bexar county elections

Being a Precinct Chair Introduction Bexar County Democratic Party July 2008 Precinct Chairs are the grassroots foundation of the Democratic Party. As Precinct Chair, you are the personal contact between your neighbors and the Democratic Party; you are the face of the Party in your neighborhood. In accepting your two-year term as Precinct Chair, you have agreed to take on numerous duties and responsibilities. This guide is intended to provide an overview of those functions. It is not meant to be an all-encompassing, detailed step-by-step manual. In particular, this guide focuses on activities necessary for success during the current election cycle. This guide makes references to online resources prepared by the Precinct Chair Recruitment Committee and the Texas Democratic Party and others. It would be impractical for this guide to repeat all of the information found in these resources, but we encourage you to explore these materials on your own. If you do not have internet access or if you are not computer literate, help for online resources is available at the County Headquarters and from members of the Precinct Chair Recruitment Committee. Continuing Duties and Responsibilities As Precinct Chair there are activities that you are responsible for on a continuing basis: Represent your precinct on the County Executive Committee (CEC) The CEC meets the first Tuesday of each month. As a Precinct Chair, you are a member of the County Executive Committee, and you are central in the decisionmaking process for the Bexar County Democratic Party. You attendance and participation are essential to the direction and function of the Party. Act as the liaison between elected officials and residents of your precinct Few people have an opportunity to meet and talk with elected officials, and vice versa. As Precinct Chair, you provide a conduit from your neighbors to elected officials and from elected officials to the electorate. Prepared by the Precinct Chair Recruitment Committee Page 1 of 6 Being a Precinct Chair Bexar County Democratic Party July 2008 Understand the County and State Party Rules and the Texas Election Code You don’t need to be a lawyer or legislator to read and understand Party Rules. But you will be more effective as a Precinct Chair if you spend a few minutes reading through the “Standing Rules of the Bexar County Democratic Party” (http://www.bexardemocrats.org/Rules.html) and the “Rules of the Texas Democratic Party” (http://www.txdemocrats.org/the_party/tdp_rules). The Texas Election code (http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/el.toc.htm) is more complex, and a law degree would facilitate a complete understanding. evenings when you have trouble falling asleep. Serve your community and the Democratic Party (and have fun doing it!) You provide a valuable service to your neighborhood and the party by providing feedback to the party, by communicating party ideals to the electorate, and most of all by assisting in getting Democratic candidates elected. It can be fun. You will make new acquaintances and develop new friendships. If you have co-workers who incessantly spout right-wing talking points, you will find it refreshing to discuss politics with people who share your values. Take a look at it on Election Year Activities Organize your precinct and build a precinct team You cannot do it alone, but you can recruit help from your family, neighbors, and friends. Those who attended your precinct convention are probably more active than those who merely voted in the primary, use the Precinct Convention sign-in sheets for a list of contacts. Don’t forget those who always vote Democratic. Use the Voter Activation Network (VAN) to locate neighbors who have consistently voted in the Democratic primary. See the presentation on the BCDP website: http://bexardemocrats.org/BCDPPctChairRecruitment.html Initiate Your precinct convention Did your precinct convention begin with a quarrel over who was in charge? As Precinct Chair, your name will be on the packet next time. Your pre-convention Prepared by the Precinct Chair Recruitment Committee Page 2 of 6 Being a Precinct Chair Bexar County Democratic Party July 2008 training will enable you and your team to conduct an orderly precinct convention. Your neighbors will thank you. Register new Democratic voters Use VAN and local voter rolls to determine who in your neighborhood is not registered to vote. Talk with them and see if they would tend to vote Democratic; if so, provide them a postage-paid registration card (available at Party Headquarters and the Post Office). You may not take the completed card from them unless you are a deputy voter registrar. To become a deputy registrar, contact the Bexar County Elections Administrator at 335-VOTE. Help to find election workers judges, alternate judges, and clerks Election judges and clerks are needed for holding orderly elections. You help the Party and your neighborhood by recruiting Democratic election judges and clerks. Canvass your precinct Research has proven that face-to-face voter contact is the most effective way to convince voters to vote for Democrats. No other method, be it television, mail, phone calls, or the Internet, comes even close. Walk the blocks in your neighborhood to get out the Democratic message and get a pulse on the attitudes in