DemNotes

Bylaws

Calendar

Elected & Appointed Positions

Officers

Links

Precincts

Volunteer

Polling Places

Position Papers

Contact

Join E-mail List

---

Join the Century Club
here's how

Executive Committee Meeting

Tuesday, January 12, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Buena Vista Community Center, Pinion Room
715 East Main Street

From Hwy 24, turn east at the stoplight on to Main Street. Six blocks after the railroad tracks, turn right onto South Main (there's a playground on the corner) and you're there.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come. This is the kickoff meeting for the new year and we'll be developing plans for the 2010 campaign. The more people who can come and give input, the more effective we can be. Hope to see you there!

The following information was received from Carolyn Boller, Secretary of the Colorado Democratic Party and co-chair on the program committee for the annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner.

The Colorado Democratic Party has distributed the Delegate Selection Plan for the state Democratic Assembly approved at the December 5th State Central Committee meeting. The plan is available for reading on our Chaffee County Democrats' Web site:
http://www.chaffeecountydemocrats.org/

The plan is required by our party's rules. The committee approved Chaffee County for 15 delegates and an equal number of alternates.

The State Assembly will be held mid-May 2010 at a site yet to be determined.

The annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner (the State Party's major fundraiser)

Saturday, March 6, 2010
Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel.
Check-in: 5:30pm. Dinner: 7pm. Ends: 9pm.

Tickets for individual members of county parties are discount priced at $90 per person or $900 per table of ten (versus the regular rate of $125 and $1250 respectively).

Tickets: Carolyn Boller, 303-623-4762; or the CDP website:
www.coloradodems.org

Ms. Boller asks that county parties submit their reservations and payment to
her by February 12, 2010.

County Party Caucuses

March 16, 2010
County assemblies will be held not less than 10 days after and not more than 30 days after precinct caucuses, as required by state statute. Each county party determines the exact dates and locations for their county's assembly.

As locations are determined they will be posted at the site. The Chaffee County Democrats will discuss this at our next executive committee meeting to be held Tuesday evening, January 12, 7-9pm, at the Buena Vista Community Center.

---

2010 Delegate Selection Plan

Introduction & Description of Delegate Selection Process

Description of the Delegate Selection Plan

3. No persons shall participate or vote in the nominating process for the Democratic candidates who also participate in the nominating process of any other party for the corresponding elections.

4. No person shall vote in more than one meeting which is the first meeting in the delegate selection process. “Vote in more than one meeting” means to register a preference at more than one meeting.

4. Assembly Preference

1. At each step of the assembly delegate selection process, a candidate preference poll shall be taken and delegates and alternates apportioned on the basis of fair reflection of candidate support.

2. In the event there is a potential primary situation (i.e., more than one candidate for the primary designation), in a statewide race, a preference poll based on the highest such race as determined by the State Central or State Executive Committee must be taken at the precinct caucus for the election of delegates to the county assembly, and at the county assembly for the election of delegates to the state assembly.

3. A non-binding “straw” poll may be taken at any level before an official poll; however, when an official preference poll is taken, those persons who supported a candidate, including uncommitted, that did not meet the threshold requirement to elect delegates to a higher level may then participate in one of the groups selecting delegates.

4. In the event there is a potential primary situation (i.e., more than one candidate for the primary designation), in any office designated by a multi-county district (legislative, judicial or congressional) assembly, a preference poll based on the highest such race must be taken at the county assembly for the election of delegates to the district assembly.

5. “Uncommitted” shall be an acceptable candidate preference at any step of the delegate selection process.

6. There shall be a 15% threshold at each level of the assembly process. “Threshold” is defined as the percentage of votes a preference must receive in order to be allocated delegates.

7. In all situations where no preference (including “uncommitted”) reaches the 15% threshold, the threshold shall be the highest percentage of the vote received (i.e., by the front-runner) at that level minus 10 percent.

5. Alternates to County, District, and State Assemblies

1. Any precinct caucus or county assembly (or any preference group within the same) may elect an alternate for each delegate provided that no more than one alternate shall be elected for each delegate.

2. Alternates shall be elected either by:

   1. Selecting those persons with the next highest vote totals on the same ballot as selected the delegates; or,

   2. By a separate ballot for the alternate positions.

3. Alternates shall be seated in the following order:

   1. First, any alternate specifically elected as an alternate to a specific delegate within candidate preference group.

   2. Second, alternates shall be seated using one of the following two methods as determined by the county central committee: (a) in descending order of votes received within a candidate preference group; or (b) based on assembly check-in time of alternates within a candidate preference group.

