August 25-28, 2008 Denver, Colorado 2008 D emocratic N ational C onvention

Nominating the Next President of the United States Be There!

Virginia Delegate Selection Plan How it works –Primary –Local Caucus –District & State Conventions Your part in it –Voter –Volunteer –District/State Convention Delegate –National Convention Delegate

Delegate Selection Plan Summary Presidential Preference Primary –February 12, 2008 –Allocates delegate totals Caucus/Convention Process –City/County Caucuses elect 2000 delegates,1000 alternates to District and State Conventions –District/State Conventions elect 103 delegates,14 alternates to National Convention

Delegate “Pyramid” /\ National: 49 At Large (State conv.) / \ National: 54 District (District conv.) / \ State: 2000 city/county caucus

National Convention Delegates & Alternates Summary TypeDelegateAlternate District Level5411 Unpledged PLEO18-- Unpledged Add-on 2-- Pledged PLEO11-- At Large18 3 TOTAL10314

Delegate Selection – Resources Democratic Party of Virginia (DPV) – –1710 East Franklin Street Richmond, VA Phone: (toll-free ) Fax: Materials: –Delegate Selection Plan –Brochure –Workshop Presentation

Step 1 – Register to Vote Contact Local Registrar or State Board of elections: Must be 18 by Election Day, U.S. Citizen Register at courthouse, DMV, other sites You can register by mail Fill out form completely and verify No party registration

Step 2 –Volunteer Presidential candidates: –Help candidates get their petitions signed (December 14, 2007 Deadline) –Turnout for February 12, 2008 primary –Organize for caucuses/conventions Volunteer to help your local party –Contact DPV

Sign & Date for 8 Candidates Need 10,000 Signatures –DNC Rules mandate 5,000 max We agreed to collect 5,000 –One form, 8 Candidates Let’s get it done now Contact state party

Presidential Campaigns Hillary for President- John Edwards for President- Kucinich for President- Obama for America-

Step 3 – Presidential Primary When? –February 12, 2008; 6 am to 7 pm Where? –Usual Precinct Polling Place Who Can Vote? –Any Registered Voter You will be entered in the Democratic Poll book

Presidential Primary – Allocation of Primary Results The Presidential Primary Result totals will be used to allocate district/State Convention delegates & National Convention delegates Candidates must receive 15% of primary vote State Party will provide lists to each jurisdiction with numbers of district/State Convention and National Convention delegates for each candidate

Step 4 – City/County Caucuses City/County caucuses elect district/state convention delegates and alternates May be assembled or unassembled caucuses April 19, 12:00 noon or April 21, 7:30 pm Absentee voting (optional) – April 17, 7 pm Delegate filing deadlines – April 14 or 16 Caucuses must be publicized and locations must be accessible

City/County Caucuses Jurisdictions will have a list of the number of delegates allocated to each presidential candidates If only enough delegates pre-file, local party can cancel caucus Slate voting is permitted Jurisdictions may use city or county conventions as an intermediate step

City/County Caucuses To participate in a city or county caucus: –Be a registered voter –Reside in the jurisdiction –Sign a Democratic pledge form To be a district/State convention delegate –Prefile –Voluntary Administrative Fee of $25 max to cover expenses (can be waived)

Step 5 – National Convention Delegate Elections District Conventions –Elect total of 54 delegates, 11 alternates – 4 to 7 delegates, 1 alternate per district –May 10, 17 or 24, 2008 –Filing Deadlines: Apr. 25, May 2, or May 9, 2008 State Convention –Elect 18 At large dels, 3 alts, 13 Party Leader dels (18 automatic) –June 14, 2008, Hampton Virginia –Filing Deadline: June 2, 2008

Delegation Virginia’s Delegation will be equally divided between men and women at the district and state levels All delegates must be pledged; there will be no uncommitted delegates Presidential candidates have the right to approve or disapprove all National Delegate candidates

District Level National Delegates DistrictDelegatesAlternates MalesFemalesTotalMalesFemalesTotal # # # # # # # # # # #

District Conventions – Business National Delegates/Alternates Elections Elector – one per district Resolutions (optional) Congressional nominations (if not nominated by primary) Other business

State Convention Delegates At large Delegates (18) and Alternates (3) Unpledged Add-on Delegates (2) (nominated by Party Chair) Pledged Party Leader and Elected Official Delegates (11) Unpledged Party Leader and Elected Official Delegates (18) – Automatic

State Convention – Business Delegate/Alternate Elections Election of DNC Members (four) Selection of two electors Resolutions Party Building Activities State Committees: Rules, Credentials, Resolutions

15% Threshold State delegates: –Threshold applies at level at which state delegates are selected –Normally applies county-wide –Where counties are split and hold separate caucuses, allocation takes place at each caucus. National delegates: –District delegates – 15% of District vote –At Large/PLEO – 15% of State-Wide vote

Delegate Selection Issues If you want to be considered at both the district and State levels, you must file separately for each level. If a presidential candidate drops out after the primary, the candidate still gets delegates/alternates elected at the district level, but at-large slots are reallocated.

Affirmative Action – Policy All meetings are open. Discrimination is prohibited. Outreach to Democratic constituencies including African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian/Pacific Americans, women, ethnics, youth, persons over 65 years of age, veterans, lesbians and gay men, workers, persons with a high school education or less, persons with disabilities, and persons of low and moderate income.

Affirmative Action Committee Publicize primary and delegate selection process to all media Special efforts for minority, student, constituency media, press and publications Contact/inform constituency organizations Work with City, County, District Affirmative Action/Outreach Committees

Affirmative Action Principles Welcome all into our Democratic Party Outreach to all communities Increase participation of all constituencies

Affirmative Action Methods Use Party Outreach/AA Committee Structure Provide information –Press, Websites, Newsletters, –Events, Meetings Invite Participation

Affirmative Action Goals Representation goals –19 African-Americans – 4 Hispanics – 4 Asian/Pacific Americans – 1 Native American Inclusion goals –12 Youth – 6-7 Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender – 5 People with Disabilities

National Convention Delegation Delegation Chair Committees (4 members per committee) –Credentials –Rules –Resolutions Pages (3) Volunteers are also always encouraged

Virginia Process Dates – 2008 Jan. 14 – Voter registration deadline Feb. 12 – Primary Apr. 14 or 16 – caucus filing deadline Apr. 19 or 21 – city and county caucuses Apr. 25, May 2 or 9 – National Delegate filing deadline for district conventions May 10, 17 or 24 – District Conventions June 2 – At-Large, PLEO filing deadline June 14 – State Convention

GET INVOLVED!

Presented by: Frank Leone October 2007