Proposed Endorsement Procedures for
June 18, 2009

The Elections Committee and the Executive Board would like to present the following procedures.

You can download this as a handout, which includes the races we will consider. (+Court of Appeals Div 1 Dist 1 Seat 3)

46th District Democrats
Endorsement Rules

1. Endorsement Meeting Schedule
   
   
   1. The general membership meeting held on __________________ will consider endorsements for:
      1. All candidate races on the _____________ Election Ballot (Used for a special elections only)
   2. The general membership meeting held on June 18, 2009 will consider endorsements for:
      1. All candidate races on the August 18, 2009 Primary Election Ballot
      2. All ballot measures on the August 18, 2009 Primary Election Ballot
   3. The general membership meeting held on Sept. 17, 2009 will consider endorsements for:
      1. All candidate races that were not considered at the June Endorsement meeting
      2. All candidate races where all endorsed candidates failed to advance to the November General Election Ballot
      3. All ballot measures on the November General Election Ballot


2. Eligibility to Vote

   To be eligible to vote you must be either a 46th LD Precinct Committee Officer (PCO), or a resident 46th District voter who has paid dues at least 21 days in advance of the endorsement meeting (received or postmarked on or before May 28, 2009 for June 18, 2009 meeting, on or before August 17, 2009 for the Sept. 17, 2009 meeting,). Persons who were paid members in good standing of the 46th District Democrats in 2009 may renew their membership up to the time of the endorsement meeting and are exempt from the 21 day advance deadline. PCOs, resident 46th District voters who have paid dues at least 21 days prior to the meeting, and members from the previous year who renew at or prior to the meeting, shall be “eligible voters” for the purpose of endorsements. For the endorsement meetings, PCO’s and members in the previous calendar year shall be eligible to vote at that meeting, and the 21-day renewal timeline shall not apply. Voting by proxy is not allowed.

3. Eligibility for Endorsement

   To be eligible for endorsement, per Article XVI, Section 7 of the bylaws, a candidate for partisan office must file as a Democrat and declare affiliation only with the Democratic Party for a period of at least one year prior to the endorsement meeting. For non-partisan races other than judicial races, a candidate must have (a) declared affiliation only with the Democratic Party, or (b) publicly indicated non-affiliation with any political party for a period of at least one year prior to the endorsement meeting. In addition, for a candidate to be eligible for consideration (with the exception of Presidential candidates) he/she declare his/her party affiliation for the past five years (except candidates for judicial office), and must sign and submit the King County Democrats’ candidate questionnaire. This questionnaire must be received by the Chair of the 46th District Democrats by Monday, June 15, 2009. (Check the King County Democrats' web page at kcdems.org for copies of the questionnaire.)

4. Endorsement Requirements

   Endorsements require a vote of 2/3 of the eligible voters present and voting. Abstentions are not considered votes, and will not be counted in determining the number of votes cast. Voting will be by written ballots issued to eligible voters. (A vote by show of hands may be called in the case of a Third Ballot as described in V.B.3.)

5. Endorsement Procedures – Candidates
   
   
   1. Nominations
      1. For each race with candidates, the floor will be open to nominations/seconds for all eligible candidates and “No Endorsement”. Only eligible voters may make motions to endorse/nominate . A motion to close nominations shall be out of order.
      2. For each motion to endorse, a nomination speech of no more than two minutes and a seconding speech of not more than one minute will be allowed. Speakers shall identify themselves prior to making nomination speeches on behalf of any candidate or ballot measure. Eligible voters MAY cede their time to anyone ineligible to vote at the meeting. Members will hear all nomination/seconding speeches on behalf of all candidates or “No Endorsement” for that race before the vote.
      3. All eligible candidates who are nominated and “No Endorsement” will be an option on the First Ballot.
   2. Voting
      1. First Ballot: Each eligible voter will vote for one nominated candidate or “No Endorsement.” If any nominated candidate or “No Endorsement” receives 2/3, then that vote passes. If neither a candidate nor “No Endorsement” receives 2/3, then we will move to a second ballot. (Note: In the case of a race with only one candidate, the First Ballot is eliminated and we begin with the Second Ballot.)
      2. Second Ballot: The top two choices receiving votes from the First Ballot shall be on the Second Ballot.
         1. Top two options are both candidates: If either of the two candidates receives 2/3, then that vote passes. If not, then move to Third Ballot.
         2. Top two options are a candidate and “No Endorsement”: If either of the two options receives 2/3, then that vote passes. If not, then no endorsement in the race is made.
      3. Third Ballot: If no choice in the Second Ballot received 2/3, then a motion for dual endorsement will be entertained. This motion must pass by 2/3. If not, then no endorsement in the race is made. A show of hands may be called in the case of a Third Ballot.


6. Endorsement Procedures – Ballot Measures
   
   
   1. Nominations
      1. Ballot Measures include all initiatives, referenda, levies, and other races without candidates. The question to endorse a Ballot Measure shall be considered in the form it would appear on the ballot. Nominations for a specific endorsement to support or oppose a Ballot Measure are not in order, as the endorsement—“Support”, “Reject” or “Take no position”—will be determined by the voting.
      2. For each motion to consider a Ballot Measure, a speech of not more than two minutes and a seconding speech of not more than one minute will be allowed for each of the 3 positions “Support”, “Reject” and “Take no position”. Only eligible voters may make motions to endorse/nominate. Eligible voters MAY cede their time to speak to anyone ineligible to vote at the meeting. Members will hear all speeches for that Ballot Issue before the vote.
   2. Voting
      1. First Ballot: Each eligible voter will vote for “Support”, “Reject” or “Take no position”. If any option receives 2/3, then that vote passes. If no option receives 2/3 we move to a Second Ballot.
      2. Second Ballot: The top two choices between “Support”, “Reject” or “Take no position” will appear on the Second Ballot. If either option receives 2/3, then that vote passes. If no option receives 2/3, then the position of the 46th District Democrats will be “Take no position”.


7. Suspension of Endorsement Rules

   Any request to suspend these rules for a particular race or ballot issue must be made prior to the consideration of that particular race or ballot issue. A 2/3 vote is needed for suspension of the rules. The requirement of needing a vote of 2/3 of the eligible voters present and voting for endorsement cannot be suspended.