How would the Democrat candidate get their name on ballots if Biden drops out?

[AviatorTom]

There's already a problem with Biden getting his name on the ballot in Alabama and Ohio, because those states have names-on-ballot deadlines before the Democratic Convention; an exception law is being considered by each state legislature. If Biden were to drop out (or be removed by the 25th Amendment as some have suggested), how would the Dems candidate, whoever that is, get their name on the ballot in those states. And, depending on when Biden drops out, maybe other states that would have already put his name on the ballot. It takes months to prepare all the different voting machines and processes that the states have.

If the actual candidate's name doesn't appear on he ballot, would a vote for Biden be counted as a vote for his replacement candidate? Or would there have to be a massive write-in campaign and vote? Or maybe there's no way the Democratic candidate could win? Would the election be delayed, to give states the time to correct their prepared ballots?

What do you think would happen?

To complicate things even further, when someone votes for a Presidential candidate, they are actually voting for electors for that candidate, not for the candidate. The electors then vote in the Electoral College, which passes their results to the House of Representatives, which certifies the results and actually determines the President-elect.

[WindAtMyBack]

I think Biden won't be allowed to drop out after it's too late. If he's the candidate registered in the states when the deadline comes, I think he'll stay on the ballot - unless the states make an exception, which they might.

They can always get rid of him after he's taken the oath of office, and make Harris president.

There is also the question of pledged electors. Many states don't have pledged electors. Even though they are a minority of states, they may be enough to swing the election no matter who is on the ballot.

"Unfaithful" electors are a thing. It's happened in the recent past and can happen again. Even with pledged electors, an unfaithful vote may still count. If the elector is unfaithful with the party's blessing, I think almost anything goes.

Somehow they will make it work. I'm sure they have all kinds of contingencies in place. They probably already have those plans in motion, even if they aren't being public about it, and probably never will.

I'm sure the Republicans also have all kinds of contingencies in place. Neither party is going to take the chance of a candidate kicking the bucket before the election without a backup plan.

Remember, people only vote for president because the state allows them to. The states don't have to pay any attention to the vote, unless they have chosen to. They can pull off all kinds of shenanigans at the last minute. However, the states might be locked-in, so they can't change at the last minute.

The Constitution has no requirement on how the states select their electors. It only requires that they do.

There is a whole lot of wriggle room, including changes in state law or party rules.

[chrissykerdock]

biden will also have the nomination based on delgate votes the only way he gets replaced is if he steps down

[OlderAndWiser]

I think Trump wins regardless of what the Democrats do.

[msc545]

If Biden remains as the Democratic candidate, the Republicans win no matter what. If Biden drops out and is replaced, things become more uncertain. Trump has a high disapproval rating and that debate also hurt him in that he lied incessantly and people realized that.

[truckgod92]

@msc545 Totally agree. I could see another white or black male candidate making a big push. I don't know about a woman right now though.

[msc545]

@truckgod92 I'm not even sure a black candidate would be ok with these people.

[GeminiDiamond]

Arnold muthfuckn Schwarzenegger for pres. Wait, he can't be pres, plus he'd be running against Don. Ok, 1, I think nobody new could win. 2, 1967 civil rights! 3, I think Obama is half white. 4, can the new president give me some money?

[ChinaGrove]

What did he lie about.

[msc545]

Is that a serious question?

[ChinaGrove]

@msc545

LMAO

[msc545]

How special for you.

[ChinaGrove]

@msc545

Biden was a long-haul trucker. He was special

[CrazyGirl2]

One would have to first imagine him being replaced at the Democratic National Convention. Which is not impossible, nor implausible. Additionally one would imagine that the DNC would be responsible to reimburse those states who had already printed their ballots, as they would need to be reprinted! I would suppose that they would be willing to foot that bill, if they resorted to something so drastic. If he will be replaced, rest assured those in the know, are likely already aware of the financial cost of such a decision. They (meaning political parties) are crooked, but they are not stupid. They know exactly what they are doing!

Laura.

[NamerOfStars]

I'm not sure if they can, practically speaking. As you note, there really isn't time. It might be another Hubert Humphrey situation if they tried; if not, I think (and I stress this is what I think; I'm not deeply versed in party policy) the nomination would just go to Kamala. It looks like the Democrats don't have any good choices here.

Well, aside from "admit they're probably going to lose the White House, realize that that's not the end of the world, and that there will be another election in four years, so it makes sense to focus on Congressional elections to keep the country from falling apart", but I don't think anyone actually employed in Washington is mature enough for that.

Maybe some of the janitors, but that's probably all.

[exitseven]

The democrats are kind of screwed. If Biden drops out there is not enough time to get a new candidate ready to campaign. They can have an open convention but that would probably create chaos in the party. The democrats knew their guy was practically a vegetable and even though the fake news have covered it up there are enough people that have seen how bad he was that it impossible to keep it a secret.

The democrats had 3 years to get somebody ready for the 2024 election. They did not do it.

They are stuck with Biden,

[Anonymous]

I am fairly sure that because Ohio and Alabama are making exceptions for the convention, that it's proof no state can put anyone on the ballot until it has been made official at the convention. We know who they'll currently nominate, but it's like the actual election. It's not official until the electors actually vote regardless of the fact that we know the results before then. Should Biden drop out, the delegates should be free to vote for whomever they so choose and I think it's clear the states wait for that vote, which is the official vote.

[Telekinetic-Potato]

What about the Democratic Party makes you think a rule like that is going to stop them? You still need someone to enforce the rule.

I just don’t see anybody saying “ that’s against the rules, the dementia guy has to stay on the ballot”

[DJB72]

Got to wonder if Biden is actually working for Trump. With under 6 months before the election trying to put another candidate in at this stage would effectively hand Trump the election. Hardline Dems will vote for the party if they put a performing chimp up as candidate, but it never comes down to hardliners on either side changing viewpoint. It's the middle- ground where elections are decided.

[sage2021]

The ballots will probably look like this:

OTHER _________________________

[purplepoppy]

Can't they just apply commonsense and print his name anyway? It isn't difficult, they're not using 300 year old printing presses or writing with feathers anymore.

[AviatorTom]

@purplepoppy Most voting in the US is on electronic voting machines that already have a reputation of being easy to commit fraud with. It takes a long involved process, with witnesses, to set up each location's voting machines, not easy to do... to try to prevent fraud.

[purplepoppy]

We write X on a bit paper then stuff it in a box. It's best to use pencil in case you do it wrong so they can rub it out.

[OhLongJohnsoning]

Kamala would immediately take over as president. A black, woman

Republicucks worst nightmare

[RetroReviews]

Tom are you artificially created carbon-based life form how do you come up with these questions so many questions every day

[KrakenAttackin]

Law has never been an impediment to Democrats.

[jimmy2]

They can't laws are against it

[jimmy2]

But Demcorate Breaks all the time