PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (WCAX) – Whose name will be on the presidential ballot come November remains a question on the Democratic side, despite overwhelming early support for Kamala Harris to get the nomination.
Reports say Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson wants lawsuits to be filed because he believes it’s unlawful for the Democratic Party to pick a new candidate to be on the November ballot after President Joe Biden won this year’s primaries.
However, the Republican commissioner of the Clinton County Board of Elections says the argument doesn’t hold legal water in New York state or likely across the nation.
David Souliere says both major parties are allowed to change their nominee through automatic presidential ballot access for presidential races, which he says is requested after a party convention.
“Essentially the primaries that are held in each state for the presidential primary are essentially straw polls conducted by each party. They do not really have a legal binding because at the end of the day, the parties are the one that decide at convention who to put on the ballot,” Souliere said.
He says sample ballots should be available for viewing in September.