See how the process works to replace Biden if he withdraws

Amid growing pressure for President Biden to withdraw from the race, questions are emerging about the mechanics of getting another Democrat on the ballot before November.

Democrats have a path forward: The filing deadline for the party to get its presidential candidate on the ballot in most states has not yet been met, and there are paths within the party on how to choose a new candidate if necessary.

Much of the talk about Biden’s fate for now is speculation, as the president and his campaign say he is committed to running for another term. Still, some Democrats expressed uncertainty about their electoral chances against Trump in November, while others called for his immediate withdrawal, injecting uncertainty into an already chaotic election cycle.

Here’s what you should know about the rules governing a new Democratic presidential pick:

How does the process work?

Typically, the Democratic presidential candidate is officially selected at the Democratic National Convention, but this year’s presidential nomination process is expected to be a little different.

Democrats are holding a virtual roll call vote in response to earlier concerns that the president would not be able to get his name on the November ballot in Ohio before the state’s filing deadline. In Ohio, Democrats initially needed to submit their candidate’s name to the state 90 days before the election, which will be on August 7 this year. This is before the start of the DNC, which begins on August 19th.

It wasn’t the first time this year that Democrats faced deadline issues. In Alabama, the issue was quickly resolved after the state agreed to change the filing deadline, while Washington state accepted a provisional certification.

When Ohio’s Republican lawmakers initially deadlocked on a legislative solution, Democrats decided instead to hold a virtual roll call vote. (Ohio lawmakers later passed legislation after the party presented its workaround, allowing Democrats to run their candidate in the state by September 1.)

But doubts are emerging about whether Biden will remain the Democratic nominee.

It is possible, but also highly unlikely, that delegates could choose someone other than the president during the virtual call.

The vast majority of delegates have committed, but are not obligated, to choose Biden as their candidate. If more than half of its delegates decided to choose a candidate other than the president, the process would lead to further rounds of voting before a candidate was chosen,according to ABC News.

According to the network, the delegates’ choices would be recognized as “present” if they voted for someone other than Biden. If a delegate does not vote, their vote will not be included in the initial count. Still, it is extremely unlikely that delegates will take as pronounced a stance as they did with Biden in the race.

There are doubts about how the process works, even among Democrats, if the president withdraws from the race before the virtual vote takes place. Delegates likely would not have to support Vice President Kamala Harris, meaning there is potential for what Rep. James Clyburn (R-S.C.) called a “mini-primary” to happen among them as they evaluate other possible candidates.

If Biden decides to withdraw after the convention, DNC members will be able to vote on a pick presented by DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison and party leadership.according to NBC News.

How about taking the vote?

In most states, the filing deadline for Democrats to present their presidential candidate for the general election ballot only lasts at least a few more weeks, as most state filing deadlines occur between August and September, according to the analysis of state rules compiled by The Colina. In some states, there is no deadline at all.

New Mexico offers an unexpected turnaround because the state technically does not have a state filing deadline. Once the Democratic primaries take place, whoever wins the race will automatically be placed on the November ballot.

Alabama, South Dakota, Montana, Oklahoma, Arkansas and California require the nominee before the DNC ends on August 22. However, they all have processes for accepting provisional certifications within the deadline and then the official nominee after the convention ends.

Last week, the Heritage Foundation released a report saying it would file lawsuits in Wisconsin, Nevada and Georgia to prevent a change in the general election. However, officials in those states have questioned Heritage’s claims, stating that state deadlines have not yet expired allowing a change to be made.

Campaign Legal Center voting rights consultant Valencia Richardson dismissed this lawsuit, calling it a “threat that is intended and would serve to impede voter access and confusion,” adding that the threat was “baseless.”

How likely is a Biden replacement really?

It remains to be seen whether Biden will decide to withdraw or whether any delegates will move to support someone else. Although some party members, including incumbents, have strongly defended asking the president not to run for another term, most top Democratic governors, senators and House members have largely supported it.

Ultimately, most observers agree that the outcome depends on what Biden himself decides to do. And if the president decides to leave the race, his successor will likely be Harris, something other party leaders, like Clyburn, have reaffirmed.

A new candidate at the top of the polls would also raise new questions, including how he or she would fare with his or her base and among voters in swing states. It also raises questions about whether Democrats who voted in protest against Biden over her administration’s handling of the war between Israel and Hamas see reason to go home and find a different candidate.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story