Ohio’s Republican Governor, Mike DeWine, announced on Thursday his decision to convene a special session of the General Assembly next week. The purpose of this session is to pass legislation that will guarantee President Joe Biden’s inclusion on Ohio’s 2024 ballot. Governor DeWine’s move highlights the importance of ensuring fair and transparent election processes in the state.
The special session was scheduled for Tuesday.
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Governor DeWine expressed his concern about the time constraint Ohio is facing to include President Joe Biden on the fall ballot. He strongly emphasized that it is unacceptable and absurd to not be able to accomplish this task.
The possibility of Mr. Biden’s inclusion on the ballot has become a contentious issue in a politically charged battle to prevent foreign funding from influencing state ballot campaigns. This comes after funds linked to a Swiss billionaire played a significant role in securing the constitutional protection of abortion rights in a traditionally conservative state.
The Democratic National Convention, where Mr. Biden will officially be nominated, is scheduled to take place in Chicago from August 19-22. Unfortunately, this falls after Ohio’s ballot deadline of August 7.
Ohio lawmakers have had to make adjustments to the state’s certification deadline twice, in 2012 and 2020, in order to accommodate candidates from both parties. Previously set at 60 days ahead of the general election, the deadline has been extended to 90 days. These adjustments were temporary in nature.
Lawmakers this year failed to come up with a solution by the May 9 deadline set by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose.
During a conversation on Thursday, DeWine discussed the pressing situation with LaRose, who expressed a sense of urgency by stating that they are currently “up against a wall.” According to LaRose, the drop-dead deadline for resolution is set for next Wednesday.
“I have waited patiently, but now my patience has run out,” DeWine exclaimed.
According to DeWine, his proclamation will enable the passage of a Senate version of the bill, which also prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions to Ohio ballot measures.
In the divided Ohio House, where Republicans often need Democratic votes to pass certain legislation, the proposal has been labeled as a “poison pill.”
Senate President Matt Huffman’s spokesman has urged House leadership to grant a vote on House Bill 114, according to a recent statement.
In a statement, it was expressed that there is agreement with the governor’s stance on the matter. The statement emphasized the need to safeguard Ohio’s elections by prohibiting foreign campaign contributions. Additionally, it highlighted the necessity of rectifying the Democratic Party’s oversight, which resulted in Joe Biden being excluded from the November ballot.
According to DeWine spokesman Dan Tierney, the governor’s statement was followed by the suggestion that a House bill, which is free from any amendments or additions, could potentially be considered for altering the ballot deadline on a permanent basis.
According to Ohio House Democratic leader Allison Russo, money from foreign donors is already prohibited by law. However, the actual concern lies in the existence of dark money flowing into the hands of political candidates. Russo expressed this viewpoint on the social platform X.
According to Russo, the GOP’s strategy is to alter the rules when they are unable to secure a victory. He believes that they are fearful of citizens exercising their right to direct democracy, which is why they are attempting to dismantle the capability for individuals to finance ballot initiatives. Russo dismisses any claims about “foreign money” as a distraction.
Elizabeth Walters, chair of the State Democratic Party, criticized Republican lawmakers for politicizing the process and disenfranchising the people of Ohio.
In a statement, Walters emphasized the need for the Ohio Anti-Corruption Act, highlighting its provisions that would mandate dark money groups to disclose their funders, reveal their expenditures, and reinforce the prohibition on foreign money.
Vance exudes confidence in former President Donald Trump’s ability to defeat Biden, regardless of whether Trump is running for office. However, he acknowledges that the absence of a competitive presidential race may discourage some Trump supporters from voting, which could have a detrimental impact on down ballot races for the Senate and Congress. In order to mitigate this potential challenge, Vance emphasizes the importance of strategic thinking and proactive decision-making.
According to chairman Alex M. Triantafilou, the decision made by DeWine has strong support from the Ohio Republican Party.
The Biden campaign has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Alabama has recently made changes to its law to ensure that President Biden will appear on the fall ballots. This move by Alabama is similar to the accommodations that were made four years ago for then-President Donald Trump.
Ohio lawmakers haven’t been summoned back to Columbus in such a manner since 2004, when Republican Gov. Bob Taft called them to discuss campaign finance reform.
