In a rare move, Ohio's Republican Governor Mike DeWine has announced that he will convene a special session of the General Assembly next week to pass legislation that ensures President Joe Biden's name will appear on the state's 2024 ballot. DeWine expressed concern about running out of time to include the sitting president on the fall ballot and deemed the situation "ridiculous" and "absurd."

The issue of whether President Biden will be on the ballot has become entangled in a partisan legislative fight aimed at preventing foreign money from influencing state ballot campaigns. This conflict arose after funds linked to a Swiss billionaire played a role in successfully enshrining abortion rights in Ohio's constitution, a solidly red state.

However, complications have arisen due to the timing. The Democratic National Convention, where President Biden is expected to be formally nominated, falls after Ohio's ballot deadline of August 7. Previous adjustments to Ohio's certification deadline were made in 2012 and 2020 to accommodate candidates from both parties, but these changes were only temporary measures.

Despite efforts by state lawmakers, a solution to include President Biden on the ballot was not achieved by the May 9 cutoff set by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. DeWine acknowledged the urgency of the situation after speaking with LaRose, who emphasized that next Wednesday is the drop-dead deadline.

DeWine intends to propose legislation that not only secures President Biden's place on the ballot but also bans foreign nationals from contributing to Ohio's ballot measures. The proposal, however, has been met with resistance in the divided Ohio House, where Republicans occasionally rely on Democratic votes to pass legislation.

Senate President Matt Huffman's spokesperson expressed agreement with DeWine's stance and urged House leadership to allow a vote on House Bill 114. The spokesperson emphasized the need to protect Ohio's elections from foreign campaign contributions while rectifying the oversight that prevented President Biden from appearing on the November ballot.

DeWine's spokesperson, Dan Tierney, also indicated that a clean House bill, which permanently changes the ballot deadline, could be considered. However, Ohio House Democratic leader Allison Russo argued that money from foreign donors is already illegal, and the real issue lies in dark money going to candidates. She accused GOP lawmakers of altering the rules to their advantage when they are unable to win through normal means.

State Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters called out Republican lawmakers for politicizing the process and disenfranchising Ohioans. Walters emphasized the need to pass the Ohio Anti-Corruption Act, which aims to increase transparency by requiring dark money groups to disclose their funders, spending, and strengthen the ban on foreign contributions.

Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens assured that lawmakers have developed language that effectively bans foreign influence from ballot issue campaigns without infringing on citizens' rights. He expressed optimism for finding real solutions that would garner support from both chambers and solve the problems at hand.

Meanwhile, Republican U.S. Senator from Ohio, JD Vance, viewed the calling of a special session as a reasonable compromise. Vance expressed confidence in former President Donald Trump's ability to prevail over President Biden in the election, but stressed that a lack of a competitive presidential race could discourage Trump supporters from participating, potentially hurting down-ballot races for the Senate and Congress.

In support of DeWine's decision, chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, Alex M. Triantafilou, highlighted the party's strong endorsement.

In similar efforts, Alabama recently modified its law to ensure President Biden's appearance on fall ballots, providing accommodations similar to those made for former President Donald Trump four years ago.

This special session called by Ohio's governor marks the first time lawmakers have been recalled in such a manner since 2004 when campaign finance reform was considered under Republican Governor Bob Taft. It remains to be seen if legislators can successfully resolve the issue and ensure President Biden's name appears on Ohio's 2024 ballot.