The Precinct Chair

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The Precinct Chair
To Build an Army of Grassroots Activists This
presentation was produced by the SDEC Grassroots
Committee of the Texas Democratic Party
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Ideal Characteristic of a Good Precinct Chair

• Enthusiastic
• Motivated to work
• Dependable
• Dedicated to finishing the job
• Outgoing and personable
• Patient

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Ideal Characteristic of a Good Precinct Chair

• Has the time to devote to doing the job
• Loyal to the party

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The Precinct Chair

• Most important position in the party in the most
  important district in the party.

• When precincts are organized Democratic
  vote is maximized !

Democrats Win!
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The PrecinctBasic Place Where the Action
Begins!

• Imagine the precincts as tile in a Rubics Cube.

City Council, State Rep, State Senate, US House,
State Board of Education

• Precincts are configured in different
  political districts.

Basic organization starts here

• Precinct always stays the same

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The Precinct Chair Duties and Responsibilities

• Partys official representative in precinct
  carries the partys message and represents the
  precinct at the county executive committee.
• Organizes Canvasses Precinct
• Targets Democratic and persuadable voters.

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The Precinct Chair Duties and Responsibilities
(contd)

• Educates voters about the Democratic Party and
  candidates
• Gets out every Democratic Vote in the Precinct
• Insures every vote is counted
• Holds the Precinct Convention at 715 PM on
  Primary Election Day

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Partys official representative in precinct

• Know the Texas Election Law and the Rules of the
  Texas Democratic Party
• Know the people in your precinct
• Be a bridge between your community and your
  elected officials
• Get involved in local politics
• Serve on community boards and commissions
• Lobby and help your fellow citizens
• Represent the precinct on the County Executive
  Committee (CEC) - Attend the Meetings!

Duties and Responsibilities of the Precinct Chair
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Organize and canvass your precinct

• Know your precinct
• Get a precinct map from the party office or
  Internet and learn your geographical boundaries
• Drive or walk the neighborhoods and get familiar
  with their characteristics
• Strategize possible walk strategies, meeting
  places, etc.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Precinct Chair
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Organize and canvass your precinct (contd)

• Get voter list from your County Party
• Identify strong Ds from primary voting
• Study the list
• Phone the list
• Walk the list
• Update the list

Duties and Responsibilities of the Precinct Chair
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Organize and canvass your precinct (contd)

• Save and study your copy of sign-in lists from
  precinct conventions
• Recruit volunteers from these lists
• Plan events to organize and motivate Democrats in
  your precinct

Duties and Responsibilities of the Precinct Chair
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Educate voters about the Democratic Party and
candidates

• Make sure all Democrats are registered to vote.
• Distribute voting rights information
• Block walk and phone bank for Democratic
  candidates
• Make sure your precinct is covered for candidate
  signs and literature
• Inform your precinct about the Democratic Party
• Let your precinct know when and where to vote and
  who is on the ballot.

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GOTV in Early Vote on Election Day

• Assist Democrats requiring mail-in ballots
• Provide rides to the polls information to
  voters in your area
• Contact known Democratic voters throughout early
  voting and election day to make sure they have
  voted or will vote
• Contact likely Democratic voters (same)

Duties and Responsibilities of the Precinct Chair
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Insures Every Vote Is Counted

• Know what to do and who to call to report and
  obtain answers to questions about election law,
  voting fraud or unfair practices which may occur
• Recruit an election worker (judge or clerk) for
  your poll.
• Have people working the polls outside to
• Direct people who have voting rights questions
• Alert folks on any actions required
• i.e. be sure to check your ballot default is
  Republican!
• Report problems to voter protection center.
• Handout literature

Duties and Responsibilities of the Precinct Chair
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Hold Precinct Convention After Polls Close on
Primary Election Day

• Inform Democrats about the convention days before
  and throughout the day (dont forget voters who
  voted early!)
• Pick up the Precinct Convention Packet and Review
  materials in packet carefully
• Pick up list of people who have voted from the
  Elections Clerk after polls close but before
  715.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Precinct Chair
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Hold Precinct Convention After Polls Close on
Primary Election Day

• Convene convention at 715 as temporary chair
  hold nominations and vote for permanent chair
• Nominate and elect officers, delegates and
  alternates to County or Senate District
  Convention
• Discuss and adopt resolutions to send on
• Collect and prepare sign-in sheets of attendees
  and minutes of convention proceedings
• Turn in sign-in sheets and minutes to County
  Party office as soon as possible within three
  days!

Duties and Responsibilities of the Precinct Chair
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The Precinct Chair

• Overwhelmed, cant do it ALL?
• Establish a precinct TEAM!

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PRECINCT TEAM
Build an army of grassroots activists in your
precinct!
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PRECINCT CHAIR

• Team Leader
• Recruits
• Trains
• Motivates
• Coordinates team
• Insures all responsibilities of precinct team
  are fulfilled!

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PRECINCT TEAM
Build an army of grassroots activists in your
precinct!
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Block Captain

• Knows voters on their block
• Welcomes new residents and registers Democrats to
  vote
• Attends to voting needs for Education and GOTV
• Literature Drops
• Mail in ballot
• Ride to the polls

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PRECINCT TEAM
Build an army of grassroots activists in your
precinct!
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Election Judge or Clerk

• Works as election judge or clerk at polling place
  on Election Day
• Presence prevents voter intimidation
• Insures every vote is counted!
• Note
• In most cases the precinct chair should not be
  the election judge or clerk but this may be
  necessary in some precincts

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PRECINCT TEAM
Build an army of grassroots activists in your
precinct!
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Poll Workers GOTV
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DNC Expectations for Precinct Chairs or
Coordinators

• Recruit 25 volunteers per precinct.
• Create a precinct welcoming program to welcome
  newcomers to the neighborhood.
• Host one social event or meeting each year.
• Run two voter contact programs each year phone
  contact, blockwalking or direct mail.
• Attend one training session per year.

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How To Become a Precinct Chair

• Must be qualified 18 yrs old, resident of the
  precinct, Democratic voting history, not a
  candidate for partisan office at federal, state
  or county level
• Obtain filing form from County Chair and filed
  prior to early January deadline of election year
  to make ballot
• Vacancies between elections may be filled by a
  majority vote of the County Executive Committee
  comprised of all precinct chairs in county
• Party Rules available at www.txdemocrats.org

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Precinct Chair Position Vacant?

• Working precincts are a must for victory
• Be a precinct coordinator!
• Jobs are the same but there are no voting rights
  on the CEC
• Vacancies between elections may be filled by a
  majority vote of the County Executive Committee
  comprised of all precinct chairs in county

Build an army of grassroots activists in your
precinct!
To victory
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Questions?