The
Precinct Convention
By D. A. Sharpe
The most basic form of democracy is the precinct convention. If you have not participated in precinct conventions, I urge you seriously to become involved. Make plans to attend, and glean from this article.
I encourage every voter to participate in the precinct convention. It does not take long, and it is what helps shape the political process. If you have not participated in a precinct convention, I hope you make plans to do so. This article is for you to have a clearer and better understanding.
Precinct conventions are the process that starts the
political party activity, for Republicans and Democrats, each election
cycle.
Anyone who votes in the Primary Election is eligible to
participate in the precinct convention, but only in the precinct in which one
votes. However, a Republican primary voter may only participate in the
Republican precinct convention. The same
holds true for Democrats. The Temporary
Chairman, who is usually the Precinct Chairman for the appropriate political
party, convenes the meeting at
The Temporary Chairman will arrange, in advance, for at least two other voters eligible to participate in the precinct convention to serve as a Temporary Secretary and a Temporary Sergeant of Arms. These arrangements for “Temporary” officers provide structure to start the convention. The Temporary Secretary is responsible to verify that the voters in attendance have voted in the primary. The Secretary will take the minutes of the convention and submit them on a timely basis to the county chairman of that political party. The Temporary Sergeant of Arms is responsible to get the physical arrangements in order for the convention, such as identifying a seating area, podium or place for the Chairman, and to keep order (the bouncer).
The precinct convention does only three things. First, it elects permanent officers to replace the three temporary officers. Usually, a motion is passed to make the Temporary officers the Permanent officers. However, if there is desire among convention participants to elect other eligible participants to these roles, a simple majority vote can attain that.
Secondly, the precinct convention elects delegates and
alternate delegates to go to the county convention which will occur this year
on
What is an alternate? It is a person ready to serve as a delegate, should any of the primary delegates not be able to attend the county convention. It is good for the alternate to attend, because there are usually last minute absences, which allow many of the alternates to serve as delegates at the county convention.
The range of precinct delegates eligible from the Wise County Republican Party goes from two to 30, with an average of 11 per precinct. For our Wise County Democratic Party, its precinct representation goes from one to seven, with an average of four. A like number of alternates are selected. A precinct may elect any number of delegates up to those maximums. If a precinct is eligible for six delegates and six alternate, and only nine people were nominated to the county convention, then the six highest vote getters would become the delegates and the remaining three would become the alternates. If more than 12 are nominated, individual voting needs to take place. If only five are nominated, all five are elected automatically as delegates, and the precinct sends no alternates.
The Republican Chairman needs to have paper for written ballots available, as their participants are free to choose written ballots. However the Democratic Party of Texas prohibits written ballots at any meeting their organizations. Only voice voting or some type of public counting is legitimate, such as counting raised hands or standing people.
Thirdly, the precinct conventions hear any proposed resolutions. The participants may discuss, amend and choose by majority vote whether to send a resolution to the county convention. The intention is to be subject matter for the party’s platform that is to be revised at that party’s state convention (and even on to the national conventions).
The county convention serves the same three functions as the precinct. The number of delegates and alternates each party may elect to its state convention is the number of votes cast in the 2002 general election for that party’s gubernatorial candidate, divided by 300. For the Wise County Republican Party, it may send 27 delegates and 27 alternates. For the Wise County Democratic Party, it may send eight delegates and eight alternates to its convention. There is nothing inappropriate about husbands and wives being elected.
One important thing to remember about the state convention is that delegates and alternates attend at their own expense. There may be some other source to help with expenses, but the primary responsibility accepted is to foot your own expenses. Expenses are transportation, one or two night’s lodging, and meals. You may be asked for a voluntary gift to your party to help with its expenses.
The Republican Party State Convention this year is June
2-3 at
Effective participation is the key to success. Be prepared to have qualified, willing people to nominate representing the party at the next level. Attend to the convention with other participants knowing what you will propose and who will support you. Have someone prepared to second your motion and to support you.
The people nominated as a delegate or alternate do not have
to be present at the meeting. Their only requirement is to have voted in that
party’s primary election. The act of
voting in a party primary in
So there it is. I strongly encourage you to participate in the process. It will enhance your experience in the community. It will broaden your horizons and perspectives.
Links for election information:
Texas Secretary of State Office: www.sos.state.tx.us
Texas Ethics Commission: www.ethics.state.tx.us
Democratic Party of
Republican Party of
Wise
Authorship Data:
D. A. Sharpe,
H: 817-638-5560
C: 817-504-6508
www.dasharpe.com
www.wiserepublicans.org
Acknowledgements
and my gratitude go for contributions to the composition of this article from
the following friends:
Dr. Fred Ryle Stated Clerk, Grace Presbytery,
Carolyn Orlebeke Administrative Assistant for the Senior
Pastor,
Trip Jones
Christa Price A Wise County voter and wife of a Republican Precinct
Chairman
(Mrs. Robert)