The Democratic Party began the formal vote to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris for president on Thursday, kicking off a virtual roll call that will cement her status as the party’s standard-bearer heading into November.

The Democratic National Committee opened the vote to the delegates who will decide the party’s nominee at 9 a.m. Delegates are emailed a personalized and watermarked form, and they can either send the form back or have the DNC call them to cast their vote. Ballots are being sent on a rolling basis, and the process is expected to take several days, with the voting window closing at 6 p.m. on Aug. 5.

  • TheAlbatross
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    1 month ago

    I do think that’s an issue, tbf, I don’t like the DNC playing king maker like this, but I recognize the unique situation they’re in with this election.

    That said, Biden belonging in a home not on a ballot isn’t really a new issue, just one they put off until the very last minute, so I’m a bit bitter.

    I dunno. Overall it feels like the importance of the voter is becoming less and less and its shifting towards the power of the party, but maybe that’s the death of the innocence of youth and not a real change in how US elections work.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      It’s always been about the power of the party. Can you name a presidential candidate the DNC didn’t want once they got the nomination? I sure can’t. Not in my 47 years.

      • TheAlbatross
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        1 month ago

        The first election I got to participate in was the election of Barrack Obama. I’ve occasionally wondered if that affected my perception of politics and the following years have been lessons in what a more normal campaign looks like.

        I don’t wanna be misunderstood, I’m voting for Harris, Trump is an existential threat to the country.

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          For all of his flaws, McCain at least wanted the appearances of a fair election without going into the mud. He didn’t tolerate people going for the racist angle. When some stupid lady in the crowd called Obama an Arab, he corrected her (in a sort of racially insensitive way, but…)

          Same with Romney. Both of them wanted everyone to think that they were honest people whether they were or not. They cared about their reputations and their legacy.

          Trump and his acolytes couldn’t give less of a shit. It’s all about short-term gains.

          • njm1314@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            Yeah people need to stop giving McCain so much credit for that one video clip. He still picked a racist lady as his running mate. He’s still sat on his butt as a senator in a state with Joe Arpaio for 20 years doing nothing.

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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              1 month ago

              I don’t disagree, hence me saying appearances rather than him actually being a stand-up guy. He was a piece of shit. But he was a piece of shit that actually didn’t want the public to realize how awful he was. Trump couldn’t care less and neither could the MAGA crowd.

    • Justin@lemmy.jlh.name
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      1 month ago

      Biden was the one who forced the democrats’ hand here. Besides, Kamala was picked by hundreds of elected democrats from across the country, independent of party pressure. I honestly see it as a bit of parliamentarianism how they picked the next candidate now.

      I would love to see primary reform and election reform that makes elections more fair and democratic, though. No reason why we have to decide the candidate in January at the whim of Iowa and New Hampshire, and no reason why only two candidates should have a viable chance at winning.