   3. Third, if a candidate preference group cannot seat all of the delegates to which it is entitled, the unfilled seats shall be proportionately divided among remaining candidate preference group(s) within the same assembly delegates.

   4. When present, the elected delegate automatically replaces any alternate seated during the time the delegate was absent from the floor of the assembly.

6. Precinct Caucuses

1. A Democratic Caucus will be held in each precinct in Colorado on the third Tuesday in March (March 16, 2010). The caucus shall be held in a public place or in proximity to each precinct at a time set by the county central committee or executive committee of each political party.

2. The times, dates, places, and rules for the conduct of the caucuses shall be effectively publicized by the county central committee to encourage the participation of all Democrats. The locations and time of each caucus will be certified by the county party and will be publicized in the media. In addition, state law requires that all places established for holding a caucus must have a sign conspicuously posted for at least twelve (12) days prior to the precinct caucus. (CDP Rule Three, III, A; CRS 1-4-601(1); 1-4-602(4)) and shall be accessible to persons with disabilities.

3. By February 8, 2010, the number of delegates and alternates to be elected at the caucuses to the county assembly shall be determined by the County Central Committee. Each precinct is entitled to a minimum of two delegates. (CDP Rule Three, III, E)

4. Fair Reflection of Assembly Candidate Preference

5. Before electing delegates to the county assembly, a poll shall be taken at the caucus among the eligible participants as to their respective preferences (including uncommitted preference) for the highest contested statewide office as previously determined.

6. The Democratic National Party Charter prohibits secret votes at all meetings except precinct caucuses. Voting in caucus meetings shall be open unless a secret ballot is requested (CDP rules).

7. The results of the preference poll will be announced, and the delegates thereafter chosen in a manner which fairly reflects the division of preference expressed by the caucus participants consistent with these rules.

8. If there is no contested race for statewide office, the county central committee may designate the congressional race. If the county central committee does not decide on such a race for a preference poll, the precinct caucus may determine one. The precinct caucus may use multiple layered preference polls, if decided upon by a vote of the caucus, provided that fair reflection of candidate preference at every level of such multiple preference polls is maintained. If no assembly preference polls are required, assembly delegates shall be elected without preference designation.

9. All candidates for assembly delegate (or alternate) elected by the caucus must be identified as to candidate preference on the designated races. The procedures for registering and identifying candidate preferences of caucus participants and candidates for each election of delegates, and the specific procedures for electing delegates to the next level of assembly, shall be determined by the county central committee and administered by the county chair. Such procedures must ensure that caucus participants are identified by candidate preference and only vote for delegates identified with the same candidate preference to the next level of the assembly.

10. A calculation schedule, prepared under the direction of the State chair and made available to the caucus, shall be used to compute the proper allocation of delegates to each preference group.

11. The caucus may vote to elect delegates with fractional votes, but only to meet the “fair reflection” requirement.

12. Any person desiring to contest or dispute any matter in the caucus delegate selection process must file a written protest with the County Chair within seven (7) days following the caucus. The credentials committee for the county assembly will consider any such challenge. (CRS 1-4-602(3))

7. County Assemblies, Legislative and Judicial Assemblies

1. Under current state law, county assemblies must be held not less than ten (10) days and not more than thirty (30) days after the precinct caucuses. County assemblies would then be held no earlier than March 26, 2010 and no later than April 15, 2010). (CRS 1-4-602 (1)(a)

2. The date, time and location of the county assembly will be established by the county central committee and publicized in the media and by notice to each delegate and alternate. Such notice must be either delivered to the delegates and alternates at the caucus or mailed to them at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the county assembly and convention.

3. Fair Reflection of Candidate Preferences. All candidates for delegate (or alternate) elected by the county assembly (or parts thereof) must be identified as to candidate preference on the appropriate races. The procedures for conducting assembly preference polls, registering and identifying candidate preferences of those county assembly delegates voting and candidates for each election of delegates, and the specific procedures for electing delegates to the next level of assembly shall be determined by the county central committee and administered by the county chair. Such procedures must ensure that assembly delegates are identified by candidate preference and only vote for delegates identified with the same candidate preference to the next level of assembly. The threshold requirements shall apply.

4. County chairs shall encourage the county assembly to seek fair reflection of demographics in the selection of delegates to higher level assemblies.

