Alabama Gov. Ivey signs bill to put President Biden on November ballot.
Alabama officials took decisive action on Thursday by approving legislation to ensure that President Joe Biden will appear on the state’s November ballot, following in the footsteps of accommodations made four years ago for then-President Donald Trump. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted 93-0 in favor of the legislation, which was promptly signed into law by Republican Governor Kay Ivey on the same day, as confirmed by a spokesperson.
Democratic state Sen. Merika Coleman, the bill’s sponsor, expressed her satisfaction with the bipartisan support for the measure, stating, “This is a great day in Alabama when, in a bipartisan manner, we passed this legislation to ensure that President Joe Biden gains access to the ballot in Alabama.” The Republican-dominated Alabama Legislature demonstrated unity in their approval of the bill without a single dissenting vote.
The issue of Biden’s ballot access arose due to Alabama’s early certification deadline and the overlapping schedule with the Democratic National Convention, set to begin on August 19. Republican secretaries of state had raised concerns that Biden might not make it onto the state ballots in Alabama and Ohio.
Assuring voters, the Biden campaign released a statement declaring, “Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states. Election after election, states across the country have acted in line with the bipartisan consensus and taken the necessary steps to ensure the presidential nominees from both parties will be on the ballot.”
Alabama’s candidate certification deadline is notably one of the earliest in the country, creating challenges for the political party with the later convention schedule each year. This circumstance mirrors the situation faced by President Trump in Alabama during the 2020 election, prompting the Republican-controlled Legislature to adjust the certification deadline to accommodate the GOP convention date.
Republican House Speaker Pro Tem Chris Pringle emphasized the need for continuity in ballot access, stating, “This is nothing new. We just need to fix this so the president can be on the ballot, just like our nominee can be on the ballot.”
The approved Alabama legislation will extend the state’s certification deadline from 82 days before the general election to 74 days, aligning it with the Democrats’ nominating convention date. Failure to grant Biden ballot access could have led to legal challenges, as the Biden campaign had proposed provisional certification, a practice accepted in the past in Alabama and other states.
In Ohio, a similar challenge looms ahead as the state’s 90-day rule sets this year’s ballot deadline on August 7, potentially jeopardizing Biden’s appearance on the ballot. Leaders from both parties in the Republican-led legislature have until Thursday to approve an exemption, with voting sessions scheduled in the House and Senate on Wednesday.
