NEW: DNC to hold virtual nomination to make sure Joe Biden can qualify for Ohio ballot

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has announced that it will nominate incumbent President Joe Biden over a virtual call in order to get him on the ballot in Ohio. The move comes after Biden was facing the possibility of not being on the ballot in the rust belt state for the 2024 election. 

Ohio's deadline to be on the ballot is August 7, which is a few weeks before the DNC convention will be held in Chicago. As a result, Biden was facing the prospect of not being on the ballot in the state. However, the DNC announced on Tuesday that it would be holding a virtual call in order to nominate the president ahead of the convention. DNC Chair Jaime Harrison announced the move on Tuesday.

"Joe Biden will be on the ballot in Ohio and all 50 states, and Ohio Republicans agree. But when the time has come for action, they have failed to act every time, so Democrats will land this plane on our own,” Harrison said in a statement, according to Politico. "Through a virtual roll call, we will ensure that Republicans can’t chip away at our democracy through incompetence or partisan tricks and that Ohioans can exercise their right to vote for the presidential candidate of their choice.” 

The virtual nomination process will look similar to what the Democrats used during 2020 when the proceedings were impacted by COVID-19 lockdown policies. The Chicago events will still be held in preparations for the 2024 election. Prior to the decision, GOP Ohio Governor Mike DeWine called a special session to get Biden on the ballot with a new law. State lawmakers, however, would only agree to the change if it included a campaign finance bill that would halt foreign donations in state and local ballot-issue initiatives.

Other states including Washington and Alabama have also had certification deadlines happening before the DNC's convention, however, the Democrats worked out a deal in Washington to offer up a provisional nomination certification. In Alabama, state lawmakers pushed the deadline back with a new law.