Alabama Extends Ballot Deadline to Accommodate Biden

State senators in Alabama have approved a bill that would push the deadline for political parties to certify their nominees for president and vice president to after the Democratic National Convention, according to the Washington Examiner.

The legislation, passed unanimously by Alabama senators, would modify the current deadline in the state for parties to certify their presidential candidates, which currently stands at Aug. 15, just four days before the Democratic National Convention. In a similar move to 2020, when the Democratic and Republican conventions occurred after the state’s ballot deadline, legislators are pushing for this deadline extension.

The bill now goes to the Alabama state House of Representatives for consideration, with a vote potentially happening as soon as next week, as reported by AL.com. Alabama state Sen. Merika Coleman and House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, both Democrats, introduced bipartisan bills to shift the deadline to 74 days before the election, rather than the current 82-day deadline.

Former Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill emphasized the importance of this change, stating to NBC News, “It’s not something that needs to be advanced or promoted only because it’s a Democrat or a Republican running.”