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Run your precinct convention like a pro

by: MarkCamann

Wed Feb 27, 2008 at 11:42 PM CST

( - promoted by Phillip Martin)

With all the attention that Tuesday night's precinct convention (or caucus, or "Texas Two-Step" part 2) is getting, there's going to be an enormous turnout at polling places at 7:15 pm on March 4, because so much is at stake.

It is crucial that each convention be conducted properly, because 67 national convention delegates will be elected through the process that begins with the precinct conventions in Texas. Every precinct throughout the state is in need of a precinct convention chair who understands the rules and can run the convention properly.

This precinct convention chair doesn't have to be the "precinct chair" who was elected in 2006, or a candidate for precinct chair whose term, if elected, will begin this year on April 28. Any Democrat who participates in the precinct convention can be elected as the permanent convention chair. And, if you know what needs to be done, that could be you.

The Rules Committee of the Bexar County Democratic Party has created an online training session on precinct convention procedures. Check it out here.

(While I contributed to this training module, the principal creators were Zada True-Courage, Ian Straus, Larry Meads, Dick Waits, and Nancy Timmer-Froment. My congratulations to them on a job well done!)

Tags: precinct, convention, Caucus, Rules, (All Tags)

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Run your precinct convention like a pro | 4 comments

Verry good (0.00 / 0)

We got a similar document at the Travis county trainings but it is nice to have an online version. Thanks.

by: bb1 @ Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 16:16:50 PM UTC

Excellent (0.00 / 0)

Thank you to Zada True-Courage, Ian Straus, Larry Meads, Dick Waits, and Nancy Timmer-Froment for this handy procedure checklist.

by: sonia @ Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 17:38:15 PM UTC

Thank You (0.00 / 0)

Terrific info, perfect timing. Thanks for getting this online.

by: Judith Ford @ Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 17:53:17 PM UTC

Running the precinct convention just got harder (0.00 / 0)

In an effort to fend off potential challenges to the precinct convention process, Texas Democratic Party officials studied the Texas Election Code and issued two documents clarifying several issues: a Frequently Asked Questions list, and a supplement on Handling of Provisional Participation.

The additional steps make the process even more complex, and we'll just have to cross our fingers and hope that every precinct has someone step forward who understands this stuff.

In a nutshell (on second thought, this isn't a nutshell, but rather an "explication de texte"), here are the clarifications:

Nobody signs in until the precinct convention begins.

The convention can't start before 7:15 pm, and it can't start until everyone is done voting.

Once the signing in is finished, people are free to leave, and their having signed in will count in their candidate's favor. (But if too many people leave early, that candidate's caucus might have a hard time finding enough people to elect as delegates and alternates.)

The election judge must provide the poll list to the temporary convention chair. No exceptions. If you can't get the poll list from the election judge, call the TDP help line, 1-800-336-3254 (not active until 6:00 pm on March 4).

Every participant's ID needs to be checked.

If you have your voter registration card and it has been stamped appropriately ("Democrat," for example) or a voting receipt, you won't need further ID, and you won't need to be verified on the poll list. You can take part in the precinct convention.

If you don't have a voter registration card or voting receipt, then the poll list will be checked.

If the poll list confirms that you voted in the 2008 Democratic primary in your precinct (or in early voting), then you will need to present further identification, or else you will be a "provisional participant."

If the poll list doesn't show that you voted in the 2008 Democratic primary for your precinct, you will be a "provisional participant."

Acceptable forms of ID are:

A voter registration card (even if unstamped
Texas driver's license or personal ID issued by the Department of Public Safety (even if expired)
Any photo ID that establishes identity
Birth certificate, U.S. passport, or citizenship papers
Official mail addressed to the person from a government agency
A current utility bill, bank statement, government check, or paycheck showing name and address
These are the most common forms of acceptable ID. Here's the complete list.

You don't have to be present at the precinct convention to be elected as a delegate to the county convention or senatorial district convention on March 29. But you should let someone know who does attend the precinct convention so you can be nominated.

Here's what changes if there are provisional participants:

Provisional participants are indicated on the sign-in sheets with a "P."

Calculations will need to be done twice, the first time without provisional participants, the second time including them.

If the provisional participants affect the allocation of delegates, then the delegates will not be indicated on the sign-in sheet. Instead, lists must be made on separate sheets of paper, and the Credentials Committee at the March 29 will make any necessary adjustments.

Totals and percentages for each candidate must be done twice, first excluding, then including the provisional participants.

The threshold must be done twice, first excluding, then including the provisional participants.

If the provisional participants affect the threshold, the caucuses must be done twice. Consult the memo.

If the provisional participants affect the allocation of delegates, the voting must be done twice, first excluding, then including. In both rounds, each person casts as many votes as there are delegates to elect (i.e., a different number of votes the second time). Each caucus will prepare a full list of the results from each round, in order from highest number of votes to lowest, and showing how many votes. Label the lists to indicate which caucus, and indicate which lists exclude provisional participants, and which lists include them. Consult the memo to be sure everything is done properly.

by: MarkCamann @ Sat Mar 01, 2008 at 13:35:04 PM UTC

Run your precinct convention like a pro | 4 comments

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