5. Election by Units Smaller Than the County

6. In counties having election districts, the delegates from each such district may elect a proportional share of delegates by procedures established by the county. (CDP Rule Three, IV, C, I)

7. If authorized by the county central committee, delegates and alternates to higher level assemblies may be provisionally elected at precinct caucuses, subject to the approval of the county assembly. (CDP Rule Three, IV, E, 2)

8. In counties which nominate delegates to congressional district or state assemblies at precinct caucuses, the requirement for fair reflection shall be enforced at the county assembly in the process of ratifying the precinct designees. Persons nominated at the precinct caucus as delegates to the congressional district or state assembly shall declare on caucus night their candidate preference, provided that “uncommitted” shall be an acceptable preference. Such declaration shall be made in a written statement and shall be delivered to the county chair along with other caucus materials

9. The county chair shall total the candidate preferences of delegates nominated at the caucus level and announce such total at the beginning of the county assembly. The assembly shall determine and announce the number of votes in the total county delegation that each candidate preference should receive. Any at-large delegate positions shall be used to adjust the total county delegation to fulfill the requirements of fair reflection. If the at-large delegates are not sufficient to alter properly the total county delegation to the requirements of fair reflection, the county assembly shall take the following steps:

10. Candidate preferences which are represented by more than their countywide allotment shall have the voting power of their precinct delegates diminished to the appropriate fraction. These preferences will not receive at-large delegate positions.

11. The at-large delegate positions shall be divided among the remaining candidate preferences to bring each preference to its countywide allotment.

12. All at-large delegates who are elected to balance the requirements of candidate preference shall be chosen by the delegates of the assembly committed to that candidate. (CDP Rule three, III, D)

6. Challenges

1. Any person desiring to contest the selection of a delegate to the state assembly must give notice in writing to the State Chair within ten (10) days after the date of the county assembly. The State Assembly Credentials Committee will consider the challenge. The Credentials Committee will accord the challenger and the challenged delegate the opportunity to be heard and to offer evidence and will thereafter prepare a report to the State Assembly for its consideration and action.

2. The same process applies to any challenge of a delegate to any other multi-county district assembly with the notice going to the appropriate District Chair for consideration by the Credentials Committee of the district assembly.

3. Delegates and alternates not registered as Democrats as provided by state law shall automatically be disqualified.

7. Election of Delegates to Legislative and Judicial Assemblies

1. The number of delegates to be elected by the county assembly to a multi-county legislative or judicial district assembly that does not meet in conjunction with the county assembly shall be determined prior to February 8, 2010 by the respective district central committee by the application of a formula using as criteria Democratic voting strength and/or Democratic population. The delegates and alternates to such assemblies shall be selected from among the members of the county assembly who reside within the respective districts.

2. In any multi-county district, including a congressional district, where the district central committee fails to adopt prior to February 8, 2010 a formula and allocation of delegates from each county in the district to be elected to the district assembly, the default delegate allocations attached hereto shall be the official allocations to the district committe

h. State Assembly Permanent Organization and State Assembly Credentials Committee members will be elected at the County Assembly. Per State Party Rules (Part 3 Article V A and B) each county is entitled to 1 member per committee and those counties with more then 10,000 votes at the last general election for governor or president shall be entitled to one additional member for each additional 10,000 votes.

8. Congressional and State Assemblies

1. Congressional assemblies shall be held between April 30, 2010 and May 22, 2010. Locations and times are determined by each congressional district central committee, and publicized in the media and by notice to each delegate and alternate. Such notice must be either delivered to the delegates and alternates or mailed to them at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the congressional assembly. The state assembly will be held in Broomfield Colorado at the Broomfield Event Center on May 22, 2010. Time to be determined. Location and time will be publicized in the media and by notice to each delegate and alternate at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the state assembly.

2. The number of delegates to be elected by the county assembly to the congressional district assembly shall be determined prior to February 8, 2010 by each respective congressional district central committee by the application of the same formula (adjusted to the political subdivisions involved) used in the allocation of state assembly delegates among counties, provided that each whole county is entitled to a minimum of four (4) delegates to the congressional district assembly, and each county split among two or more congressional districts is entitled to a minimun of two (2) delegates to each congressional district assembly.

3. In any multi-county district, including a congressional district, where the district central committee fails to adopt prior to February 8, 2010 a formula and allocation of delegates from each county in the district to be elected to the district assembly, the default delegate allocations attached hereto shall be the official allocations to the district committee. .

