The same was done for Trump in 2020.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation on Thursday to guarantee President Joe Biden’s placement on the state’s November ballot, as confirmed by a spokesperson. The bill passed the Republican-controlled state House with a unanimous 93-0 vote earlier in the day, following its passage in the GOP-controlled state Senate last month.
Charles Lutvak, spokesperson for the Biden campaign, applauded Alabama’s bipartisan effort, stating that the state’s proactive measures ensure voters’ rights to choose their preferred candidate in the upcoming election. Lutvak reaffirmed Biden’s presence on ballots across all 50 states, emphasizing the bipartisan tradition of facilitating the inclusion of presidential nominees from both parties.
Concerns arose when Republican secretaries of state in Alabama and Ohio warned of potential exclusion of Biden from the general election ballots due to scheduling conflicts with the Democratic Party’s convention in August. To address this, the signed legislation extends Alabama’s certification deadline from 82 days to 74 days before the general election, aligning with the timing of the Democratic convention in Chicago.
Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen emphasized the state law’s requirement for certification by the national Democratic Party, urging timely submission of the certificate of nomination by August 15, preceding the convention’s start on August 19.
Similarly, in Ohio, Secretary of State Frank LaRose proposed solutions to rectify the oversight, either by advancing the Democratic Party’s convention or by legislative exemption by May 9, in compliance with state law.
The Biden campaign referenced the precedent of granting provisional ballot access certification before the conclusion of presidential nominating conventions, citing efforts made in multiple states during the 2020 election cycle.
Democratic State Senator Merika Coleman, the bill’s sponsor, was not immediately available for comment on Thursday evening. Alabama encountered a similar situation in 2020, prompting state Republicans to adjust the deadline to ensure President Donald Trump’s inclusion on the ballot.
