The Democratic National Committee will move to conduct virtual party proceedings to certify President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party nominees before Ohio’s Aug. 7 ballot certification deadline, and before their in-person convention beginning Aug. 19, the party confirmed to ABC News on Tuesday.
This will take a big moment away from Biden and the party — the official nomination at convention is typically met with fanfare and celebration, but he will become the official nominee virtually, without the pomp and circumstance.
The move came moments before the Ohio Senate convened on Tuesday for a special session to address Biden’s ability to appear on their general election ballot in November — which the GOP-led legislature has tied up with a separate bill related to campaign finance, something Democrats oppose.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris listen as Second gentleman Doug Emhoff speaks at an event celebrating Jewish American Heritage Month in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 20, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
“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. Through a virtual roll call, we will ensure that Republicans can’t chip away at our democracy through incompetence or partisan tricks and that Ohioans can exercise their right to vote for the presidential candidate of their choice,” DNC Chair Jamie Harrison said in a statement provided to ABC News.
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The Biden campaign said that while there will be a virtual roll call and nomination of Biden and Harris, the DNC will still hold in-person ceremonial events for each process at their convention during the week of Aug. 19 in Chicago.
Neither the party nor the Biden campaign have confirmed a date when this virtual nomination could happen, but it will definitely be before the Aug. 7 Ohio ballot certification deadline.
To conducting the virtual roll call, the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee will need to vote on Tuesday, June 4, on a resolution to propose changes to the call to allow for virtual party proceedings. Then, in the coming weeks, the resolution will be voted on by the full DNC membership. Once the resolution is adopted, the remainder of the pre-nomination process will follow the standard order of operations.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
The Democratic National Convention (DNC) has officially nominated Joe Biden as their presidential candidate and Kamala Harris as his running mate for the upcoming 2020 election. This decision comes after the DNC took steps to avoid potential ballot complications in the state of Ohio.
Ohio has strict rules regarding how candidates are listed on the ballot, including requirements for submitting paperwork and signatures from registered voters. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, gathering these signatures in person has become a challenge for many campaigns.
In order to ensure that Biden and Harris would be able to appear on the Ohio ballot, the DNC decided to nominate them through a virtual roll call vote during the convention. This allowed delegates from each state to cast their votes remotely, without the need for physical signatures or in-person gatherings.
By taking this proactive approach, the DNC was able to avoid any potential delays or legal challenges that could have arisen from not meeting Ohio’s ballot requirements. This decision also highlights the party’s commitment to adapting to the current circumstances and finding innovative solutions to ensure that their candidates are able to compete in all states.
Biden and Harris have already begun campaigning together, with a focus on addressing the ongoing public health crisis, economic recovery, racial justice, and other key issues facing the country. Their nomination by the DNC marks a significant milestone in their campaign and sets the stage for a competitive race against President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in November.
Overall, the decision to nominate Biden and Harris through a virtual roll call vote demonstrates the DNC’s ability to adapt to changing circumstances and prioritize the inclusion of all candidates on the ballot. As the election season continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see how these candidates continue to engage with voters and make their case for why they should lead the country in the years ahead.
