'Political gamesmanship': Ohio GOP faces backlash as Biden receives warning about his appearance on state ballot for presidential election

COLUMBUS, OHIO: President Joe Biden's appearance on the Ohio ballot for the presidential election hangs on the thread due to a law related to the timing of the Democratic National Convention (DNC).

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, a Republican, warned the Democratic Party in a letter on Tuesday, May 21, that the president might not be able to take part in the state ballot because of the timing of the Democratic National Convention in August, when Biden would be formally nominated for the presidential election, as per Newsweek.

According to a 2010 law passed in the Buckeye State, each political party's candidate should be nominated 90 days before the election to be on the ballot. However, this law has not been enforced till now. In 2012 and 2020, the Democratic and Republican National Convention took place after the 90-day deadline, but the legislature had extended it to avoid issues.

This year, the deadline is August 7, and the DNC is set for August 19 to 22.

Ohio's GOP state secretary warns Democratic Party

LaRose informed the Democratic Party that the Ohio legislature would not waive the deadline for Biden this year. Therefore, he would be obliged to direct the Board of Elections to start preparing ballots without the incumbent if the issue remains unresolved.

"Let me be clear that this is not an action I wish to take, as I believe it to be in the best interest of Ohio voters to have a choice between at least the two major party candidates for the nation's highest political office," he stated.

"Unfortunately, however, the Ohio House of Representatives has refused to act, and the Democratic Party has so far offered no legally acceptable remedy."

The attorney general's office rejected the Democrat's offer to submit a "provisional certification" before August 7, noting it wouldn't suffice to meet the law requirements of Ohio.

Former President Donald Trump is considered the favorite after winning the Buckeye State in 2016 and 2020.

Ohio's 17 electoral college votes could not be competitive on the presidential level. However, Biden's absence from the ballot could adversely impact the congressional races. For instance, the outcome of Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown's and Republican Bernie Moreno's bid for the Senate seat could decide who would control the upper chamber next year.

Ohio's Republican Gov Mike DeWine, however, voiced "confidence" in solving the issue to ensure Biden's presence on the ballot. "No one should worry, they're going to be able to vote for the president or the former president, whoever they want to vote for," he stated.

Internet criticizes Ohio GOP for not waiving the deadline for Joe Biden

Netizens slammed the Ohio GOP's adamancy to proceed with the deadline even though it could prevent Biden's appearance on the ballot.

One user wrote, "Pure political gamesmanship by the GOP. But then, what else is new?" Another remarked, "I am disgusted and exhausted with the Ohio GOP. They are liars and thieves-lacking a even a hint of shame."

One user added, "oHIo (and any other state that tries this shit) should be MANDATED to not have their ballot deadlines before the conventions where candidates are chosen. there should be CRIMINAL penalties for those that do."

"That usually backfires. Wow they are pulling out all the stops, nakedly unethical and all, to try and get this traitor back into office. His numbers must look really bad for them to be doing this much," read a fourth response.

Another outraged person said, "As red as Ohio has become they still are afraid they can't beat Biden? "

"What else are they going to come up with to deny Americans the right to vote and have their votes counted? This will not stand, but enough already with these clowns looking for their 15 minutes of notoriety," someone else argued.

An individual said, "Lawsuit forcing the Party of Voter Suppression to comply with the Constitution in 3...2...1." Meanwhile, another added, "The brashness of these hypocrites is astonishing."

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