Alabama's top elections official, Wes Allen, has raised concerns regarding the certification of Joe Biden and his running mate for the upcoming presidential election. Allen asserts that due to the timing of the Democratic National Convention, the Democratic nominees may miss the deadline to be certified in Alabama.
State law in Alabama requires parties to provide a 'certificate of nomination for President and Vice President' at least 82 days before the November 5 election. However, the Democratic convention is scheduled to begin on August 19, just four days after the certification deadline.
In response to Allen's letter to Alabama Democrats and the Democratic National Committee, the Biden campaign spokesperson stated that Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states. The campaign official mentioned that states have the ability to grant provisional ballot access certification before the conclusion of nominating conventions, citing examples from the 2020 election.
However, the Alabama secretary of state's office refuted the notion of 'provisional certifications,' emphasizing that all candidates must comply with current Alabama law to gain ballot access. In 2020, Alabama's Legislature adjusted the certification deadline to accommodate the Republican National Convention, but no such provision exists for the Democratic convention this year.
Similar concerns have been raised in Ohio, where the certification deadline also falls before the Democratic convention. The Ohio secretary of state's office suggested that either the convention dates need to be adjusted or an exemption must be created by the state Legislature to meet the certification requirements.
It remains to be seen how the Democratic Party will address these challenges in Alabama and Ohio as they navigate the certification process for their presidential nominees ahead of the November election.
