Hello all,
Well, it’s time again for the Party Conventions. Yeah, me neither–I’ve never been involved in one and have no idea what to do. However, it’s a good chance for us to learn and take another step forward to being a strong Democratic Party in Grant County.
We’ve tried to get the Senior Center for the Convention, but they are apparently booked for June 1. We are checking with the Library, however, anyone with an idea of where we could meet, let me know.
It shouldn’t take over a couple hours–probably a lot less–and we’ll meet around 1:30 or to convene and then end no later than 3:30.
In the meantime, below are excerpts of information from the State Party to help explain the process:
Purpose: to elect a number of delegates to attend the State Convention on Saturday, June 15.
What is a Convention: it is open to any registered Democrat in the County (we’ll have the specific number later after the Primary election).
Basic structure of the day.
· Participants will sign in and complete a pledge form identifying their preferred Presidential candidate
· Doors close at the designated time of the convention in your county – most will start at 10am
· The Chair will read the Call for Convention and Opening Statement – this will be provided to each of you next week
· The Chair will appoint a Permanent Preference Chair for each Presidential candidate that receives at least 15% of the primary vote during the Primary
· The Permanent Preference Chair will identify an area in the room for each Presidential candidate that receives a delegate – the Preference Chair will be representative of the candidate in your county that receives at least 15 percent of the total vote in the Primary election to qualify for a delegate.
· The Chair provides the Permanent Preference Chair with the minutes for each convention
· Attendees move to the identified area of the room to vote. – if only one candidate obtains 15 percent of the vote in your county, this will not be necessary.
· Each presidential candidate convention elects their apportioned delegates
· Minutes are then returned to the Chair, who then announces the Counties delegation to attend the state convention.
· Close of convention
At the State Convention, these delegates will be the only persons eligible to vote for candidates who have declared to run to be delegates to the National Convention in August. Candidates for the National Convention apply in a separate channel and is not done in the county or LD convention process.