(RightIsRight.co) – In a bombshell development, Ohio lawmakers’ efforts to ensure Joe Biden’s inclusion on the state’s November ballot failed, highlighting sharp internal disagreements among the Republican majority in the state legislature.
This week, both the Ohio House and Senate proposed adjustments to shift the ballot certification deadline from 90 days before the election (currently set for August 7) to 74 days, which accommodates the timing of Biden’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention, which occurs 12 days after the original deadline.
The day concluded without a resolution to place the incumbent president and presumptive Democratic nominee on Ohio’s ballot, with time rapidly dwindling.
Moreover, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose indicated that Thursday was the deadline for legislative action and noted that bills typically take 90 days to enact unless an emergency clause accelerates the process.
Despite legislative hurdles, Ohio’s Republican Governor, Mike DeWine, assured that Biden’s name would appear on the ballot, whether through legislative or judicial means.
“I don’t want to minimize that this has to happen, but I do want to minimize anybody thinking that there’s a snowball’s chance in hell that this isn’t going to happen,” DeWine said. “The president’s name is going to be on the ballot.”
House Minority Leader Allison Russo acknowledged the diminishing likelihood of a legislative fix but mentioned that Democrats might pursue legal action.
“We see once again that politicians and playing games with this piece of legislation ruled the day,” Russo stated. “I think we’ve officially sunk lower than Alabama at this point.”
Efforts in the House to prevent similar future conflicts included a bipartisan proposal that, starting in 2028, would allow parties unable to meet the 90-day deadline to certify candidates either 74 days before the election or within three days of their convention, whichever is earlier.
Conversely, Senate Republicans introduced a contentious measure, perceived by Democrats as a deterrent, by combining a one-time deadline adjustment with a prohibition on campaign contributions from foreign nationals and green card holders to ballot campaigns, even though such contributions to candidates are already illegal.
“We use the word compromise a lot,” said Senate President Matt Huffman. “I think this is a reasonable result. There’s some things for both sides to like and dislike. It gets these two issues resolved for the upcoming election.”
Democrats criticized the Senate’s bill and argued it imposes excessive burdens on groups aiming to introduce ballot measures, such as the requirement for these groups to register as political action committees.
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