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Playing politics

West Virginia Democrats vote to end the superdelegate system

West Virginia Democrats voted at their state convention Saturday to remove unbound superdelegates from their party's presidential nominating process.

"It is concerning for a party that advocates for transparency, affirmative action, inclusion, and participation in government to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters" with the superdelegate system, the resolution argued, noting that in West Virginia superdelegates control 21.5 percent of nominating votes.

The state convention also unanimously passed a resolution calling on Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz to resign on grounds of responsibility for electoral failure, suppression of debate, and creation of dissension within party ranks.

Superdelegates have been a source of persistent frustration to supporters of Bernie Sanders this election. Wisconsin's Democratic Party passed a resolution like West Virginia's and Hawaiian Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has urged her supporters to sign a petition to similar effect.