In a strongly-worded letter to Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Jamie Harrison, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose demanded that Democrats cease using Ohio as an excuse to expedite the nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris for president. LaRose cited misleading claims by party officials that Ohio's ballot access deadline necessitates an early virtual nominating convention.

LaRose pointed out that recent media reports and statements by Harrison have repeatedly referenced Ohio's August 7 ballot access deadline as justification for the DNC's plan to hold a virtual convention before the scheduled event in Chicago on August 19-22. However, LaRose clarifies that the Ohio General Assembly had already passed legislation, signed by the governor, to temporarily extend the ballot access deadline to September 1, 2024, specifically for the upcoming presidential election.

The DNC had announced its decision to hold a virtual roll call vote on the presidential and vice presidential nominees weeks ahead of the convention, citing a ballot-access conflict in Ohio. According to Democratic officials, the early vote is necessary due to the August 7 deadline imposed by Ohio state law. A spokesperson for the DNC alleged that "MAGA Republicans in Ohio" had played games with democracy, threatening to keep Democrats off the general election ballot.

LaRose, however, countered these claims by emphasizing that Ohio law does not require a virtual roll call or an early vote prior to the convention dates scheduled in August. He accused the Democrats of utilizing Ohio as a justification to replace the incumbent president without a contested convention or any democratic process.

Under DNC rules, candidates have until July 27 to declare their candidacies and show they meet the qualifications for nomination by July 30. In the case that Vice President Harris is the sole candidate to declare and meet the necessary requirements and delegate support threshold, electronic voting can begin as early as August 1. If multiple candidates qualify, a period of up to five days is allotted for each candidate to make their case to the delegates before voting commences.

Vice President Harris herself announced that she had secured the nomination within 36 hours of President Biden's exit from the race, citing majority support from the nearly 4,000 delegates. Nonetheless, LaRose reiterated that as long as the Democrats nominate their presidential and vice presidential candidates before September 1, they will appear on the Ohio ballot.

In conclusion, LaRose called on the DNC to cease using Ohio as a justification for their expedited nomination process. He expressed doubt about the party's motivation and accused them of disregarding democratic principles. The dispute highlights the importance of adhering to state election laws and ensuring a fair and transparent nomination process for both parties.