DNC plans to have nominee by Aug. 7, use virtual roll call ahead of convention

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced Monday that it will move forward with a virtual roll call and that it plans to have a presidential nominee by Aug. 7.

The DNC will use an electronic voting system for delegates to vote for candidates for the nomination who meets three criteria — file formal declaration of candidacy with the committee, meet the party and legal qualifications to be president, and gather a minimum of at least 300 delegates with no more than 50 delegates from one state.

If more than one candidate reaches the 300 delegates threshold, there will be a a window for qualified candidates to make their case to the delegates and the public, the DNC outlined.

Chair Jaime Harrison and other DNC leaders outlined the plan but did not mention Vice President Harris, who is seeking the nomination, on the call with reporters. Harris was endorsed by President Biden when he stepped aside on Sunday.

No other Democrat has said they will seek the nomination yet. As of Monday afternoon, 770 delegates had endorsed Harris.

The DNC had plans to nominate Biden, before he dropped out, with a virtual roll call after Aug. 1 and ahead of the convention, which starts on Aug. 19. The plans were initially made to ensure Biden appears on the ballot in Ohio, which had a deadline to certify the party’s presidential nominee after the convention, but Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) has since extended that deadline.

The DNC outlined that a nominee for president would not have to name a running mate by Aug. 7 but the ultimate nominee would be able to determine that timeline themselves.

The DNC also said a delegate directory will be provided to candidates who want to seek the nomination, before they reach the 300-delegate threshold. Officials said if more than one candidate reaches the threshold, there will be “a handful days” over which the candidates who qualified would make their case to the delegates and the public before at least one round of voting would then begin, with the intention of having a nominee by Aug. 7.

“What I want to do is I want to assure you that we are committed to an open and fair nominating process,” Harrison told reporters Monday.

“Let me be clear, we remain laser focused on winning in November. Let me also add and be clear here that we will deliver a presidential nominee on Aug. 7 of this year,” he added. “We can and will be both fast and fair as we execute this nomination.”

Harrison laid out the plan Monday night in a memo, which was obtained by The Hill and addressed to "fellow Democrats." The Democratic National Convention is set to take place in Chicago.