Alabama officials on Thursday approved a bill that would ensure President Joe Biden appears on the state’s ballot in November, something the state did for then-President Donald Trump four years ago. It reflects convenience.
The House of Representatives voted 93-0 in favor of the bill. Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bill into law on the same day, according to a spokesperson.
“Today is a great day for Alabama to pass this bipartisan bill to ensure that President Joe Biden can vote in Alabama,” said Democratic state Sen. Merika Coleman, the bill’s sponsor. day,” he said. The Republican-controlled Alabama Legislature approved the bill without voting against it.
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Access to Mr. Biden’s ballots is a problem in Alabama and Ohio, as each state’s early certification deadline approaches before the Democratic National Convention begins on Aug. 19. Republican secretaries of state have warned that Biden may not appear on state ballots.
“Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states. After the election, states across the country will act in line with the bipartisan agreement and take the necessary steps to ensure presidential candidates from both parties are on the ballot.” “We have taken the necessary measures,” he said. The Biden campaign made this clear in a statement.
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at an event near the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 5, 2023 in Selma, Alabama. Alabama Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill ensuring Biden appears on the state’s ballot in November. (Cheney Orr/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Alabama has one of the earliest candidate certification deadlines in the nation, creating difficulties for political parties that hold conventions later in the year.
President Trump faced the same problem in Alabama in 2020. The Republican-controlled Alabama Legislature passed a bill that would change the certification deadline for the 2020 election to coincide with the Republican convention.
“This is nothing new,” Republican House Speaker Pro Tem Chris Pringle said during a short debate. We just need to fix it.”
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Alabama’s bill would extend the state’s certification deadline from 82 days before the general election to 74 days to coincide with the Democratic nominating convention.
Lawsuits were almost certain if the Alabama Republican Party refused to grant Biden the right to vote, after providing favors to Republican candidates in the past. The Biden campaign has called on Alabama to accept provisional certification, saying it has been done in the past in Alabama and other states. Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen said he will not accept provisional certification because he does not believe he has the authority to do so.
In Ohio, the state elections official said the Republican-led Legislature has until Thursday to approve a waiver to the state’s 90-day rule that sets this year’s voting deadline to Aug. 7. The parties have not completely ruled out either possibility. Both the state House and Senate are scheduled to vote on the measure Wednesday.
