The Democratic National Committee has announced plans to nominate President Joe Biden as the party’s presidential candidate through a “virtual roll call” ahead of the August convention in Chicago. This decision comes in response to an Ohio law that required all candidates to be legally certified by August 7, a deadline that Biden was not scheduled to meet until after the convention begins on August 19.
DNC Chair Jaime Harrison stated, “Joe Biden will be on the ballot in Ohio and all 50 states, and Ohio Republicans agree. But when the time has come for action, they have failed to act every time, so Democrats will land this plane on our own.” This move by the DNC comes despite a special legislative session in Ohio this week that was promised to resolve the issue.
The virtual roll call will ensure that Biden is certified in Ohio before the deadline, allowing him to appear on the November ballot in the state. This decision follows the precedent set in 2020 when the Democratic National Convention was conducted almost entirely remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee will need to vote on a resolution next Tuesday to propose changes to the roll call for virtual party proceedings. The resolution will then be voted on by the full DNC membership, with no expected challenges.
This innovative approach to nominating a presidential candidate demonstrates the DNC’s commitment to adapting to the challenges of the current political landscape.