The Democratic National Committee approved the "Call for the 2012 Democratic National Convention" and the "Delegate Selection Rules for the 2012 Democratic National Convention" during their 20 August 2010 meeting in St. Louis.

The party set dates for the pre-window states: Iowa-- may begin no earlier than 6 February 2012, New Hampshire-- 14 February 2012, Nevada-- 18 February 2012, and South Carolina-- 28 February 2012. The pre-windows states are designated with a ‡ in the table below. All other states may begin on Tuesday 6 March 2012 (Stage I).

The Democrats will award states who begin their process in April (Stage II) with a 10% bonus. For those beginning in May or June (Stage III), a 20% bonus. Starting on the Tuesday 20 March 2012 (Stage I cluster), a 15% bonus is awarded when clusters of 3 or more neighboring states begin on the same date.

The category of unpledged add-on delegates is eliminated for 2012. There were 81 add-ons in 2008.

The number of base pledged delegates is increased from 3,000 to 3,700 (before bonuses and territorial delegates).

Delegates from American Samoa, Guam, and Virgin Islands, and Democrats Abroad will have 1 delegate vote each. In 2008, these delegates cast a fractional vote. For example, in 2008 American Samoa had 9 delegate votes and 12 delegates.

The Democratic jurisdictions are listed below in chronological order according to their "First Determining Step" (based on either current information or the 2008 dates adjusted to the corresponding dates in 2012). Many of these events are primaries whose dates are established by state law. Hence, it would take an act of the state legislature to move the date. Furthermore the February dates were set to comply with 2008 party rules. Where could this all lead?

• State legislatures might change their election laws and state parties might change their caucus dates to comply with the new rules.
• States could ask for a waiver to be "grandfathered" to the date set by law prior to the adoption of this rule.
• If any state retains their February date, the "pre-window" states are likely to move their dates into January. For example, New Hampshire law [RSA 653:9] states that their Presidential primary is held "... on a date selected by the secretary of state which is 7 days or more immediately preceding the date on which any other state shall hold a similar election...". A 23 August 2010 report by Stateline.org indicates New Hampshire is already planning to go earlier.
• States currently starting on the first Tuesday in February (the earliest date from 2008) might simply move to the first Tuesday in March (the earliest date for 2012). If this happens, those states would join the states already starting on the first Tuesday in March resulting in a 2012 "National Primary" that encompasses more states than the 5 February 2008 "National Primary".