Frequently Asked Questions

How are Congressional District Caucus/State Convention delegates and alternates allocated?

Delegates and alternates to the Congressional District Caucuses and the State Convention shall be apportioned among the Legislative Districts and Counties based on a formula giving equal weight to the number of registered voters in January 2008, and to the average of Democratic presidential and gubernatorial votes cast in the 2004 general election.

Does the 15% Rule apply at Legislative District Caucuses?

Yes, the 15% rule applies to all level of the caucus cycle except for the Precinct Caucuses.

The 2008 Delegate Selection and Affirmative Action Plan State the following

3. The meeting chair shall announce a preliminary vote count and delegate allocation, including the number of votes needed to qualify for the 15% threshold. This announcement shall be followed by a reasonable period of time to allow caucus participants to change their presidential preference. The State Democratic Chair shall provide procedures for the conduct of the caucus to ensure the maximum participation and clearly demonstrate that those supporting candidates who are not meeting the 15% threshold may consider switching candidates to remain active in the process.
4. Each presidential preference, which receives 15% or more of the votes cast at a meeting, (except at the precinct caucus level where no threshold is required) shall receive his or her share of the delegates allotted. If no presidential preference reaches the 15% threshold, the threshold shall be the highest percentage received by a presidential preference minus 10%. Alternates shall be allocated in the same proportion as delegates. These calculations shall be made pursuant to Rule 13 as follows:

   Step 1: Tabulate the percentage of the vote that each presidential preference receives,

   Step 2: Retabulate the percentage of the vote, to three decimals, received by each presidential preference excluding the votes of presidential preference whose percentage in Step 1 falls below 15%,

   Step 3: Multiply the number of delegates to be allocated by the re-tabulated percentage received by each presidential preference.

   Step 4: Delegates shall be allocated to each presidential preference based on the whole numbers that result from the multiplication in Step 3.

   Step 5: Remaining delegates, if any, shall be awarded to the highest fractional remainders in Step 3. Ties shall be determined by lot.

When and how can delegates change their presidential preference?

Delegates and alternates may sign in for any preference they choose if “in all good conscience” they cannot represent the candidates they were elected to support. There is no test they must pass. Delegates and alternates will be allowed an opportunity to change preference after the election of the Permanent Chair and subsequent to the report of the Credentials Committee enumerating the supporters of each preference as reflected on the Sign-in sheets. The Permanent Chair shall allow a period to permit advocates of each preference to make a presentation not to exceed 5 minutes each.

An opportunity for delegates to change preferences shall be allowed and shall not exceed 15 minutes. If any preference remains below the 15% threshold an additional period shall be allowed for changing of preferences. At this point any delegate will be allowed to change, not merely those supporting preferences previously falling below the 15% level. Delegates are allowed to change to any preference, whether the preference is for a candidate who continues to actively campaign, has suspended his or her campaign, has released his or her delegates, failed to appear on the original sign-in sheets, or is a generally recognized candidate or not.

Who is allowed to vote on resolutions and platforms?

When a County of Legislative District writes it’s rules it can adopt any restrictions it desires regarding who can vote on resolutions and platform issues. It is suggested however that you opt for more inclusion than less. You could allow delegates and alternates to vote on their platforms in order to give the alternates more stake in the outcome or you could open voting to all attendees who are residents of the county or legislative district.

Your questions

The following list of questions came from alternates and delegates. Please send in your questions!

Will delegates/alternates get a call to remind them of the April 5th caucus?

The 46thLD will be sending all the delegates and alternates an "official call" via mail, at least 10 days prior to the 5th. It will have the agenda, rules, platform, etc. They will also be emailing all of them a reminder. If you have any suggestions or ideas for the Call, please contact Janet Miller.

What if a delegate can’t attend, or what if I have to leave early?

An Alternate from your Precinct should be available to take your place. It is critical to let your precinct captain, caucus location coordinator, Jayron (jayronfinan@gmail.com) or Gaurab (gaurab.bansal@gmail.com) know if you cannot make it so we can put extra effort into making sure that there is an alternate available.

Can the alternates go if they want to observe?

Yes, absolutely! We highly encourage them to. They can even serve as "break" delegates (if things are the same as last time) if a delegate needs to step out or leave early, they can serve as a delegate for their precinct. Alternates are encouraged to become members of the organization so they can vote on the platform as well.

What if someone loses the certificate ascertaining their delegate (or alternate) status?

There is a record of it, so it's shouldn't be a problem, but we would recommend trying to keep track of it.

Can non-delegate/non-alternates attend?

Yes, this is a public event. Members of the 46th LD are encouraged to attend as well, as we will be considering the Platform after the Delegate votes which is something that all members have voice and vote on. Additionally, anyone may run for delegate for the next level, but they may not vote for themselves since they don’t have a vote.

What is the specific process for sorting out delegates for the next level?

Individuals should decide if they would like to run for delegates to the next level, and candidates for those delegate spots will give brief speeches and are voted on to become CD/State delegates.

It is important to be aware of the logistics of this step. We have 896 delegates for Obama in the 46th, running for around 40 delegate slots to the CD level. If we have 150 people who want to run for those slots, and each of them get 1 minute to speak, we will be there for 2.5 hours just to hear them all. Do as much campaigning as possible before the event, and be cognizant of the chances of being elected. There is a lot more to do in the 46th this year besides go to the CD caucus and National Convention, and we need people to do all of it.

If you represent a candidate, will you face any lobbying to change to the other one at the LD caucus? Would it be inappropriate to lobby a delegate from another candidate to change?

Not at all! That's all part of the process. Be open to listen, but stand firm for your values. Remember, if you get an opportunity to listen, you also should be given an opportunity to speak, and you have as much chance to convince someone to switch to Obama as they have to get someone to switch to another candidate. Don't ignore those opportunities, but also don't take it personal if someone doesn't switch because of you, and keep a smile throughout.

What happens if a number of delegates are no-shows? (i.e. SHOULD some alternates go just in case, if that is allowed?)

Alternates are "seated" in the delegates place if they don't show. We would recommend ALL alternates go at least for the beginning to make sure we fill all of the delegate spots. Alternates should speak to their delegates and find out not only if they should show up at the beginning, but if they should stay until the end.

Are the resolutions heard at this level?

At the LD level, yes, it's where the LDs form their platform.

Will people running for delegate need to prepare a speech?

It is not required that people running for delegate give a speech. But it probably helps their candidacy. They will be given 30 seconds.

Does affirmative action (besides splitting the delegates between men and women) apply at this level for selecting delegates?

It doesn't apply from the Precinct level to the LD level. It will apply from the LD level to the CD level. If we have 40 delegates, we will probably be electing 20 men and 20 women.

What is the most upsetting thing people have reported from this experience?

It sometimes takes a LONG time to get through the process and it's usually a long day and isn't perfect. Everyone putting it on is a volunteer, but patience wears thin late in the day. How to help: Learn the process, and volunteer to help with the sign-in tables and ballot counting.

What do people typically report likely about it?

The "horsetrading" (trying to swing delegates your way) is usually fun and exciting, especially when it works!