, they were unable to find common ground. Both the state House and the state Senate forwarded separate legislation to fix the issue. However, they could not come to an agreement after the upper chamber attempted to attach a ban on foreigners and green card holders from donating to ballot campaigns. 

Given the late date of the Democrat National Convention, two other states, Alabama and Washington, have also had to consider changing their certification deadline. Alabama was able to achieve this last week and Washington is expected to the do the same.

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