What happens to MA ballots if Biden withdraws? What to know about someone else being added

So what happens with the ballots if Joe Biden decides in the coming days to drop his bid for president?

In Massachusetts, not much.

According to Secretary of State William Galvin, ballots for the national elections in November have yet to be printed, so any changes in the coming weeks will not affect them.

Ballots are not printed until the certificates of nomination are presented to Galvin. These are usually presented once the national conventions have been held.

According to Debra O’Malley, Galvin’s spokesperson, the parties have until Sept. 10 to present the certificates.

When is the Democratic Party National Convention

The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to run Aug. 19 to 22 in Chicago.

But if the Democrats opt to hold an early roll call, a possibility that had been discussed and publicized in the media given the scheduling of the Ohio primary, the certification for the Democratic nominee could be submitted earlier than Aug. 22.

“There is some time to figure things out,” O’Malley said, unless the roll call is held before the convention. There are some published reports that the roll call will occur; however, opposition has been rising to the virtual nomination of Biden.

When does the Democratic Party have to decide on a nominee

At least three states – Washington, Ohio and Alabama – have given notice that the Democratic National Convention will occur too late for state legal deadlines for filing the appropriate paperwork to appear on the presidential ballot. It could trigger the virtual roll call nomination of the president as the selected nominee for the 2024 ballot.

The constitutional officers in Massachusetts — the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and secretary of the commonwealth — are all party leaders and elected official delegates. Galvin will be attending the convention.