Ohio Governor Mike DeWine (R) announced on Thursday his plan to convene a special session of the GOP-dominated state Legislature next week. The goal is to resolve issues that could prevent both President Biden and former President Trump from appearing on Ohio’s fall ballot.
The Democrats have faced challenges certifying Biden as their nominee in Ohio. This procedural problem stems from the requirement that both parties certify their presidential candidates with the state ahead of a set deadline. However, the Democratic National Convention occurs after Ohio’s certification deadline, which complicates the process. Presidential nominees need to be certified 90 days before the election, but the convention falls beyond this period.
Normally, adjusting the certification deadline through legislation would be a straightforward solution. However, the state House and Senate have been deadlocked this month, unable to pass the necessary legislation to allow Biden on the ballot.
In a statement, DeWine announced his plan to address this issue by calling lawmakers into session on Tuesday.
“Ohio is running out of time to ensure the sitting president is on the ballot this fall. Failing to do so is unacceptable,” DeWine stated.
He explained that the session’s objective is to pass legislation ensuring both major party presidential candidates are on Ohio’s November ballot. Additionally, the legislation would ban campaign spending by foreign nationals.
Ohio Republicans in the General Assembly have proposed different approaches to get Biden on the ballot. Senate Republicans proposed amending an existing childcare campaign fund bill to include a one-time fix, adjusting the certification deadline from 90 days to 74 days to align with the Democratic convention schedule. This bill also included a provision banning foreign nationals from contributing to ballot campaigns, a move opposed by Democrats. Democrats suspect Republicans’ push for this provision stems from frustration over recent Democratic victories, including an abortion rights measure.
House Republicans, on the other hand, proposed a clean bill that would permanently change the certification deadline to 74 days before the election. Although Senate Republicans passed their version, the House did not vote on it. The House informally passed its own legislative fix but could not move forward immediately.
Despite assurances from both parties that Biden will be on the ballot in November, the path to achieving this remains uncertain. Democrats have considered court action or other workaround solutions involving the convention.
DeWine’s announcement implies that alternative options may be unnecessary, though his support for the Senate’s proposal could provoke Democratic opposition. The Senate GOP caucus has expressed approval of DeWine’s move.
“We agree with the Governor. It is time to protect Ohio’s elections by banning foreign campaign contributions, while also correcting the Democratic Party’s oversight that kept Joe Biden off the November ballot. We urge the Speaker and Minority Leader to permit a vote on House Bill 114, which addresses both issues,” stated John Fortney, spokesperson for state Senate President Matt Huffman (R).