Alabama officials have passed a bill to ensure that Joe Biden will be able to appear on the state’s ballot in November after warnings from Republican Secretary of State Wes Allen that they may miss the certification deadline. The bill, introduced by Democratic Senator Merika Coleman, was signed by Alabama Republican Governor Kay Ivey following a 93-0 vote in the state House on May 1st, according to the Associated Press.
“This is a great day for Alabama as we pass this bill in a bipartisan manner to ensure that President Joe Biden can appear on the ballot in Alabama,” Coleman stated in a release.
The SB324 bill aims to amend the deadline for political parties to submit candidate nomination certificates, shortening it from the current 82 days before the election to 74 days.
Prior to this, in a letter dated April 9, Allen cautioned that due to the timing of the Democratic National Committee’s nomination process, President Biden may not be able to appear on Alabama’s November ballot. The general election for president and vice president is set nationally for November 5, 2024. Therefore, 82 days before that date would be August 15, 2024, earlier than the opening date of the Democratic National Convention from August 19 to 22.
This legislation amends the deadline to allow President Biden to appear on the state’s ballot. The passage of this bill was hailed by the Alabama House Democratic Caucus as a symbol of successful cooperation and a victory for the democratic process. “Most importantly, we have swiftly addressed this issue, and I look forward to working with my bipartisan colleagues to find a permanent solution, as this issue has affected both parties over the years due to the shifting dates of the convention,” said House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels in a statement.
He added, “This legislation received unanimous support from the Alabama House Democratic Caucus and the Senate Democratic Caucus. It ensures that Alabamians can vote for the candidate of their choice.” Biden’s campaign team has confirmed that the president will appear on the ballot in all 50 states. “Following the election, states nationwide have taken necessary actions in consensus to ensure that both parties’ presidential candidates will appear on the ballot,” they stated.
Biden faces a similar issue in Ohio, where local election officials warned Democrats in the state that the leader of the United States may not be able to enter the state’s ballot due to the timing of the Democratic National Convention. In Ohio, the deadline is 90 days before the general election, this year falling on August 7. It is expected that President Biden will officially receive the nomination for reelection at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from August 19 to 22.
Alabama is one of the earliest states with a candidate certification deadline, posing a challenge for parties holding conventions later in the year. Former President Trump faced a similar issue in Alabama in 2020. At that time, the Republican-controlled Alabama legislature passed legislation to change the certification deadline for the 2020 election to accommodate the Republican convention date.