Thank you for your interest in serving the Bexar County Democratic
Party. We need volunteers working throughout the county to help get
Democrats elected. Among our most important volunteers are precinct
chairs and precinct coordinators.
What is a precinct chair?
The precinct chair is a publicly elected party official representing a
voting precinct. The precinct chair is elected by the Democratic voters
in that precinct in the primary and serves a two-year term. The
precinct chair is the "go-to person" for all Democratic precinct
activity. An active, effective precinct chair makes an enormous
difference in the success of the Party and our candidates.
What are the duties and responsibilities of a
precinct chair?
Among the official and unofficial duties and
responsibilities of the precinct chair are:
- Be a standing member of the County Executive Committee
- Represent the precinct by attending every County
Executive Committee meeting
- Understand the Texas Democratic Party Rules and the Texas
Election Code
- If the county chair fails to call a County Executive
Committee meeting, join with other precinct chairs in calling the
meeting
- Organize the precinct and get to know the people in the
precinct
- Bridge the gap between voters and elected officials
- Help find judges, alternate judges, and election clerks
- Encourage primary voters to attend the precinct convention
- Place signs at the primary polling place indicating the
location of the precinct convention
- Organize and conduct the precinct convention
- Get people to do the following volunteer jobs:
- Work the precinct polling place on Election Day
- Pass out literature
- Report pertinent information back to the Democratic
party headquarters and Democratic campaigns
- Dress the polling place with campaign signs on
Election Day
- Get our voters to the polls
- Other duties as needed, as this list is not comprehensive
What is a precinct coordinator?
In precincts that do not have a precinct chair, the
precinct coordinator is a volunteer who organizes to turn out the vote,
as the precinct chair would do. But the precinct coordinator does not
serve on the County Executive Committee and does not have an official
role in the precinct convention (though the precinct convention may
choose him or her to preside over that convention). Many times,
precinct coordinators apply to become appointed as precinct chair in
vacant precincts. But if you do not wish to serve on the County
Executive Committee, the Democratic Party can still use your help as
precinct coordinator. Also, you are welcome and encouraged to join
standing committees of the Bexar County Democratic Party.
What are the qualifications for a precinct
chair?
A precinct chair should be an outgoing,
self-motivated person who likes people. To be eligible as precinct
chair, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be registered to vote in Bexar County
- Currently reside in the precinct
- Not be an elected official in federal, state, or county
government, or a candidate for such office (Local government officials
and candidates are eligible.)
- For late applicants seeking appointment in even-numbered
years, you must have voted in the Democratic primary (not including the
primary runoff), or else taken an oath of affiliation with the
Democratic Party (If you voted in another party's primary or took part
in another party's convention, you are ineligible until the next
calendar year.)
- The qualifications listed above are required by the Texas
Election Code. It is also desirable that precinct chairs have internet
and e-mail capabilities and basic computer skills.
How can I become a precinct chair for the
2012-2014 term?
Precinct chairs are elected in the Democratic Primary in even-numbered years. There is a filing period, usually 90 days long. Filing for the current term ended on June 1, 2012, the election was held on July 31, and the term of office began on August 20.
If your precinct does not yet have a precinct chair, you can apply to be appointed to fill the vacancy. Check here to see whether your precinct has a chair: 2012-2014 Precinct Chair List. We cannot accept your application if there is no vacancy in your precinct.
The application is available online at sos.state.tx.us/elections/forms/pol-sub/2-1f.pdf. Your application should indicate that it is for the UNEXPIRED TERM. Notarization of late applications is encouraged but not required. Late applications should be submitted to the Precinct Recruitment and Training Committee (PRTC), either in person at the BCDP headquarters, 3000 West IH-10, or by mail to BCDP, PO Box 12534, SA, TX 78212. - MAP TO PARTY HQ
Vacancies are filled by the County Executive Committee (CEC, the committee of all precinct chairs).
Vacancies cannot be filled before the term begins, and they require a majority quorum. (This is one reason why it is crucial that precinct chairs attend these meetings regularly!) Alternatively, the CEC may fill vacancies in the absence of a majority quorum by conducting a vote by mail. By state law, this appointment requires participation of a majority of the CEC, so it is crucial that precinct chairs return their ballots. We anticipate preparing a mail-in ballot to appoint precinct chairs within the next few months, and when we have a specific timeline for doing so, it will be announced here.
As specified in the Continuing Rules of the Bexar County Democratic Party, the PRTC reviews applications for statutory eligibility using the criteria listed above. The PRTC also makes recommendations to the CEC, whenever a majority quorum is present, as to which applicants the PRTC feels should be appointed to fill vacancies. The criteria for recommendation include voting history in the most recent Democratic primary election, willingness to work in the precinct, willingness to attend CEC meetings, and for those who previously served as precinct chair, actual attendance at CEC meetings during their period of service. Applicants are encouraged to submit a questionnaire to the PRTC. View & Print the questionnaire. The questionnaire can be turned in at, or mailed to, the party office, or scanned and sent by e-mail to the committee co-chair at txpianoforte@yahoo.com.
Please note that there are no right or wrong answers to questions posed in the questionnaire, and that the PRTC does not have any authority as to who becomes a precinct chair. Whether you become a precinct chair is determined by the Democratic primary voters if you file to be on the ballot, or by the CEC if you seek appointment during an unexpired term.
If you have not yet received or do not seek the recommendation of the PRTC, you will still have the opportunity to be appointed by the CEC, provided that you are eligible. After the vote on recommended applicants, the PRTC will present a list of all remaining eligible applicants, and give each an opportunity to introduce themselves to the CEC prior to a vote on their appointment. In this case it is important that you be present at the CEC meeting.
How can I become a precinct coordinator?
Precinct coordinators can be appointed by the
County Executive Committee or by the Precinct Recruitment and Training
Committee. "Precinct coordinator" is not an office specified by the
Rules of the Texas Democratic Party or the Texas Election Code, but it
is nevertheless an important responsibility. Our Democratic candidates
depend on having a large network of volunteers working to turn out the
vote, whether or not they are precinct chairs.
How can I get more information?
Please refer questions to Mark Camann, co-chair of
the Precinct Recruitment and Training Committee,
512-698-5477, txpianoforte@yahoo.com.
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