Transcript PRECINCT CONVENTION PROCEDURES

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
Step
One
Temporary Chair calls convention to order. (This
position is generally filled by the precinct chair;
however, any qualified voter (resides in that precinct
and voted the Democratic primary) can assume the
position of Temporary Chair of the convention)
Note: The precinct convention cannot begin prior
to 7:15, and it cannot begin until the last voter in
line has voted and been given an opportunity to
sign in at the precinct convention.
Step
Two
The Temporary Chair appoints a temporary
secretary of the convention
Temporary Chair calls for all Qualified members of
Three the Party to sign in on Exhibit A with their
presidential preference. “Qualified” means that
they voted in 2008 Democratic primary and reside
in that precinct. Please verify on the voter roll if
you were able to pick it up from the election judge.
Step
Step
Four
Temporary Chair announces that the
convention will be conducted in accordance
with the Texas Election Code and the Rules
adopted by the Party in accordance with
Section 163.002 of the Election Code, and
that the 2000 edition of the Roberts Rules of
Order, Newly Revised will govern
parliamentary procedure. (See the back of
TDP Rules for briefing on Parliamentary
Procedure. )
Temporary Chair announces that a copy of the
party Rules is available for inspection. (This
will be in your packet.)
Step
Five
The Temporary Chair calls for nominations of
Permanent Chair. (These names should be
entered in the Precinct Convention minutes.)
The nominations end when the Temporary Chair
has called for nominations three times and no
more nominations are forthcoming.
Step
Election for Permanent Chair by majority vote. (Enter
the name in the Precinct Convention minutes.)
Six
Step Permanent Chair calls for nominations for Permanent
Seven Secretary. (These names should be entered in the
Precinct Convention minutes)
Step
Eight
Election for Permanent Secretary by majority vote.
(Enter the name in the Precinct Convention minutes.)
Step
Nine
Calculate the Number and Percentages of each
Presidential Preference or Uncommitted Status
at your convention. From Exhibit A, count the
number of participants signed in for EACH
PREFERENCE and the TOTAL OF ALL SIGNED IN and
divide EACH PREFERENCE TOTAL by the total
number of eligible participants of the convention
signed in on Exhibit A. (Total of each
preference/Total signed in=% of each preference)
Step Ten Permanent Chair announces:
•Number of eligible voters on roll (Exhibit A)
•Number of delegates and alternates to the
County/Senatorial Convention (on the front of your
packet)
•Number and percent of eligible members signed in for
each presidential and uncommitted preference.
The Chair should call for the convention to accept the
report. Enter this information in the Precinct Convention
Minutes.
Step Ten,
Continued
After the number and percent of presidential preference or
uncommitted status are announced and accepted by the
convention, anyone else who signs in will be able to
participate, but will not change the established
percentages required for a caucus. Their names should be
marked with an asterisk: *
Step
Eleven
(Work
sheet)
Line
1
Line
2
Line
3
Line
4
Determine the number of people needed to make a caucus
The formula is:
Total # attending convention/Delegates to which your precinct is
entitled You must ROUND UP!
Enter number of people attending your convention (from Exhibit A
sign-in sheet) This is the number that was announced by the Chair
and accepted by the convention.
Enter number of delegates to the SD/County Convention to which
your precinct is entitled. This will be on the front of the packet.
Divide line 1 by line 2, extending to two decimal places
If Line 3 is not a whole number, round UP to the next whole
number. This is the number people required to make a caucus.
Step
Chair announces which presidential or uncommitted
Twelve status caucuses have enough participants to entitle
them to one or more delegates.
The people in unqualified groups are given an
opportunity to join caucuses of their second choice.
The Chair instructs the secretary to indicate these
changes on Exhibit A, and the percentages are
recalculated.
Step
Thirteen
Determine how many delegates each caucus gets.
The Formula is:
Total # in Caucus/Total # at Precinct Convention X Total # of SD or
County Delegates to which Precinct is Entitled (Round DOWN)
If there is an unallocated delegate, the caucus with the highest
fraction gets the delegate.
