The Democratic Party may encounter significant legal challenges in its attempt to replace Joe Biden with Kamala Harris on the 2024 presidential election ballot in several crucial swing states, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Following Biden's endorsement of Harris as his replacement, the party now grapples with stringent state laws that complicate ballot changes.
In Wisconsin, state law only permits candidate removal from the ballot in case of death. Nevada's regulations are similarly restrictive, allowing changes after a specified deadline if a candidate dies or is declared mentally incompetent. State laws in Georgia, South Carolina, and Arizona may provide similar setbacks.
However, the state Democratic Party has flexibility in selecting its presidential candidate. According to the secretary of state's office, the party can alter its choice up until the ballot creation deadline, which falls around September 13. This timeline is significant, as it provides a three-week window after the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, scheduled for August 19-22, where the party's presidential nominee is typically finalized.
Others say that although Biden competed in the Primary Debate against Donald Trump, he was never named the official nominee of the Democratic Party.
How hard or easy is it going to be for the Democratic Party in these states to change the ballots?
"They don't need to change anything at this point, because remember Joe Biden was never the nominee officially ... he was the presumptive nominee," @rickhasen tells @johnyangtv. pic.twitter.com/9kH7gUETmh
— PBS News (@NewsHour) July 21, 2024
These legal barriers in key battleground states have left the Democratic Party's strategy unclear. As the election approaches, the party must navigate these state-specific regulations to ensure Harris's name appears on the ballot, potentially setting the stage for complex legal maneuvers or unconventional campaign tactics.
