Columbus, Ohio – The Democratic National Committee is set to make history by virtualizing the process of certifying President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party nominees ahead of Ohio’s Aug. 7 ballot certification deadline. This unprecedented move, confirmed by the party to ABC News on Tuesday, comes in response to challenges posed by the GOP-led Ohio legislature regarding Biden’s appearance on the general election ballot in November.

Traditionally, the official nomination at the convention is a moment of fanfare and celebration. However, Biden will now be officially nominated virtually, without the usual pomp and circumstance. The decision was made just before the Ohio Senate gathered for a special session to address the issue of Biden’s candidacy and a concurrent bill on campaign finance, which Democrats oppose.

DNC Chair Jamie Harrison emphasized the importance of ensuring that Biden’s candidacy in Ohio, as well as across all 50 states, remains secure. Harrison asserted that Democrats will take matters into their own hands to prevent any attempts to undermine democracy through incompetence or partisan tricks. The virtual roll call to nominate Biden and Harris is a strategic move to protect Ohioans’ right to vote for their preferred presidential candidate.

The Biden campaign has confirmed that while the virtual roll call and nomination will take place, in-person ceremonial events for each process will still occur at the convention in Chicago during the week of Aug. 19. The specific date for the virtual nomination has not been disclosed yet, but it will undoubtedly be before the critical Aug. 7 Ohio ballot certification deadline.

To enable the virtual roll call, the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee will convene on June 4 to vote on a resolution proposing changes to facilitate virtual party proceedings. Following approval, the full DNC membership will vote on the resolution in the subsequent weeks. Once adopted, the remaining pre-nomination process will proceed according to standard protocol.

As this development unfolds, updates on the situation will continue to be provided. Stay tuned for further details and insights into this groundbreaking decision by the Democratic National Committee.