How conservatives could make it very hard for Democrats to replace Biden on the 2024 ballot if he has a disastrous debate or steps aside

An influential Republican group is already preparing for a counterfight if Democrats try to unseat Joe Biden.

“Due to President Biden’s rapid decline, as evidenced by his bizarre episode at the G-7, The Oversight Project is taking the unprecedented step of releasing this draft,” said Mike Howell, executive director of The Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project , in a statement.

“We are following calls from across the country for President Biden to step aside, now or before the election, and have concluded that the process for replacement and withdrawal is very complicated. We will remain vigilant that proper election integrity procedures are followed.”

If Joe Biden were to withdraw at any point before the Democratic National Convention, it would be up to the DNC delegates to choose a new candidate. But from there, they can expect legal challenges from Republicans who want to prevent other Democratic nominees from getting on the ballot in certain states.

The Heritage Oversight Project has set its sights on three controversial swing states where they believe removing Biden from the Democratic ticket would not allow anyone else to replace him: Georgia, Nevada and Wisconsin.

Wisconsin does not allow withdrawal from the ballot for any reason other than death.

In Nevada, no changes can be made to the ballot after 5 p.m. on the fourth Friday in June of an election year, otherwise “a nominee will die or be declared insane or mentally incompetent.”

If Biden were to withdraw less than 60 days before the Georgia election, his name would remain on the ballot, but no votes would be counted.

In Texas, the two parties’ nominees have until the 74th day before the election to withdraw from the ballot. Some states, such as South Carolina, do not allow candidates to withdraw for political reasons.

Some states have no laws on the books for dealing with a presidential candidate who withdraws, and there is little precedent for preventing such a situation.

To be clear, Biden has publicly said he has no intention of withdrawing. But he has long been engulfed in speculation about his cognitive decline.

The memo concluded: “Policymakers and the public should be prepared for any externalities resulting from President Biden’s failure to run for president in 2024. The process of replacement and withdrawal raises many election integrity issues.”

“Following the law in some states could cause that process to fail because another candidate gets on the ballot.”

During his time at the annual G-7 economic summit in Italy, Biden was barely seen in public — and administration officials were quick to push back on a video in which Biden appeared to wander off during a parachute demonstration.

According to foreign media reports, Biden appeared “tired” and seemed to “lose focus” at times. Aides now worry about the personal toll Biden will pay as he sees his son Hunter recently convicted of three felonies related to the 2018 gun purchase.