In a potential setback for President Joe Biden's re-election bid, the state of Ohio might exclude him from the fall ballot unless certain measures are taken by the state's Republican-controlled legislature or the Democratic Party adjusts its convention schedule, according to the state's election authority.

Ohio's deadline for certifying presidential candidates for the general election is August 7, almost two weeks before the Democratic National Convention, where Biden is expected to secure the nomination to face off against Republican challenger Donald Trump. A letter from Paul DiSantis, the chief legal counsel for Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose, revealed that Ohio law mandates the certification of presidential candidates 90 days prior to the general election, set for November 5 this year.

Expressing concern, DiSantis urged prompt action and called upon all parties involved to ensure compliance with Ohio law. The Biden campaign, however, expressed confidence that the issue would not prevent the president from appearing on the ballot. In a statement released on Monday, the campaign stated, "We're monitoring the situation in Ohio, and we're confident that Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states."

This is not the first time such a situation has arisen. Prior to the 2020 presidential election, both the Republican and Democratic conventions were scheduled beyond the deadline window. Consequently, Ohio lawmakers approved a temporary amendment, changing the cutoff to 60 days specifically for that election.

Nevertheless, the letter sent to Ohio Democratic Party Chair Liz Walters indicated that the legislature must act by May 9 to create an exception to the 90-day deadline or alternatively, the Democratic Party would have to move up their convention - an unlikely scenario. Messages requesting comment from Walters and the state party were left unanswered as of Monday.

It is worth noting that President Trump triumphed in Ohio in both 2016 and 2020. However, the 2020 election marked the first time Ohio had supported a losing presidential candidate since favoring Richard Nixon over John F. Kennedy in 1960.

As the August 7 deadline looms, Ohio's legislature and the Democratic Party find themselves facing a crucial decision. Whether they will create an exception to the 90-day certification rule or adjust the convention schedule remains to be seen. For now, all eyes will be on the developments in Ohio as the fate of President Biden's appearance on the state's fall ballot hangs in the balance.