Taking back our party: Delegate and precinct officer positions

"We're going to take back our party, and then we're going to take back our country." –Gov. Howard Dean

The statewide Democratic Party precinct meetings are coming up on March 21, and they're an excellent opportunity for all of us in Democracy for Utah to increase the voice of progressive Democrats in the state party.

I hope you'll strongly consider becoming a precinct officer or delegate this year. In addition, the state party needs election judges, poll watchers, and volunteers for the November election. There's a new energy in the Democratic Party and lots to do, so please take a minute to read over the following information that was provided by Craig Axford, DNC Director of Party Organization for Utah, at the February D4U meetup.

(For more information on becoming a delegate or precinct officer, see this PDF file.)

County and state delegates

Delegates have a lot of power within the party. They select the nominees who will run on the state ballot, select the party leadership (chair, vice chair, etc.), vote on the party platform, and submit resolutions to change the party platform. If a nominee gets over 60% of the delegate vote on the first ballot, they won't face a primary challenger. Salt Lake County delegates are automatically state delegates. Delegates are also called in to vote on a replacement if an officeholder leaves office before their term is up. After Sen. Paula Julander stepped down for health reasons, Sen. Scott McCoy was elected by a margin of just 10 delegates on the second ballot. Although delegates are elected at the statewide precinct meetings (which happen every 2 years), there are often delegate openings throughout this 2-year period.

Precinct officers

Precinct officers include the precinct chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer. The precinct chair should function as a precinct organizer: communicate with registered Dems in their district, run a precinct welcoming program (welcome new Dems to the neighborhood), help fill vacant delegate slots, and recruit volunteers. The goal is to have 25 volunteers in every precinct before the November election. Precinct chair gets a seat on the county central committee. Precinct officers are not automatically delegates, although one person can fill both roles. Precinct officers are elected at the statewide precinct meetings (every 2 years).

Election judges

Unlike becoming a delegate or precinct officer, all you have to do to become an election judge is volunteer. County clerks will provide training for election judges on election procedures and our new Diebold voting machines (boooo). Now that we're stuck with unverified voting, it's important to have honest election judges at the polls who will watch for any irregularities. Also, many election judges are senior citizens who are not as comfortable with computers, so it will help to get some younger (and older) election judges who are more conversant with technology.

Poll watchers

Poll watchers observe the voting rolls on election day and note which Dems haven't voted yet so that Dem HQ can call these people and make sure they vote or arrange a ride for them to the polls.

To win nationally, we have to first win locally. See you on March 21!

(For precinct meeting locations, see this post.)