Democrats move to allow virtual voting at convention

MILWAUKEE – Democrats moved a step closer to allowing delegates to vote virtually at the 2020 Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee.

The party’s Rules and Bylaws Committee unanimously adopted a resolution Tuesday to give the team overseeing the convention authority to change the format, size and dates of the event.

Delegates will also be able “to participate in the convention in person or by means that allow for appropriate social distancing.”

The full Democratic National Committee will have to approve the measure as the party tries to come to grips with staging a convention amid the coronavirus pandemic. The outbreak has already forced organizers to move the Milwaukee convention from mid-July to the week of Aug. 17.

DNC Secretary Jason Rae said the resolution gives convention organizers flexibility to arrange the event.

“This isn’t about option A (a fullscale event) or B (a virtual event), but it’s about looking at all the pieces of the convention, how to scale up or down as we get closer to August,” Rae said.

Elaine Kamarck, who has been on the party’s rules committee since 1977, said: “It is good that we are doing this several months in front of the convention. We should use it as an opportunity perhaps to make lemonade out of lemons.”

Democratic National Committee Chair Tom Perez indicated convention planning remains in flux.

“It is my expectation and hope that we will have an exciting, inspiring convention,” Perez said at the meeting. “Now, does this mean that a precise format has been decided? No. This resolution was necessary to adapt and plan in order to ensure that every delegate is able to accomplish their official business without putting their own health at risk.”

Perez criticized President Donald Trump and Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel for their handling of the GOP convention scheduled for Charlotte, North Carolina, Aug. 24-27. Perez said Trump and McDaniel have repeatedly downplayed “the severity of this crisis and scoffed at making changes to their convention.”

Organizers of the Charlotte convention have said they are following recommendations and requirements from federal, state and local health officials.