What happens to Vermont’s ballots if Biden leaves office? Could another Democrat join the race?

There are rumors that the president Joe Biden could withdraw from the 2024 presidential race this weekend, three weeks after his disastrous debate performance left supporters questioning his mental fitness.

But how would a last-minute Biden dip affect Vermont’s overall vote on Nov. 5? Right now, it wouldn’t, said Bryan Mills, chief of staff for the Vermont secretary of state’s office.

Mills explained that his office traditionally doesn’t print ballots until after the Democratic National Convention in mid-August, meaning Biden’s theoretical replacement could easily be hired if the president were to leave office before then.

Each state sets its own deadlines for candidates and ballot printing.

Several states have said that by the time the DNC takes place, the deadline to nominate yourself to appear on the ballot in those states will have passed. This could force Democrats to participate in early voting to determine their nominee before August 22, the final day of the convention.

Who will be Biden’s replacement and how will he or she be chosen?

So far, Vice President Kamala Harris has been the most warmly received by political allies as a potential replacement for Biden on the Democratic ticket.

But how can Harris – or anyone else – get on the ballot when presidential primaries have already been held in every state?

If Democrats don’t announce names soon, delegates will have to select Biden’s successor at the DNC.

How smoothly the convention vote goes will depend largely on whether Biden decides to endorse a replacement. While congressional delegates are not legally required to vote for Biden’s pick, it’s likely they will, according to Forbes. On the other hand, if Biden doesn’t endorse anyone — which would make for a rare open convention — the DNC could find itself divided among multiple candidates, calling into question the unity of the party.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: If Joe Biden withdraws, what happens to Vermont’s ballots?