The Democratic National Committee (DNC) initially decided in May to conduct a virtual roll call due to concerns about meeting the deadline to appear on the ballot in Ohio. The Democratic National Convention, where the party's presidential candidate is typically nominated, is scheduled for Aug. 19-22, while Ohio's ballot deadline was set for Aug. 7. However, at the end of May, the Ohio legislature passed a bill signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine ensuring that the then-presumptive nominee, President Joe Biden, would appear on the ballot. Despite this change, Democratic strategists urged the party to proceed with a virtual nomination process ahead of the convention to avoid potential legal issues. Dana Remus, a former White House counsel advising the DNC, said the virtual roll call is the “wisest, most prudent course,” with waiting until the convention leaving “the door open to a potential legal challenge and that’s a risk.” A letter circulated among members of the DNC’s Rules Committee questioned the need and legal basis for proceeding with a virtual roll call after Ohio changed its law and assured Democrats their presidential nominee would appear on the ballot. The letter stated:The Democratic Party has initiated the process of formally nominating Vice President Kamala Harris for president on Aug. 1, through a virtual roll call that will officially place her at the top of the party’s ticket.
There is no legal justification for this extraordinary and unprecedented action which would effectively accelerate the nomination process by nearly a month. The “virtual roll call” was initially proposed as necessary for meeting Ohio’s unique ballot access requirements, but that is no longer a valid justification. Ohio enacted legislation on May 31 allowing the Democratic Party to nominate its candidate at the DNC in person. At this point, there is no serious threat to the Democratic ticket nominated in regular order at next month’s DNC convention appearing on the ballot in Ohio or any other state. Simply put, there is no longer any legal reason for moving forward with the extraordinary step of an early nomination by way of a “virtual roll call,” as even many DNC members have admitted. Proceeding with the “virtual roll call” in the absence of a valid legal rationale will be rightly perceived as a purely political maneuver, which we believe would be counterproductive and undermine party unity and cohesion. Moreover, it would contradict what President Biden himself has repeatedly said to members of Congress in recent days, telling us that anyone who wants to challenge his nomination should do so “at the convention.” The Democratic Party – not just elected officials and delegates, but also millions of grassroots voters – is currently engaged in careful consideration and debate about the absolute imperative of defeating Donald Trump and winning control of Congress. The virtual process mimics the nominating and voting that occurs at the convention, while a ceremonial roll call will still be held in person this year. Delegates began voting at 9 a.m., each using a personalized, watermarked form to cast their vote. The process could take several days, with the voting window open until 6 p.m. on Aug. 5, CBS News reported. The DNC stated that it will share the full results after voting is complete, though it is unclear if the party will make an announcement after Harris passes the threshold needed to secure a majority of delegates, according to CBS. “Democratic delegates from across the nation made their voices heard, overwhelmingly backing Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee," DNC Chair Jamie Harrison and DNCC Chair Minyon Moore said in a statement released on July 30. Will Thompson, a delegate from North Dakota who has said he is supporting Harris, told ABC News, “I don't like doing a virtual roll call vote on principle, but I understand the need for one this year.” He also said that he hopes future conventions will be scheduled earlier to avoid timing issues with getting on state ballots.
