The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is reportedly planning to force a Biden nomination prior to its convention, according to Axios.
The outlet reported that the DNC is looking to “train state party chairs next week on how to conduct the electronic voting in a secure way.”
According to sources familiar with the effort, the voting window is likely to be between July 29 and August 5 through a “virtual roll call.”
DNC Chairman Jamie Harrison told Axios, “We look forward to nominating Joe Biden through a virtual roll call and celebrating with fanfare together in Chicago in August alongside the 99 percent of delegates who are supporting the Biden-Harris ticket.”
A spokesperson added that the DNC has not “announced or finalized any schedules yet.”
Responding to the roll call efforts, House Democrats have reportedly voiced caution about the virtual roll call in a draft letter.
According to the letter, the lawmakers have “serious concerns” about the virtual nomination as some have raised questions regarding a possible Biden replacement.
“There is no legal justification for this extraordinary and unprecedented action, which would effectively accelerate the nomination process by nearly a month,” the draft letter reads, adding, “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.”
Democrats wrote the DNC’s idea is “terrible,” “unnecessary,” and “unprecedented.” They further claimed that the virtual effort could “deeply undermine the morale and unity of Democrats … at the worst possible time.”
“We respectfully but emphatically request that you cancel any plans for an accelerated ‘virtual roll call’ and further refrain from any ‘extraordinary procedures that could be perceived as curtailing legitimate debate or attempting to force an early resolution of the party nomination,” the letter urges.
