Participating In Your Democratic SD Convention Saturday, March 29, 2008

Download a printable version of Participating in your SD Convention Texas state reference

WHY? Because this is your opportunity to impact the affairs / direction of the Democratic Party of Texas. This is participatory politics where the results mean something. Grassroots politics at its finest.  This participation gives you the opportunity to

1. select delegates to the State Democratic Convention who represent the political will of people in your area; and
2. approve, modify or reject resolutions from the precinct conventions which will move to the State Convention to shape the State Democratic Party’s platform and governance.

WHEN? Saturday, March 29, 2008.  Each Senate District/County holds a separate convention.  As a result, times vary.  Details for all Senate District conventions are available by calling your County Party office.  These contacts are available at the TDP website or calling the State Party Office at 1-512-478-9800.

WHERE? Contact your County Party office.

WHO? 1) Participants who were elected at their primary election Precinct Conventions or 2) other interested Democrats. If you were unable to attend your precinct convention, contact your Senate District chair immediately to request to be considered for a delegate slot at the Senate District Convention. The Credentials Committee at each Senate District Convention will make the final determinations about delegates.

BRING? A snack, water, resolutions, or campaign information. A copy of Texas Democratic Party Rules, available for download.

WHAT? Meet with other Democrats to hear about what is happening in your area.  Delegates to the State Convention, to be held in Austin, TX on June 5 – 7, 2008 will also be chosen.  In addition, you may serve on the various committees necessary to operate your Senate District/County Convention:

• Credentials (verifying eligibility of delegates)
• Nominations (select delegates and alternates to the State Convention; one Delegate and Alternate per 300 votes for Governor in the last general election)
• Platform and Resolutions (review Resolutions that will be forwarded to the State Convention for deliberation)
• Rules and Procedures (assuring Party rules are followed at the convention and hearing rules violations complaints).  

These committee positions fill up fast. Contact your Senate District Chair immediately to request appointment to a committee.

MAIN BUSINESS OF THE SD CONVENTION

Elect Convention officers. Establish the roll of delegates attending the Senate District Convention. Meet with Committees and render reports, including the reading of resolutions approved by the Resolutions Committee. Engage in a floor debate about resolutions. Report on allocated Delegates and Alternates to the State Convention and election of Delegates and Alternates. Elect a Delegation Chair and distribute information about the State Convention. Hear speeches from candidates, Democratic Party officials, and other Democrat office holders. Hear about Harris County Democratic Party and campaign activities. Meet like-minded Democrats.

008 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!!