Information and training materials about how to organize your precinct and how to get involved are below.
If you don't know which precinct you live in go to Who represents me? and type in your address. Your precinct number is at the very top, to the right of your county. Review the Texas Democratic Party's website for more details.
Now head to your county Party website and find out who your precinct chair is. If there is no information on the website call the Party office. If there is no website, call your county chair.
If there is no precinct chair, ask if you can be appointed. If there is a precinct chair, find their contact information, contact them and volunteer to help organize.
If your precinct chair and/or county Party or chair is nonresponsive, file to run for chair in 2008. An application to have the name of a candidate for the office of county chair placed on the ballot for any election may not be filed earlier than December 3, before the primary election. An application to have the name of a candidate for the office of precinct chair placed on the ballot may not be filed earlier than October 4. An application filed before that day is void. The filing deadline is January 2, of the general election year, at 6 p.m. Texas Election Code Ann. § 172.023. If the deadline for filing falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal state holiday, the deadline is extended to the next regular business day.
The application shall be filed with the county chair or the secretary of the county executive committee, if there
is one. Tex. Elec. Code Ann. § 172.022.
If you are waiting until the last minute you ought to make sure you hand the ballot to someone at headquarters and get their name.
Download a printable version Participating in or Chairing your precinct convention
Download a sample script for chairing a precinct convention
WHY? Because this is your opportunity to impact the affairs / direction of the Democratic Party of Texas. It is the most basic grassroots expression of participatory democracy, right in your neighborhood. This is where Parties get built and changed. The main business is to elect and become a delegate to your Senate District or County Convention (NOTE: counties where the entire county is in the same Senate District have County conventions instead of Senate District conventions) to be held on Saturday March 29, 2008 where delegates to the State Convention are elected and resolutions passed on issues of the day.
WHEN? Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 7:15pm in the building where your precinct has voted on election day. A notice should be posted at the polls to announce the meeting, right after the polls close at 7pm.
WHERE? In or very near the building where your precinct voted during the primary election. Call your County Democratic Party office during the daytime of the week prior to election day to confirm the location. It will also be listed in the newspaper and should be posted on the web site of the County Clerk’s office.
WHO? Anyone who has just voted in the Democratic Primary election starting with early voting through election day on March 4, 2008 . You MUST vote in the Democratic Primary to participate in any Democratic convention.
HOW? First, just show up! Better yet, call friends and Democratic allies in your precinct who share your views on issues you care about and recruit them to join you. Typically these meetings last about an hour.
BRING? Your voter registration card, a pen, paper, and if you wish, a copy of the Democratic Party Rules from the Texas Democratic Party website. Also bring at least 3 copies of issues Resolutions you are interested in presenting to move up the Party chain. The goal is ultimately to write these resolutions, vote on them at the various conventions (precinct, senate district, county and the state convention) and get approved resolutions included in the state Texas Democratic Party platform.
WHAT? The Democrat Chair typically runs the meeting, but if not available, or preferred by the group assembled, any participant can be elected to Chair the meeting. A packet is provided to guide the convention Chair through the meeting steps, agenda and reports that have to be completed which ultimately document the proceedings.
The major business conducted at the precinct convention is to elect delegates and an equal number of alternates to go to the March 29, 2008 Senate District or County Convention and vote on resolutions. Major meeting steps are:
Harris County Clerk’s office
Phone: 713 368-POLL
Election information including poll locations and sample ballots
Harris County Democratic Party Office
1445 North Loop West, Suite 110
Phone: 713-802-0085
Website
Texas State Democratic Party Office
Democratic Party Rules for 2008
You can calculate, in advance the number of Delegates to your SD Convention by visiting the election results archive. (Note these election results pertain only to Harris County, for other counties, please visit your County Clerk website or call if the information is not available online). Refer to the Texas Democratic rules governing conventions if you have any questions.
(a) one vote for each of three candidates;Secret ballots are prohibited by the party rules!!
(b) two votes for one candidate and one vote for one other candidate; or
(c) three votes for a single candidate. Only a full vote may be cast; fractions of a vote are prohibited. Persons receiving the highest number of votes shall be the Delegates elected by that caucus. The rest of the nominees with the highest number of votes will be alternates.
Please check back for details on how to schedule precinct training in your area.
Below you'll find information and tools to help Democrats organize and motivate precincts.
This training presentation is designed to be customized for your Senate District or County. Please be sure to insert your material as appropriate. If you have any questions or need help or training, please contact
The information is provided in 2 formats - Microsoft Powerpoint or Acrobat PDF. They are both downloadable below.