2020 election: Democrats move national convention to smaller location and make it virtual to nominate Joe Biden

The Democrats have moved its national convention to a smaller location and made it largely virtual amid the coronavirus pandemic, which starkly contrasts with the packed event Donald Trump has pushed Republicans to organise.

An announcement was made on Wednesday about what people could expect from the Democratic National Convention, to be held in Milwaukee, this fall – and it will be much different from conventions past.

Organisers are calling it the “Convention Across America”, and the event will include speeches, musical appearances, and other special moments from prominent locations and landmarks around the country. All of this in an effort for the DNC to officially nominate former Vice President Joe Biden as its choice in the presidential election.

Unlike normal conventions, which are held over the span of four days in one large venue, the DNC will happen largely virtual instead of in Milwaukee from 17 August to 20 August.

Since the convention is a scaled-back event, it was moved from Fiserv Forum to the Wisconsin Centre, a smaller venue. It was critical for the convention to remain in Milwaukee, though, as Wisconsin is a key battleground state for the upcoming election. Satellite locations for the virtual portion of the convention will be held in other swing states.

Mr Biden will deliver a speech and accept the nomination from Milwaukee during one night of the convention. The pick for vice president will also do the same thing but one night prior to Mr Biden, according to officials.

”The city of Milwaukee has been an incredible partner and we are committed to highlighting Wisconsin as a key battleground state at our convention this August,” Jen O’Malley Dillon, Mr Biden’s campaign manager, said in a statement. “This will be a convention for all Americans who wish to join our mission to win the battle for the soul of this nation and build a fairer, more united country for us all.”

Specifics into delegates on the floor will be announced at a later date, organisers said, pending decisions from public health officials on how many people can safely gather at the venue. Organisers were working on other options to allow for delegates to officially cast their votes during the convention virtually, if needed.

Although the convention has been scaled down with emphasis on virtual moments, the committee was still focused on giving viewers a show to boost support behind Mr Biden.

They hired Ricky Kirshner, a nine-time Emmy award winning producer, to oversee the entire production over the four days.

In contrast, Mr Trump changed the location of the Republican National Convention (RNC) from North Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida, after the North Carolina governor could not guarantee that the president could fully pack a venue for the event.

Governor Roy Cooper said the RNC event would depend largely on health guidelines that would protect people from the novel virus, an answer that did not satisfy Mr Trump.

So instead he moved the convention to Florida with the promise from Governor Ron DeSantis that people could pack the arena without needing to take social distancing precautions.

New plans for the RNC, to be held 24 August to 27 August, have yet to be released.