Lawmakers in the Buckeye State have failed to find a solution on getting President Joe Biden on November's ballot.
The Ohio General Assembly failed to pass proposals to ensure Biden's name appears on the state's general election ballot, increasing the likelihood of legal action to resolve the issue.
Ohio Republicans, who hold an overwhelming majority in both chambers, remain divided on finding a resolution. (RELATED: Meghan McCain Changes Tune On November Election After Biden Cancels Student Debt)
USA TODAY's Haley BeMiller reports:
The state House and Senate floated separate proposals this week that would change the certification deadline to 74 days before the Nov. 5 election. Under current law, state officials must certify the ballot by Aug. 7 − 90 days beforehand − but Biden won't be nominated until the Democratic National Convention 12 days later.
Wednesday ended with no plan to get the president and presumptive Democratic nominee on Ohio's ballot. And the clock is running out: Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said lawmakers had until Thursday to change the deadline. Bills typically take 90 days to become law unless they have an emergency clause attached to them.
Republican Gov. Mike DeWine said whether Biden gets on the ballot through the legislature or the courts, his name will be on the ballot.
“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 after the general assembly adjourned. “The president's name is going to be on the ballot.”
House Minority Leader Allison Russo said the prospects of a legislative solution now look dim, but she emphasized that Democrats have other options − including a lawsuit.
“We see once again that politicians and the politics and playing games with this piece of legislation ruled the day,” she said. “I think we've officially sunk lower than Alabama at this point.”
House Republicans introduced a bipartisan proposal to ensure Biden's nomination while avoiding potential scheduling conflicts due to the timing of a national political convention.
Republicans in the Senate proposed a different version, one that Democrats refused to support. The bill would have prohibited foreign citizens and U.S. residents with green cards from donating to ballot measures. Non-U.S. citizens are already prohibited from donating to candidates.
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