President Biden Withdraws from Reelection

Taskforce Statement on the Democratic Party Replacing Its Presumptive Presidential Nominee

Media Contacts:
Becky Simon, LWVIL President, communications@lwvil.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, July 22, 2024 — The League of Women Voters of the United States, as a member organization of the National Task Force on Election Crises, released the following statement on the Democratic party replacing its presumptive presidential nominee:

"While a major party’s presumptive nominee withdrawing his presidential candidacy is an extraordinary occurrence, rules and procedures are in place to respond to this development. 

"Americans can be confident that this situation falls well within existing rules and that their election system continues to allow for a free and fair election. 

"A political party has control over how to choose its nominee in accordance with the party's own governing rules. When a presumptive nominee withdraws before their party makes its nomination official, the party will follow its own rules and procedures to choose an official nominee (typically, but not necessarily, in person at the party's nominating convention). In this instance, the Democratic Party will determine its path forward, and its delegates will vote to approve a nominee at or before the Democratic National Convention this August. Additionally, state ballot access laws are no obstacle to the party choosing a nominee other than President Biden. States have not yet printed ballots for the general election, and state laws across the country provide for the candidate chosen by the Democratic Party at or before the convention to appear on ballots this November irrespective of whether that nominee is the same individual as the party’s presumptive nominee based on the results of the party’s presidential preference primaries."

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Founded in 1919, the League of Women Voters of Illinois is a nonpartisan organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy and does not support or oppose any political parties or candidates. With over 100 years of experience and more than 800 local and state affiliations, the League is one of America’s most trusted grassroots organizations. Membership in the League is open to people ages 16 and over. For further information, visit lwvil.org.