When does the presidential nominee need to be selected to get on NC ballots?
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Democratic National Convention: What NC voters should know
National conventions are known for announcing party nominations and platforms. So how could this Democratic National Convention with a brand-new presidential campaign be different? And what role will North Carolina play in the upcoming election? Here is ongoing coverage of the DNC from The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer.
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With President Joe Biden’s departure from the presidential race this weekend, Democrats are in the midst of determining the new presumed nominee and running mate.
Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who has since been backed by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a number of other high-ranking Democrats.
How do North Carolina’s election administration deadlines impact this important decision? Here’s what we learned.
When do the presidential and vice presidential candidates become official?
Nominees are officially secured at their respective parties’ national conventions.
Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance became official Republican nominees at the Republican National Convention in mid-July.
Biden and his running mate, Harris, would have secured the Democratic nomination with a virtual vote ahead of the convention in mid-August, which would help the pair appear on Ohio’s ballot. Ohio’s extra-early ballot certification deadline is Aug. 7, almost two weeks before the Democratic National Convention when candidates are made official.
Before Biden’s exit from the race, Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed legislation to extend the deadline to Aug. 31. Even so, the DNC planned to virtually nominate Biden before the convention to secure his spot on the Ohio ballot.
Will Democrats still virtually nominate their candidates in early August?
That’s to be determined. The Democratic National Convention’s Rules Committee will hold a public meeting Wednesday afternoon to put together the framework to choose a new nominee, outlets report.
When do candidate names need to be final for the NC ballot?
There is no statutory deadline, said Patrick Gannon, public information director for the North Carolina Board of Elections, in an email to The News & Observer.
“We generally tell political parties mid-August to ensure any names can be added to the ballot, and ballots proofed, printed and distributed,” Gannon said.
County boards of elections can use ballot-on-demand printers if any last-minute changes to the ballot are needed, he added.
When do NC ballots need to be final?
Ballots need to be final before Sept. 6. North Carolina law says mail-out ballots need to be available 60 days before a presidential election.
“Once absentee ballots go out on Sept. 6, however, ballots cannot be changed,” Gannon said.
North Carolina and Delaware have the earliest mail-out dates in the country. Kentucky and Pennsylvania require 50 days, while others require about 45 days, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Colorado, Hawaii and Washington have the latest dates, requiring 18 days before the election. (This year, that’s Oct. 18.)
This story was originally published July 22, 2024 at 4:08 PM with the headline "When does the presidential nominee need to be selected to get on NC ballots?."
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