Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen notified the state and national Democratic parties on Tuesday that the Democratic National Convention, scheduled to begin Aug. 19, is a few days too late to meet a deadline in state law to get the party’s nominee for president, presumably Joe Biden, on the ballot for the general election in November.
Allen’s letter did not mention that in 2020, the Alabama Legislature passed a bill to accommodate the date of the Republican National Convention, which was held Aug. 24-27 that year.
The Legislature passed HB272 to make a one-time adjustment to the deadline requiring parties to certify their nominees to get on the ballot 82 days before the election.
The first paragraph of HB272 said: “Relating to general elections; to revise deadlines for candidates to qualify for the November 3, 2020, general election schedule to accommodate the dates of the 2020 Republican National Convention; and to provide that this is a one-time occurrence.”
The bill passed both the House and Senate without a dissenting vote. Allen, who was then a state representative, voted for the bill.
Asked Tuesday if a bill to adjust the dates is an option to accommodate Democrats this year, Allen issued this statement: “As Secretary of State, I will administer Alabama elections in accordance with Alabama law and the deadlines provided therein.”
The 82-day deadline this year falls on Aug. 15. The Republican Party is scheduled to hold its national convention July 15-18, well ahead of the Alabama deadline.
This story will be updated.