COLUMBUS, Ohio — With less than six months until the 2024 presidential election, Ohio officials are continuing to troubleshoot how to get President Joe Biden on the state's ballot.
Democrats had three options to address the issue of Biden's name not being certified before Ohio's Aug. 7 deadline. But now, they are down to just two options.
Republican House Speaker Jason Stephens says there won't be a legislative fix to the issue.
In a letter to the state's Democratic chair, Secretary of State Frank LaRose quoted the speaker saying there is "just not the will to do that from the Legislature."
This comes just one day after Gov. Mike DeWine called on lawmakers to act on the issue.
The two options that Democrats are left with are to move up the national convention ahead of the state's certification deadline or file a lawsuit.
While time and options are running out for a solution, House Minority Leader Allison Russo continues to say Biden will be on the ballot.
She said she's not surprised a legislative fix didn't happen.
"We've seen the dysfunction here in this place. I think we've seen that folks have not been able to put aside partisanship and hyper-partisanship and infighting and do what I think is the right thing for all voters, the right thing for all parties," said Russo.
This is not the only time a presidential candidate needed Ohio lawmakers to make an exception to the state's certification date. It previously occurred in 2012 and 2020, with the Legislature making exceptions for each.