Democrats Gear Up for Virtual Roll Call Ahead of Convention, Harris Emerges as Front-Runner

CHICAGO — The Democratic Party is advancing with plans for a virtual roll call where delegates will select their presidential nominee before convening next month in Chicago. This is despite Vice President Kamala Harris being the clear favorite to succeed President Joe Biden at the top of the ticket.

The convention rules committee is set to meet Wednesday to finalize the virtual roll call procedure. A draft plan, obtained by The Associated Press, does not specify when the virtual voting will begin, but Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison stated the process would be completed by August 7, twelve days before the convention.

“We are living through an unprecedented moment in history and, as a party, we are tackling it with the seriousness that it deserves,” said Harrison in a conference call with reporters. “We are prepared to undertake a transparent, swift, and orderly process to move forward as a united Democratic Party with a nominee who represents our values.”

Harrison reassured that the nomination process would be both “fast and fair.”

President Biden withdrew from the presidential race on Sunday, following weeks of intra-party conflict over his campaign’s viability after a lackluster debate performance against Republican Donald Trump. Biden endorsed Vice President Harris as his successor.

However, Harris will not be officially recognized as the nominee until the convention delegates formally nominate her. According to the rules, she and any other Democratic contenders must gather 300 electronic signatures from delegates, with no more than 50 signatures from any single state.

Afterward, Harris and any qualifying candidates will have a few days to campaign for delegate support before the virtual vote. Although multiple voting rounds are possible, the process must complete by August 7.

The August 7 deadline is critical, as it aligns with the original presidential ballot qualification deadline in Ohio. Legal complications could arise if the nominee is not determined by this date, despite recent legislative changes extending the deadline to September 1.

The plan for a virtual roll call was initially announced in May. Harris’ new role as the favorite does not alter the plan but adds complexity.

Harris remains in a strong position, with endorsements from hundreds of Democratic officials, governors, and influential unions. An AP survey revealed that she has secured more than the required 1,976 delegate votes needed for a first-ballot nomination at the convention.

To date, no other significant Democrat has announced plans to contest Harris, positioning her to be the first woman of color nominated for president by a major party.

Minyon Moore, the Democratic National Convention chair, indicated Monday that a contested in-person convention is not feasible due to logistical constraints, including ballot access certification requirements.

“An in-person, contested convention simply cannot accommodate the potential of a multi-round nomination process for the presidential nominee, who then must select a vice-presidential nominee, and still meet the ballot access certification requirements in each of the states necessary to the Democratic path to victory,” Moore stated. “Once in person in Chicago, we will be united as a party.”

Rep. Maxwell Frost, a vocal advocate for young voters, emphasized that the nomination process remains open despite Harris’ broad support. “Just because the VP is such a unifying candidate and getting many endorsements, doesn’t mean this process isn’t open. Anyone can run,” Frost posted on X on Monday.

In 2020, the Democratic convention was virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year, while delegates meet physically in Chicago, they plan a ceremonial state-by-state roll call, given that the virtual voting will likely have decided the nominee.