your neighborhood. Canvassing tips are available from the National Party at: http://www.democrats.org/a/2008/02/neighborhood_le_3.php Work for all Democratic candidates who represent your precinct The presidential nominee is only the top of the ticket. We also need to elect Democrats to the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, State Senate, State Legislature, and as County Sheriff, County Commissioners, Judges, Justices of the Peace, and Constables. All of our Democratic candidates need your help. Use your team to promote the entire Democratic ticket. Election Day Get out the vote: The more Democratic voters you can get to the polls, the better the results will be. Turnout, turnout and turnout are the three most important ways to win elections. neighbors to vote. Remind them. Motivate your If they are elderly or Page 3 of 6 Prepared by the Precinct Chair Recruitment Committee Being a Precinct Chair Bexar County Democratic Party July 2008 disabled, offer to take them to early vote or to the polls on election day. Better yet, bring them an application to vote by mail. Dress the polls: Those signs around your polling place don’t just spring up by themselves. You help the Party most by dressing your polling place for ALL the Democratic candidates. resources for other needed functions. Work the polls: Have your team set a schedule so that there are always two or more people to greet voters as they arrive at the polls. Hand out literature to make a last-minute appeal for all the Democratic candidates. This frees their Using your team effectively Eager volunteers are an important asset to any precinct, and they should be incorporated into planning in a meaningful and thoughtful way. Key issues to consider when engaging your volunteers: Do not overwhelm your volunteers Make sure that you pass out tasks in meaningful and manageable assignments. Ask them to canvass four apartment buildings, not four apartment complexes Be specific with assignments and time frame Ask them to canvass a specific block by a specific time, not simply “help me get out the vote.” Ask them to make 20 calls by a specified date. Provide the necessary resources If you are passing out pamphlets, provide them with the pamphlets. Assign a team member to get materials from specific candidates. After Action Reports Make sure they report back to you when they have completed their tasks. Prepared by the Precinct Chair Recruitment Committee Page 4 of 6 Being a Precinct Chair Summary Bexar County Democratic Party July 2008 You, as Precinct Chair, are the grassroots foundation of the Democratic Party. With your effort, we have a chance to turn Bexar County Blue, an important milestone toward turning Texas Blue. The Democratic Party is relying on you to turn your neighborhood Blue. This document is a preliminary guide to get you started and direct you to other resources. You should make use of all the resources listed. One resource not yet mentioned is the most valuable: other Precinct Chairs. Some members of the CEC have been Precinct Chairs for several election cycles. Seek them out and ask their advice. They will be happy to share their experiences. Online Resources Bexar County Democratic Party: www.bexardemocrats.org Of particular Interest: BCDP Rules Information for Precinct Chairs Building and Training Your Precinct Team Texas Democratic Party: Of Particular Interest: www.txdemocrats.org Rules of the TDP (under “The Party” Tab) Grassroots Handbook Voter Activation Network (VAN) Democratic Party Bexar County Elections: www.democrats.org www.bexar.org/elections Get a Map of Your Precinct: www.bexar.org/elections/maps/Precinct/pctXXXX.pdf Where XXXX is your precinct number Please note: If you do not have internet access or are not computer literate (or do not have access to a 10-year-old), help for online resources is available at Bexar County Democratic Party Headquarters or though members of the Precinct Chair Recruitment Committee. Prepared by the Precinct Chair Recruitment Committee Page 5 of 6 Being a Precinct Chair List of Clubs Northeast Bexar County Democrats www.nebcd.org Meets 1st Saturday of the Month Luby’s, Tesoro @ 410 Southside Democrats Chain: Gina Castañeda Phone:210-325-6414 Email: gcastaneda@email.com Bexar County Tejano Democrats Chair: Charlie Urbina-Jones Phone: 210-225-5005 Email: cpjlaw@swbell.net Bexar County Democratic Party July 2008 Northwest Democrats www.northwestdemocrats.org Meets 3rd Saturday of the Month Luby’s, Floyd Curl @ Huebner Bexar County Young Democrats www.bexaryd.org Meets 1st Wednesday of the Month Blue Star Restaurant Bexar County Texas Democratic Women www.tdw.org/BexarCounty Meets 1st Monday of the Month Contact: Ruth Stewart Phone: 210-696-7980 Email: RUTHSTEWARTRNCS@aol.com New Era Democrats Contact: Ann FitzGibbons Phone: 210-723-3093 E-Mail: afitzgibbons1@satx.rr.com Stonewall Democrats of Bexar County www.stonewallsanantonio.org Meets 3rd Monday of the Month Grady’s BBQ, San Pedro @ Jackson-Keller College Democrats of UTSA www.geocities.com/utsadems Contact: James Gill Phone: 210-396-9615 Trinity University Democrats Contact: Maxwell Fisher E-Mail: mfisher@trinity.edu San Antonio Area Progressive Action Coalition www.saapac.org Meets 1st Saturday of Month Grady’s BBQ, San Pedro @ Jackson-Keller Prepared by the Precinct Chair Recruitment Committee Page 6 of 6