Ohio legislature approves bill to secure Biden's spot on the November ballot

The Ohio legislature on Friday approved legislation to ensure that President Joe Biden will appear on the state's general election ballot this November.

"I don’t think anybody on this side of the aisle really feels like they’re going to be voting for President Biden, but at the same time, Ohioans deserve a choice in this election, and that’s what we’re seeking to give them today," GOP state Sen. Rob McColley said, according to NBC News.

The legislation follows a lengthy dispute about Biden's eligibility to appear in light of the state's deadline for filing a party's nominee. The state requires political parties to nominate their party nominees within 90 days of the general election, setting the deadline at Aug. 7.

But the Democratic National Convention is slated for Aug. 19-22 and it had been unclear whether Biden would make the ballot. The DNC subsequently announced plans to nominate Biden virtually ahead of the convention in order to meet the deadline. That plan is expected to proceed.

“Through a virtual roll call, we will ensure that Republicans can’t chip away at our democracy through incompetence or partisan tricks and that Ohioans can exercise their right to vote for the presidential candidate of their choice,” DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison said earlier this week.

Earlier in May, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose warned the Democrats that they would need to nominate Biden ahead of the Aug. 7 deadline in order for him to appear on the ballot.

Friday's legislation, which was approved in a special session called by Ohio GOP Gov. Mike DeWine, will effectively end the matter as the governor is expected to sign the legislation.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.