US Democratic Party to Discuss Presidential Election Candidate Nomination Process on the 24th

Attention on Scheduled Video Voting Progress
If Early Decision Not Made, On-site Voting at Party Convention

The Washington Post (WP) reported that following U.S. President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race, the Democratic National Committee's Rules Committee will hold a meeting on the 24th to discuss the new presidential candidate nomination process.

The meeting will be broadcast live on the DNC's YouTube channel. Jamie Harrison, chair of the DNC, stated that the discussion process will be conducted "transparently and orderly."

WP explained two possible paths for selecting the Democratic Party's new presidential candidate and outlined subsequent scenarios.

One method is an early confirmation through a scheduled virtual vote, and the other is a decision made via an 'Open Convention,' which has not been held since 1968.

Originally, the Democratic Party planned to confirm President Biden as the presidential candidate early through a virtual vote involving delegates earlier this month, ahead of the national convention scheduled for the 19th of next month.

The Rules Committee may choose to maintain, postpone, or cancel the scheduled virtual vote in future discussions.

WP stated that if the virtual vote proceeds as planned and a candidate receives majority delegate support, that candidate will become the Democratic presidential nominee. However, if no candidate gains majority support or if the virtual vote is canceled, the nominee will be decided by an in-person vote at the convention held in Chicago.

If no candidate is decided, the convention will be conducted as an Open Convention, where primary candidates officially compete and appeal for votes. An Open Convention has not been held since 1968. At that time, intense primary battles led to violent incidents, prompting the Democratic Party to reform its candidate selection process.

A minimum of 300 delegate signatures is required to be listed as a candidate. If a candidate obtains a majority of delegate votes in the first round of the Open Convention, the selection process ends. If not, a second round of voting follows. From the second round onward, over 700 'superdelegates,' including DNC members, members of Congress, governors, and former presidents and vice presidents, can exercise voting rights.

If no candidate is confirmed in the second round, subsequent votes will continue until a candidate achieves a majority.