Ohio’s Ballot Deadline Controversy: A Political Drama Unfolds
In the midst of a heated Republican leadership battle in Ohio, Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s proposal to ban foreign money from initiative campaigns has become a sticking point in adjusting the Aug. 7 ballot deadline ahead of the Democratic National Convention. With Thursday marking the deadline for a simple majority vote on the fix, no sessions were held, leaving the fate of the ballot deadline uncertain.
Both Republican and Democratic leaders at the Statehouse remain confident that President Joe Biden will appear on Ohio’s ballot, but the details of how and when are still up in the air. Senate Republicans sought to leverage Biden’s situation to push for a ban on foreign nationals contributing to ballot campaigns, citing the involvement of Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss in past campaigns.
A compromise was eventually reached to combine the foreign nationals legislation with the ballot deadline adjustment in a bill allowing candidates to use campaign funds for child care. The measure passed the Senate along party lines, but Democrats criticized the move as a “dirty trick” and “the worst kind of politics.”
As the deadline loomed, tensions flared in the House when a plan to adjust the ballot deadline stalled, leading to accusations and finger-pointing between parties. Secretary of State LaRose condemned the inaction, blaming Democrats for prioritizing foreign billionaires over getting Biden on the ballot.
The controversy surrounding the ballot deadline highlights the complex intersection of politics, money, and election logistics in Ohio, with the fate of the deadline and Biden’s appearance on the ballot still hanging in the balance.