The Democratic National Convention is scheduled to convene on August 19th.
The presidential election this year is November 5th. That's 79 Calendar days between the Democratic Convention and the Election.
All states have a deadline to certify a presidential candidate on a ballot before the general election. There are eight states which may become a problem for Biden (or whoever else is chosen) unless Democrats change their convention date.
In Ohio, their deadline is 90 days before the general election. "Major political parties must certify to the secretary of state on or before the 90th day before the election names of the candidates for president and vice-president"
In Alabama, the deadline is 82 days before the general election. "A political party must certify to the secretary of state no later than the 82nd day next preceding the day fixed for the election the names of the candidates for president and vice-president and the names of the presidential electors."
In Arizona, the deadline is 90 days before the general election. "Each recognized political party must file with the secretary of state no less than 90 days before the primary election the names of the party’s nominees for presidential electors."
In Georgia, "Political bodies that nominate presidential electors by convention must hold the convention at least 150 days prior to the general election, or, in years following the release of a decennial census, 120 days before the election."
In Iowa, "Political parties must certify to the secretary of state no later than the 81st day before the election the names of the candidate for president and vice-resident and the names of the presidential electors. If the national nominating convention of a political party adjourns later than 89 days before the general election the names of the candidates for president and vice-president must be certified within 5 days after adjournment."
In Oklahoma, "Each recognized political party must certify to the state board of elections no fewer than 90 days from the date of the general election the names of the nominees for presidential electors."
In South Dakota, "Each political party must certify to the secretary of state the nominees for presidential electors within three days of the state convention, and no later than the 2nd Tuesday in August."
In Washington, "Each major political party must certify to the secretary of state at least 75 days before the election the names of the party’s nominees for presidential electors and the names of the candidates for president and vice-president."
The Republican Convention is Mon, Jul 15, 2024 – Thu, Jul 18, 2024, which is well in advance (111 days before election) of these deadlines to get names on the ballots.
All by design?
Possible. If the Democratic Convention is even considering nominating anyone other than Biden... then they may have a problem.
Nothing would stop the Democratic Party from filing Biden / Harris name on the ballot PRIOR to the convention, with the convention simply being a formality. They wouldn't need to let it be widely known... but just do it quietly. But if they were waiting for the convention to possibly name someone else... or if Biden shows up and poops himself on stage (thereby disqualifying himself mentally), then they have a problem.
The word MUST for President / V.P. names is specifically used in Ohio, Alabama, Iowa and Washington. The other four states say "names of the party's nominees for presidential electors", which I don't believe can be registered unless those electors has a candidate. According to Election Code, Title 11, Chapter 192; "A vote for a presidential candidate and the candidate's running mate shall be counted as a vote for the corresponding presidential elector candidates."
It's not clear that elector candidates can be registered without a corresponding presidential / V.P. name being registered. In that case, the Pres / V.P. candidates would have to be registered by the same deadline date.
In 1996, the Dem convention was held Aug 26-29th
In 2000, the Dem convention was held Aug 14-17th
In 2004, the Dem convention was held July 26-29th
In 2008, the Dem convention was held Aug 25-28th
In 2012, the Dem convention was held Sep 4-6th
In 2016, the Dem convention was held July 25-28th
In 2020, the Dem convention was held Aug 17-20th
In 2024, the Dem convention is being held Aug 19-22nd
It's not being held uncommonly late, especially if the candidate names are pre-registered to meet state deadlines. However, if the party wants to CHANGE nominees at the convention or in the weeks afterwards... it might cause a problem. If Biden / Harris are the nominees... and suddenly he's not capable of holding the office of president as late as 10-weeks before the election... then Democrats may NOT be able to get a name on the ballot in multiple states. Most state election laws don't have any provision for naming someone else at the last minute. The Democrats would need to resort to a write-in campaign.
Note: Their cheat algorithms aren't made for write-in votes.