Democrats Make New Moves Toward Virtual Presidential Nominating Convention
Tuesday, May 12th, 2020 -- 9:15 AM
(AP) -Democrats are making new moves toward a virtual presidential nominating convention this August, with party officials preparing to grant convention organizers in Milwaukee the authority to design an event that won’t require delegates to attend in person amid the coronavirus pandemic.A top party official discussed the plans ahead of Tuesday’s virtual meeting of the Democratic National Committee’s Rules and Bylaws Committee. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss moves that still require approval by the committee and the DNC’s 447 members. The influential Rules & Bylaws panel will start the process with a resolution that grants “maximum flexibility” to the convention organizing committee to set up a gathering that “guarantees every delegate can accomplish their official business without putting their own health at risk.” That will include finalizing convention dates, which now are set only as “the week of Aug. 17,” and determining “format, voting mechanisms, structure and other logistical aspects of the convention.” The expected action underscores how deeply COVID-19 has upended the 2020 presidential election, potentially forcing one or both major parties to dramatically alter their conventions in ways that not even the Civil War required in 1864.
And it raises the possibility even further that Joe Biden will be nominated as his party’s standard-bearer without the traditional roll call vote from thousands of delegates across 57 U.S. state and territories. The resolution also would allow two of the most high-profile convention committees, the Rules Committee and the Credentials Committee, to conduct business without having to have their final reports approved by the full convention, a maneuver that could minimize some floor fight. All convention delegates still will get to vote on the party platform. DNC members will vote on the resolution by mail ballot. If it gets final approval, the resolution effectively would prevent national party officials from having to convene again ahead of the convention to approve any atypical convention protocols.
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