Biden’s replacement in Michigan election is almost impossible, says Secretary of State

DEXTER, Michigan – The Democratic Party would face significant challenges in replacing President Biden on the Michigan ballot, according to a county official who is herself a Democrat.

Michigan is a must-win state for Democrats, and the winner has prevailed here in every presidential election since 2008.

Former state Rep. Barb Byrum tweeted Wednesday: “Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum here. To all those calling for a change of candidate in the presidential race, please be aware that the Election Administration will have serious problems doing so.”

Byrum has excellent ties to the Michigan Democratic Party and served in the state legislature for the same district that her mother previously represented.

She said the first obstacle to replacing Biden in Michigan is the legal deadline for candidates to be placed on the ballot – which expires in less than a month and a half.

“To be clear, Michigan would not even be the worst problem. Our law requires that a major party’s presidential and vice presidential nominees be announced to the state within one business day after that party’s national or state convention, whichever is later,” she wrote.

“The Democrats will hold their national convention from August 19-22 and their Michigan state convention on August 24. The deadline is therefore August 26.”

This means that if Democrats want to replace Biden, they will have to speed up the process to remain competitive in Michigan.

The deadline for delivering ballots to military personnel and mail-in voters is also rapidly approaching.

Byrum noted, “Balls for military and overseas voters must be mailed by September 21, 2024, and ballots for absentee voters must be available to Michigan voters by September 26, 2024, by law.”

Even more worrying for those seeking to replace Biden in the election: According to Byrum, that deadline may already have passed in other states.

“My cursory insight into other states is that in some states that deadline may already have passed or may be in the VERY near future.”

In the unlikely event that the Democrats succeed in pushing through their replacement on time, their difficulties would not yet be over.

Byrum added: “If they try to make a change, there will almost certainly be numerous lawsuits filed in numerous states.”

Those lawsuits, along with the need to test voting machines, would cause delays that “could impact local officials’ ability to meet their legal deadlines,” Byrum said.

Given all the obstacles that stand in the way of Biden’s success as a candidate, it would be a tremendous success for the party if it could do so in enough states to win the election.

In recent days, Nancy Pelosi and other prominent Democrats have indicated they are open to the possibility of Biden making way for another candidate. But Democrats will have to move quickly if they want a new nominee.