The Democratic National Committee is moving ahead with its controversial plan to virtually nominate President Joe Biden ahead of the Democratic convention in Chicago next month – ignoring the growing calls from some of the party’s elected officials to ditch that strategy given the serious ongoing debate about whether the president should continue to seek a second term.

According to an email sent to members of the convention rules committee within that was obtained by CNN, the committee will proceed with a previously scheduled meeting on Friday to deliberate – and begin to set in motion – the steps and timeline for virtually nominating Biden.

The letter notably states that “no virtual voting will begin before August 1” – a new decision that appears aimed at addressing the fury inside the party that was prompted by reporting from CNN and other outlets that some Biden allies have been quietly pushing to fast-track the virtual roll call.

Wednesday’s letter, which makes clear that the DNC is doubling down on its virtual nomination plan, now sets up a key deadline for Democrats by which to resolve questions around Biden’s candidacy. While it could be possible for the party to revisit the results of the vote at the convention in Chicago, the DNC has long made clear that it is committed to locking in their nominee before the convention begins – and specifically before August 7, which, they say, is critical to ensure ballot access in a state like Ohio.

“Our discussion on Friday of how the Convention will operate will include discussion of a virtual voting element, which will end before the in-person Convention,” the letter says. “We will elaborate on the reasoning below as to why a virtual vote is the wisest approach, and will explain how a virtual vote would work.”