Nicole Gaudiano and Nicole Gaudiano | USA TODAY

The Democratic National Committee on Saturday advanced efforts to reduce the role of “superdelegates” in the presidential nominating process, among other changes.

Superdelegates are the more than 700 elected officials and party leaders who are free to support the candidate they wish at the Democratic convention. They gave Hillary Clinton an early advantage in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary, and their role was a major point of contention for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ supporters, who argued voters — not party insiders — should choose the Democratic presidential nominee.

The DNC voted to accept a committee report calling for reducing the influence of superdelegates, expanding the use of primaries, working toward same-day registration and same-day party switching, making caucuses more accessible and increasing party transparency and grassroots participation.

While the party agreed on principles, how it will implement the reforms is still to be determined. A committee will now work on writing rules governing the 2020 nominating process, and a final vote will happen this summer.

Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ 2016 campaign manager and a member of the Unity Reform Commission, in a statement called the vote “another step toward creating a process and a party which are open, transparent, accountable, and democratic.”

The party formed the Unity Reform Commission, comprised of members selected by Clinton, Sanders and DNC Chairman Tom Perez, with the goal of making the nominating process “accessible, transparent, and inclusive,” even as divisions between progressives and so-called establishment Democrats persist.

Perez said that by accepting the report, the party is stating "loudly and clearly that the status quo will change."

Weaver said it's "heartening" that Perez and DNC vice chair Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota are advancing the reforms.

"It is increasingly clear that the reactionaries who oppose reform are out of touch — not only with rank and file voters, but also (with) the many elected officials, like Sen. Tim Kaine, and party leaders who understand the importance of re-establishing faith with the American people," he said.