2012 Precinct Delegate Apportionment Now Available

The apportionment of Republican precinct delegates in Bay County for the August 2012 primary election is now available.
The form to file to register as a candidate for precinct delegate is available from the Secretary of State. The filing deadline is 4 p.m. on May 15, 2012. The Secretary of State also has the filing requirements for precinct delegate.

According to the Michigan Election Law, it is the responsibility of the chairman of each county political party to apportion precinct delegates based on the Republican vote for Secretary of State (or President of the United States) at the previous general election.

---

An Overview

As an elected Republican Precinct Delegate, you are the official Republican Representative of your Neighborhood. You have decided to take an active part in your community and work towards making it a better place to live for everyone. You do this by building and improving the Republican Party in your Precinct.

“Organize the whole state, so that every Whig can be brought to the polls. Divide the county into small districts and appoint in each a committee. Make a perfect list of voters and ascertain with certainty for whom they will vote. Keep a constant watch on doubtful voters and have them talked to by those in whom they have the most confidence...and on election day see that every Whig is brought to the polls.” – Abraham Lincoln

Precinct Delegates are the backbone of the Republican Party. You are the eyes, ears, arms and legs of the Republican Party in your precinct. Precinct Delegates need to identify the Republicans in their precincts and make sure to get them out to the polls on election day.

What is a Precinct?

A precinct is the smallest political geographic division in a state. The area varies on size and is determined by population. A precinct contains a maximum of 2,999 registered voters, although many precincts are smaller. It is up to the local municipalities to draw their own precinct lines.

What is a Precinct Delegate?

A Precinct Delegate is an elected representative to the local political party from the precinct. Every precinct has at least one Republican Delegate, and some have more. The local party determines the number of delegates based on the number of Republican votes in the previous election.

How do you become a Precinct Delegate?

A person running for Precinct Delegate must be a registered voter residing in the precinct in which they are running. The candidate needs to fill out an "Affidavit of Identity." Affidavits are available at the county clerk's office as well as city and township offices. These affidavits need to be notarized by a notary public. Notaries public can be found at the clerk's office or at a local bank. Once the affidavit is completed it is turned into the county, city or township clerk where you live. The affidavit must be submitted no later than 4:00 p.m. on the regular filing deadline in each even-numbered year. Once the candidate files, their name is placed on the ballot in the August primary. Their name is under the heading "Candidate for County Convention Delegate." The primary ballots are separated by political party, so only Republican voters vote for the Republican candidate. In the case that the race is contested the person with the most votes wins.

Alternatively, a person can file a write-in declaration of intent following the filing deadline with their city or township clerk until the Friday preceding the primary or at any time on Election Day in their polling place.

When are Precinct Delegates elected and how long is the term?

Precinct Delegates are elected in the August primary election of even numbered years. In 2010 this election took place on August 3rd. The term is a two year term, so delegates elected in August 2010 will serve until the August primary of 2012.

What are the duties of a Precinct Delegate?

The official role of a Precinct Delegate is to attend all County Conventions during the two-year term. The number of County Conventions varies from three to four depending on if it is a Presidential or Gubernatorial cycle. In addition Precinct Delegates are involved in helping local parties and candidates in a variety of activities, which are outlined on the next page.

Precinct Delegate Duties

Get to know your precinct

As an elected Precinct Delegate, you have been chosen by your fellow Republicans to lead the Republican Party in your precinct. In this position, you will be involved in a wide variety of activities. These activities include attending and sometimes hosting meetings, helping candidates walk and meet people in your neighborhood, making GOTV phone calls, etc. However, to do any of these things effectively, you will need to know your precinct. No candidate, campaign worker, or consultant can know your precinct as well as you.

The first thing you need to do is get a precinct map. This is the map of the entire county with precincts outlined.  You may also obtain one by contacting your township or city clerk. Second, walk or drive your district. There is a variety of things that candidates might ask you about your precinct. What types of people live in this precinct? Where is the best place to meet people? Where can I put a yard sign? What types of businesses are in the area? You might know quite a bit about your area, but take a few moments to look around and you might find something you never noticed before.

Enlisting Volunteers

Like most people, we are sure you lead a busy life. And with such an important election in front of us, there is much to do. Recruiting volunteers to help you is the key to success for a Precinct Delegate. It is easy to recruit volunteers. There are many people that are willing to help-you just have to find them. Only three percent of the people in the United States have ever participated in a political campaign, and only six percent have been asked. In fact, the number one reason why people don’t participate in political activity is because they have never been asked!

Give your volunteers responsibility. Get to know what your volunteers abilities are and give them responsibility in that area. Between yard signs, literature drops, door to door campaigning, and Get-out-to-Vote phone banks, there are many things your volunteers to be in charge of. Also remember that there are many people who have never been involved in politics before. You need to train these volunteers so they understand not only what to do, but what the importance of what they are doing is. Your job is to make the most of their efforts by giving them a task, a reason to do it, a deadline, and recognition for their work. The two most important things to remember when dealing with volunteers is 1) make it fun!, and 2) Remember to say “Thank You”. If you make things fun and enjoyable for volunteers, they will come back

Political Programs

Yard signs-Good Yard sign locations are the key towards name identification for many candidates. While it is important to have signs everywhere, they are often most effective in well traveled thoroughfares. Locate the areas in your precinct that the larger signs can be placed. For less traveled area and homes you can find locations for the smaller signs.

Get-Out-to-Vote Phone Calls-These phone calls take place within the few days leading up to an election. They are some of the most effective use of a volunteers time. Your county chairman will be able to supply you with the names and phone numbers of Republicans in your precinct that we need to Get-Out-to-Vote!

Working the Polls–Working the polls is simply having volunteers stand outside of polling places for your precinct and passing out slate cards or information on individual candidates as voters go into the polls. Michigan Law requires that poll workers can be no closer than 100 feet from the polls.

Precinct Delegates