Worksheet to determine the # of delegates each caucus gets
Clinton Obama Uncommitted Total
Line 1 Enter the total number of eligible people signed in for
each CAUCUS
Line 2 Enter the Total number of eligible participants at
CONVENTION
Line 3 % of Convention (divide line 1 by line 2)
Line 4 Enter Total Number of delegates to which your
precinct is entitled (from the front of the packet)
Line 5 Multiply Line 3 by Line 4 (the percentage times the
number of delegates allotted). This is the raw number
for delegates for this caucus be sure to show
fractions or decimals
Line 6 If # in Line 5 is not a whole # you must ROUND DOWN
Line 7 Add up the number of assigned delegates in Line 6. If
the Total Column is greater than the total of delegates
assigned for each preference, then the additional
delegate goes to preference with the highest fraction
or decimal.
Line 8 Add up the final total for each caucus. Be sure it all
adds up to the total on the front of the packet.
Step
The chair should announce that AT LEAST ONE THIRD of
Fourteen the delegates elected by each caucus must be WOMEN,
and AT LEAST ONE THIRD must be MEN.
(In some cases this cannot be achieved, leaving the
caucus open to possible challenge at the senatorial
district convention or county convention.)
The chair should announce that the delegates will be
elected to the senatorial district convention (or county
convention), which will take place on Saturday, March
29. Each caucus should try to elect delegates who are
able to attend.
The chair should explain that the Texas Democratic Party
Rules, Article I section B.4 specifies that "Every person
who accepts a Party office at any level (including the
position of Convention Delegate and Alternate) must
agree to support all of the Party’s nominees or shall be
removed."
Step
Separate into Groups by presidential preference or
Fourteen, uncommitteed status to elect delegates and alternates
continued from each caucus.
Each caucus will elect an equal number of delegates
and alternates.
If the caucus is large, a caucus chair should be chosen
to lead the election.
All delegates and alternates will be chosen in one
election.
Each person in the caucus gets the same number of votes as the
delegates entitled to their caucus. For example if a caucus is
entitled to 4 delegates each person gets 4 votes, to be voted
whatever way they wish. Multiply the number of caucus participants
by the number of delegates the caucus will elect. Tha’s how many
votes should be cast altogether. (If a cacus of 10 people gets to
elect 4 delegates, there should be a total of 40 votes cast.)
Step 14a
Nominate
Delegates
&
Alternates
Step 14b
Conduct
the Vote
Nominate at least enough candidates to fill the positions. Nominations
cease when a motion is made to close, the motion is seconded, and 2/3
of the caucus votes to close nominations. Record votes in a table.
(Write the names of nominees on rows going down, also indicating
gender. Make columns to record how each caucus member votes.)
Each caucus member votes when his or her name is read off the toll call
list. The caucus leader records each member’s votes in a separate
column. Note: there are no secret ballots. Check that the number of
votes cast matches the total that was calculated earlier.
Step 14c
Unless the caucus gets to elect only one delegate, the highest male voteDetermine getter and the highest female vote-getter will be delegates.
delegates, Those receiving the highest number of votes are delegates. After all
alternates delegate slots are filled, the next highest vote-getters are alternates.
Some people may have to be chosen as delegates even if they didn’t get
the most votes, for the sake of gender equity. Remember that
whenever possible, at least a third of the delegates elected by the
caucus must be women, and at least a third must be men.
Step
Fifteen
Delegates and alternates are for each caucus are
reported. The chair then asked for the convention to
ratify the delegates and alternates. On Exhibit A, the
secretary marks the names of the Delegates with a
“D” and Alternates with an “A.”
In the event someone not present at the convention
was elected as a delegate or alternate, his or her
name should be entered with a double asterisk: **
If any delegates or alternates remain to be elected, these are done
at-large by the entire precinct convention.
Step
Sixteen
The chair calls for nominations to elect a delegation
chair for the precint to the senatorial district
convention or county convention.
The secretary enters names of nominees in the
minutes. The chair conducts the election.
Step
The chair calls for resolutions, and the convention votes on each
Seventeen resolution.
Resolutions that are adopted by majority vote are signed and
attached to the minutes.
Step
Eighteen
After everyone has voted on resolutions, announcements can be
made. The precinct chair should ask people to sign up for the
precinct team. Get an early start on working together to identify
voters and then turn out the vote in November!
Then the convention adjourns.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE
CONVENTION:
Call in numbers to TDP results line.
The phone number is indicated on the
outside of the packet.
You must return the paperwork
(Exhibit A, minutes, resolutions) to the
County Democratic Party
headquarters or county chair and state
party within three days.