COLUMBIA, S.C. — Not even a year out from the last presidential election, the Democratic National Committee has begun setting up a framework for the party's next round of presidential primary elections, which could upend the early-voting calendar yet again.

The Rules and Bylaws Committee of the Democratic National Committee on Monday approved a plan giving states until January 16 to submit applications to hold voting contests in the early window ahead of Super Tuesday, when a massive haul of delegates will be awarded.

Four or five states will get an early slot, and all four regions — East, Midwest, South and West — must be represented, according to the framework.

No huge tranche of delegates is necessarily at stake in the early-voting contests, but their heft has traditionally played a

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