The clock's a-ticking, Biden campaign people.

Specifically, the clock is ticking in Alabama, where that state's chief elections official is warning Democrats that a key deadline is approaching, and if missed, the result may be in an Alabama general election ballot with no Joe Biden.

In a letter sent Tuesday to officials of both the Alabama Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, a Republican, said the Democrats' national convention is scheduled to occur past the deadline for certifying a presidential candidate in Alabama.

Allen said the party must provide state officials with a certificate of nomination for president and vice president of the United States no later than Aug. 15 to appear on the Yellowhammer State's general election ballot.

"It has recently come to my attention that the Democratic National Convention is currently scheduled to convene on August 19, 2024, which is after the State of Alabama’s statutory deadline for political parties to provide a certificate of nomination for President and Vice President on August 15, 2024," Allen wrote in the letter. "The certificate of nomination must be signed by the presiding officer and secretary of the convention and by the chair of the state executive committee of the political party making the nomination.

Biden campaign officials downplayed the issue. On the other hand, the Republican National Convention is scheduled for July 15-18, which allows ample time for submitting the certification.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, a Biden campaign spokesperson said, "Joe Biden will be on the ballot in all 50 states. State officials have the ability to grant provisional ballot access certification prior to the conclusion of presidential nominating conventions."

"In 2020 alone, states like Alabama, Illinois, Montana, and Washington all allowed provisional certification for Democratic and Republican nominees," the spokesperson added.

If so, this seems to be rather a tempest in a teapot. August 15th is still a ways off, but presumably plenty of time to apply for provisional certification.  The relevant section of Alabama's election law, Section 17.14.31, states in part:

The certificate of nomination by a political party convention must be signed by the presiding officer and secretary of the convention and by the chair of the state executive or central committee of the political party making the nomination. Any nominating petition, to be valid, must contain the signatures as well as the addresses of the petitioners. Such certificates and petitions must be filed in the office of the Secretary of State no later than the 82nd day next preceding the day fixed for the election.

There is no mention in the law of provisional certification. However, in the 2020 election, both parties did submit provisional certifications, and both slates of candidates appeared on the ballot.

Previously on RedState: WATCH: Cheat Sheet in Hand, Biden Gives an Interview Chock Full of 'Holy Crap' Moments and Falsehoods 

Biden's 'Weekend at Bernie's' Moment - Also Needs Cheat Sheet for Most Basic Remarks With Japanese PM

In any case, Alabama is, to put it mildly, not a state Joe Biden is likely to win. And there are other, larger issues that the Biden campaign may want to pay some attention to.

Where this gets interesting is when one considers Joe Biden's ongoing mental and physical decline. In this case, while Alabama's law is clear on the process for certifying candidates, it appears mute on what happens if the certified candidate is replaced at the last minute, say, at the national convention, which takes place after the certification deadline. Should this take place, and it's certainly not impossible, it will be interesting to watch the legal wrangling that will doubtlessly take place.

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