Dear Editor, Knox Pages:
Once again, a partisan power play is unfolding in Columbus that might stop Ohio voters from being able to choose between the two major party candidates for president in November.
Because the 2024 Democratic National Convention takes place after the Ohio ballot deadline, Attorney General Dave Yost has declared that the Democratic National Committee’s plan to issue a provisional certification that declares the obvious — that is, that President Joe Biden has received enough pledged delegates to be formally nominated at the convention — does not satisfy Ohio law for ballot access.
Because of the attorney general’s questionable interpretation of the law, the Ohio legislature must do exactly what it did in 2020, when it made a small legislative fix to ensure that both the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees would appear on the Ohio general election ballot despite the timing of the parties’ national conventions.
If the legislature does not act to ensure voters have a choice, the State of Ohio will most likely find itself in court.
The result will be protracted litigation that will almost certainly result in President Biden’s inclusion on the ballot — but at a late, confusing date that will, once again, be costly and highly inconvenient for county elections officials.
In the process, Ohio will once again look like it’s putting a partisan thumb on the scale and not treating voters with the dignity they deserve. Everyday trust in our system will suffer tremendously.
Senator Andrew Brenner and representatives Beth Lear and Darrell Kick can easily act to avoid this inconvenience and embarrassment by passing a quick legislative fix, just as they did in 2020.
All of us have had enough partisan games and posturing. Ohio voters must be allowed to have a choice.
All of us, regardless of party, must urge the legislature to pass a simple piece of legislation that will ensure Ohio joins the rest of the nation in allowing voters to vote either for or against the incumbent president in November.
Adam Gilson
Mount Vernon