President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, may not be guaranteed a spot on the November ballot in California just yet. According to state election law, the ballot for the general election has not been set, and Biden will need to receive his party’s nomination in order to secure his place.
Political parties participating in the election in California have until August 22 to submit their nominees to the state secretary of state, with the final list of names set to be printed on the ballot by August 29. Candidates are entitled to receive votes within each county, and ballots must be sent out to voters between 45 to 60 days before the election.
There has been speculation about what could happen to the ballots if a candidate were to bow out after being certified to go on the ballot and after ballots have been printed with their name on them. Legal experts have suggested that late changes to the ballot could pose a legal issue, and potential litigation could arise.
This uncertainty comes after calls from politicians, high-dollar donors, and influential celebrities for Biden to step aside following his poor debate performance in June. Close to two dozen congressional Democrats have publicly called for Biden to pass the torch, with Rep. Adam Schiff becoming one of the most prominent Democrats in Congress to express concerns about Biden’s ability to defeat Donald Trump in November. Democratic lawmakers from Southern California have also echoed these sentiments, suggesting that Biden should exit the race. With the Democratic National Convention approaching, the future of Biden’s candidacy remains uncertain in California and across the country.
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