As the Democratic Party faces an uncertain future following the debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, preparations are underway for a candidate change that could cause a ripple effect.
The Heritage Foundation said a switch of a candidate this late in the game could mean an unprecedented legal battle in some states.
Major parties must decide all candidates by August 23 in Alabama.
“The certificate of nomination by a political party convention must be signed by the presiding officer and secretary of the convention and by the chair of the state executive or central committee of the political party making the nomination,” states Alabama Code Section 17-14-31(b). “Any nominating petition, to be valid, must contain the signatures as well as the addresses of the petitioners. Such certificates and petitions must be filed in the office of the Secretary of State no later than the 82nd day next preceding the day fixed for the election.”
Secretary of State Wes Allen will then certify lawfully submitted certifications on August 28.
Any candidate who drops out or is removed from the ticket by their party after that point will still be on the November 5 ballot for the state of Alabama.
“Under Alabama law, there is no mechanism available for a political party to withdraw or substitute their Presidential candidate after they have been certified to the Secretary of State,” explained Laney Rawls, Communications director for the Office of Secretary of State Wes Allen.
Voters can still choose either candidate on the ballot or write in another candidate.
While Biden is the presumptive Democratic nominee, the Democratic National Convention is not until August 19.
The chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party said the state has already been treated poorly.
Randy Kelley claims none of the delegates selected by the Democratic National Committee were voted on by Alabama Democrats. He called the actions of the DNC “racial shenanigans.”
“For your information, not a single Biden-Harris delegate, 'no not one,' was elected by the Democrats in the State of Alabama,” Kelley said in a statement. “All proposed delegates to the Democratic National Convention from Alabama were appointed. No other state in the nation had all delegates appointed taken out of the hands of the electorate and appointed by hands unknown. The illegal Delegates were appointed because those who appointed the false delegates did not want Blacks in Alabama to elect delegates of their choice.”
To connect with the author of this story or to comment email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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