DNC to Nominate President Biden Virtually Ahead of Convention in Chicago
Democratic National Committee to Nominate President Biden Virtually to Ensure Ohio Ballot Access
In a strategic move to ensure President Joe Biden’s spot on the November ballot in Ohio, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has announced plans to nominate him as the party’s presidential standard-bearer through a “virtual roll call” ahead of the August convention in Chicago.
Ohio law requires all candidates to be legally certified by August 7, a deadline that posed a potential threat to Biden’s candidacy as he was not scheduled to be officially nominated until after the Democratic National Convention begins on August 19. To bypass this obstacle, the DNC has decided to conduct a virtual roll call before the Ohio deadline, ensuring Biden’s presence on the ballot.
DNC Chair Jaime Harrison emphasized the importance of securing Biden’s spot on the Ohio ballot, stating, “Joe Biden will be on the ballot in Ohio and all 50 states, and Ohio Republicans agree. But when the time has come for action, they have failed to act every time, so Democrats will land this plane on our own.”
The decision to proceed with a virtual nomination comes despite a special legislative session in Ohio this week, which Republican Governor Mike DeWine had promised would address the issue. With doubts about the outcome of the special session, Democrats have taken matters into their own hands to guarantee Biden’s candidacy.
This virtual nomination process is not unprecedented for the Democratic Party, as the 2020 Democratic National Convention was conducted almost entirely remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee will need to vote on a resolution next Tuesday to propose changes to the roll call for virtual party proceedings, with the measure expected to pass without challenge.
With the DNC’s proactive approach, President Biden’s presence on the Ohio ballot is secure, ensuring that voters in the crucial swing state will have the opportunity to support the Democratic nominee in the upcoming election.
(Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Heather Timmons and Jonathan Oatis)
