In response to the failure to agree on a legislative solution to include President Joe Biden on Ohio's November ballot, Governor Mike DeWine has called for a special Statehouse session. The session, scheduled for May 28, aims to address the pressing issue of getting the sitting president on the ballot before the state's deadline.

Throughout a news conference, Governor DeWine, a Republican, expressed his concern over the lack of progress in resolving the matter, stressing that "Ohio is running out of time" to ensure Biden's inclusion on the ballot this fall. Despite several attempts, neither the Ohio House nor the Senate managed to pass a proposal to remedy the impending deadline issue.

In a statement, DeWine pointed out the Senate's effort in passing several bills to address the situation, while criticizing the House of Representatives for its failure to act. He described the situation as "unacceptable," "ridiculous," and "absurd."

Under current Ohio law, the certification of the November ballot is required 90 days before the election, which falls on August 7. However, Biden's nomination is set to take place at the Democratic National Convention on August 19. In order to provide a solution, lawmakers had until May 9 to pass a measure that could be signed into law, thereby avoiding the predicament, explained Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

Despite two bills being amended during the House and Senate sessions on May 8, they failed to offer a satisfactory fix. House Bill 114 proposed pushing back Ohio's filing deadline, but further amendments in the Senate led to all seven Senate Democrats voting against it. The bill also included an election provision that Democrats believed would disenfranchise voters.

Another bill, Senate Bill 92, aimed to create a permanent fix rather than a one-time solution. However, Senate President Matt Huffman deemed it a "nonstarter," believing that it would receive more support from Democrats than from Republicans.

While some states, such as Alabama, have successfully implemented a bipartisan fix for similar issues, Huffman stated that Ohio would require conservative measures to be included in the bill in order to proceed. He expressed that Republicans in both the House and the Senate would not vote on a standalone "Biden bill."

As the deadline looms closer, Governor DeWine's call for a special session hopes to find a resolution that will allow President Biden's presence on Ohio's November ballot. The upcoming Statehouse session on May 28 will provide a crucial opportunity for lawmakers to address this pressing matter and avoid the exclusion of the sitting president from the state's electoral process.