Election Law

Legal Memo Calls for Half-Votes for Florida & Michigan Delegates

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Under party rules, delegates from Florida and Michigan can be given only a 50 percent voice in the Democratic national convention this year, according to a legal memorandum to the Democratic National Committee.

Written by lawyers for the Democratic party, it says “the committee can either seat only 50 percent of the delegates or seat them all but give them only half a vote, which amounts to the same thing,” reports the New York Times. The two states are being penalized for holding their primaries too early.

The rules committee of the Democratic National Committee is expected to meet on Saturday to address the issue. Reducing the number of delegates from the two states, or discounting their votes, is expected to hurt Hillary Clinton’s dwindling chance of winning the party’s nomination at the Democratic annual convention in August.

Later coverage:

ABAJournal.com: “Judge Tosses Suit Seeking Seating of Democratic Delegates”

Updated at 11:32 a.m. to include subsequent coverage.

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