Local clerk talks impact of President Biden’s withdraw

VINCENNES, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — After President Joe Biden announced he is withdrawing from the presidential election, many people have questions about what happens next.

Knox County Clerk David Shelton said that since the Democratic National Convention hasn’t happened yet, there had not been an official nominee selected.

“When it comes to the presidential election and the presidential primary, we are nominating but those candidates aren’t truly nominated until they have their national convention and then the result of that convention is filed with the state’s election division itself,” he said.

Shelton said this leaves the decision up to President Biden’s delegates.

“Even though people may have voted for Joe Biden in the primary, they are now in essence authorizing the delegates to vote that way in a primary,” he said. “Did they vote for Joe Biden? Yes, but did they really vote for Joe Biden? Well technically, they voted for a district delegate for the national convention.”

Shelton said this is something the state has prepared for.

“Fortunately, with Indiana elections there are policies and procedures in place to handle situations like this and they have thought of just about everything,” he said.

Shelton said this situation is truly a historic moment for our country.

“We may have a contested national convention on the Democrat side,” he said. “People are lining up behind Kamala right now, but we may have other people enter the fray, and it will be interesting to watch as it is surely a historic moment.”

Shelton added that the deadline for the Democrat party to submit their official nominee is September 10.

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