Democrats plan to have nominee by Aug. 7

• "We will deliver a presidential nominee by August 7 of this year," DNC chair Jamie Harrison told reporters on a conference call.
• The party's nominee, likely Harris, will then be able to select a running mate on a "timeline that is in the best interest of that presidential nominee," according to a Democratic official who briefed reporters on the call.
• "Fast does not mean unfair," said another official.

The DNC Rules committee will formally approve the plans on Wednesday.

State of play: Any announced candidate who has 300 delegates (with no more than 50 from a single state ) will be eligible to appear on the first electronic ballot.

• Officials say that this year's virtual process will mirror "rules used for in-person conventions to the greatest extent possible."
• The presidential nominee can select a running mate before the Aug. 7 date, but isn't required to. That means the V.P. announcement is at the discretion of the presidential nominee.