Democrat Andrew Yang Blocked From Ohio Primary Ballot

COLUMBUS, OH — Democratic presidential contender Andrew Yang is being kept off Ohio primary ballots because of a paperwork issue. Yang's campaign is now launching a write-in effort before the March 17 primary.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said Yang's campaign failed on its petition sheets to include a statement from the candidate indicating his intention to run for president. This barred Yang from being included on the March 17 primary ballot.

"Virtually every presidential, congressional and state legislative candidate in Ohio has successfully completed the process over the many decades since it became law," LaRose said in a statement.

Yang countered LaRose's statement, saying he had gathered three times the number of signatures required to secure a place on primary ballots. He described Ohio's law as "awkwardly worded" and vowed to not be thwarted by a "bureaucratic paperwork issue."

Yang also said he felt that more than 3,000 Ohioans were having their First Amendment rights denied by his exclusion. LaRose, though, shifted the onus back onto Yang in a statement posted to Twitter.

"By failing to follow Ohio law, Mr. Yang’s campaign has let down the Ohioans who wanted to support him. That’s truly unfortunate, but my oath requires me to uniformly carry out the law, and that’s what I’ll do," LaRose said.

No other primary contenders have been blocked from the March 17 ballot.