4. The delegates to a congressional district assembly are selected from among the members of the county assembly who reside within the congressional district. (CRS 1-3-101)

5. The number of delegates to be elected by the county assembly to the state assembly shall be determined prior to February 8, 2010, by the State Central Committee by the application of a formula based on the vote for Democratic candidate in the 2008 presidential election, or (2) the vote for the Democratic candidate in the 2006 gubernatorial election. Each county is entitled to a minimum of four delegates to the State Assembly. (CDP Rule Three.IV.D)

   1. The delegates to the state assembly are selected from among the members of each respective county assembly.

5. There shall be separate, distinct elections for delegates to the congressional district assembly, the state assembly, and to any other applicable assembly, committee or other body. A vote on a resolution to adopt a previously elected set of delegates and alternates shall satisfy this requirement. This requirement does not prevent a county from electing delegates at precinct caucuses.

6. Equal division between delegate men and delegate women and between alternate men and alternate women in the congressional district assembly and the state assembly is required. Equal division in any other assembly delegation is strongly encouraged.

7. Challenges

1. Any person desiring to contest the selection of a delegate to the state assembly and must give notice in writing to the State Chair within ten (10) days after the date of the county assembly. The State Assembly Credentials Committee will consider the challenge. The Credentials Committee will accord the challenger and the challenged delegate the opportunity to be heard and to offer evidence and will thereafter prepare a report to the State Assembly for its consideration and action.

2. The same process applies to any challenge of a delegate to any other multi-county district assembly with the notice going to the appropriate District Chair for consideration by the Credentials Committee of the district assembly.

3. Delegates and alternates not registered as Democrats shall automatically be disqualified.

1. General Provisions and Procedural Guarantees

A. The Colorado Democratic Party reaffirms its commitment to an open party by incorporating the following basic elements listed below. These provisions demonstrate the intention of the Democratic Party to ensure a full opportunity for all minority group members to participate in the delegate selection process

1. All public meetings at all levels of the Democratic Party in Colorado should be open to all members of the Democratic Party regardless of race, sex, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, economic status or physical disability (hereinafter collectively referred to as ‘status’).

2. No test for membership in, nor any oaths of loyalty to the Democratic Party in Colorado should be required or used which has the effect of requiring prospective or current members of the Democratic Party to acquiesce in, condone or support discrimination based on ‘status.’

3. The time and place for all public meetings of the Democratic Party in Colorado on all levels should be publicized fully and in such manner as to assure timely notice to all interested persons. Such meetings must be held in places accessible to all Party members and large enough to accommodate all interested persons.

4. The Democratic Party in Colorado on all levels, should support the broadest possible registration without discrimination based on ‘status.’

5. Publication of delegate selection procedures should be done in such fashion that all prospective and current members of the Colorado Democratic Party will be fully and adequately informed of the pertinent procedures in time to participate in each selection procedure at all levels of the caucus and assembly process.

   B. Discrimination on the basis of ‘status’ in the conduct of Democratic Party affairs is prohibited.

C. All delegate and alternate candidates must be identified as to candidate preference or uncommitted status at all levels which determine candidate preference

D. No delegate at any level of the delegate selection process shall be mandated by law or Party rules to vote contrary to that person’s candidate choice as expressed at the time the delegate is elected

5. All delegates, alternates and standing committee members must be bona fide Democrats who have the interests, welfare and success of the Democratic Party of the United States at heart, who subscribe to the substance, intent and principles of the Charter and Bylaws of the Democratic Party of the United States, and who will participate in the Assembly in good faith.

6. In a nominating system, a majority of the whole number of delegates, or their duly elected alternates, to an assembly shall constitute a quorum.(CDP Rules, Part Four. Article II. H. (2).)

7. This Colorado Delegate Selection Plan prohibits proxy voting at all levels.

8. The unit rule, or any rule or practice whereby all members of a Party unit or delegation may be required to cast their votes in accordance with the will of a majority of the body, shall not be used at any stage of the delegate selection process.

9. Any individual or group of Democrats may sponsor or endorse a slate of candidates for assembly delegates. But no slate may, by virtue of such endorsement, receive a preferential place on a delegate selection ballot or be publicly identified on the ballot as the official Democratic Party organization slate, and all slates must meet identical qualifying requirements for appearing on a ballot at all levels of the delegate selection process.

5. SECTION VII
   OUTREACH PLAN

5. The State Outreach Commission, as outlined in State Party Rules, Part Two, Article M (1), shall meet for the purpose of establishing an outreach plan to be used as a guideline to assist counties and the State Party.