Participating In Or Chairing Your Democratic Precinct Convention Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Prepared by: Stan Merriman Updated by: Sarah Gonzales

 

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: 

1. All participants sign in.
2. Call meeting to order. 
3. Elect meeting “Permanent” Chair and Secretary (to take minutes and prepare forms).
4. Chair announces the number of delegates assigned by a formula set by the Party Rules and an equal number of alternates to go to the March 29, 2008 Senate District or County Conventions.
5. Participants nominate and elect Delegates to go to the March 29, 2008 SD or County Convention.  You can nominate yourself and vote for yourself.  Delegates elected do not have to be at the precinct meeting, but must have voted in the Democratic Primary.  That is verified at the SD or County Convention where lists of the voter rolls are maintained. 
6. Chair calls for reading of Resolutions. Participants vote for or against Resolutions to go forward to the SD or County Convention. This is a simple majority rules vote up or down.
7. Logistics of SD or County Convention are discussed and a motion to Adjourn is called for by the Chair. Assignments are made to call Delegates and Alternates not attending the Precinct Convention. 
8. The Chair and Secretary complete and sign the forms provided in the Convention packet, including copies of Resolutions accepted, and follow instructions on disposition and filing of the forms and reports. 

2008 Convention Details and Useful Information

Important Dates

• January 4, 2008 - First Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail
• February 4, 2008 - Last Day to Register to Vote
• February 8, 2008 (if did not request runoff ballot on application for primary ballot) - First Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail
• February 19, 2008  – First Day of Early Voting
• February 26, 2008  - Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (must be received not postmarked by this date)
• February 29, 2008  - Last Day of Early Voting
• March 4, 2008  - Primary Election Date

If runoff elections are required, the following dates apply

• March 10, 2008 - Last Day to Register to Vote
• March 31, 2008  - First Day of Early Voting
• April 1, 2008  - Last Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (must be received not postmarked by this date)
• April 4, 2008  - Last Day of Early Voting
• April 8, 2008  - Primary Runoff Election Date
 
Attend the Senate District (or County) and State Convention!
• March 29, 2008 – Senate District (or County) Convention
• June 5-7, 2008 - Texas Democratic Party State Convention - click here for event information

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

Other Randomly Useful Information

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.

1. Locate the Nov. 7, 2006 General & Special Elections CANVASS REPORT (HTML or PDF available)
2. find the Democrat “governor” results for your Precinct, (Chris Bell)
3. Calculate the total of all votes in your Precinct for Chris Bell, divide 15 into that total (temporary rule change for 2008 and 2010). This should be the number of delegates assigned at the precinct level. You will also need an equal number of Alternates. Note that this information IS included in the packet the convention the Chair receives; this is only a formula if you want to calculate that information in advance. 

A note about voting for delegates (direct quote from the party rules). Each participant in the convention may cast a number of votes equal to the number of Delegates allocated to such Caucus. For example, if there are three positions to be filled, each delegate may cast three full votes in the following manner:

(a) one vote for each of three candidates;
(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.

Secret ballots are prohibited by the party rules!!