Once again as the calendar turns to February it is time for your local Democratic caucus, this time within a narrower window. Here’s a primer for anyone who might be new to the process.
PART I – THE LOCAL CAUCUS
Purpose – to elect delegates to the Democratic State Convention
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When – date and time set by local committee chair within a specified window
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Where – at a publicly accessible location within your community
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Find your local caucus info at https://massdems.org/convention/2018-caucus-dates
EXPECTATIONS AND PROCEDURES
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Arrive on time (there is a grace period, but try not to push it) and check in.
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If recently registered bring proof; you may also register to vote on site.
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Teens who will be 18 by 9/18/18 may also pre-register and participate.
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If interested in running for delegate sign consent form provided by chair.
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Chair will explain add-ons, waivers, and ex officios and read letter from state chair.
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Chair will inform caucus how many to be elected and call for nominations.
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Candidates for delegate may make two-minute speeches unless waived.
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Delegations are gender-balanced with an “either” seat for odd numbers.
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If more candidates than slots secret ballots are used; otherwise by acclamation.
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Top X vote-getters in each category are declared elected; alternates are ranked.
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Unofficial activity at caucuses includes VIP speeches and signature gathering.
PART II – BETWEEN CAUCUS AND CONVENTION
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If elected, pay your fee or apply for a waiver by April 20th (late fee charged!)
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If not elected, you may be eligible for an add-on delegate appointment
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Online forms can be found at https://massdems.org/convention/online-applications
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Learn about the candidates for statewide office (websites, events)
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Expect phone calls from campaigns soliciting your support.
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Make hotel arrangements for Friday night https://massdems.org/convention/convention-hotels
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Delegate guide, credentials, and charter amendments will be mailed late May
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Non-delegates may obtain a guest pass or offer to volunteer.
PART III – STATE PARTY CONVENTION
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Friday evening, June 1st and all day Saturday, June 2nd at DCU in Worcester
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Friday business will include voice votes on uncontested nominations.
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Following Friday adjournment there will be several parties.
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There will likely be breakfast opportunities Saturday morning.
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Saturday business will include contested nominations, charter amendments, and resolutions.
EXPECTATIONS AND PROCEDURES
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Upon arrival, find your senate district and check in with your district teller.
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Convention is gavelled to order at 9AM Saturday with attendance finalized at 10 AM
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Any delegate not in attendance by 10 AM will be replaced by an alternate.
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For contested offices a roll call will be taken; 15% required for ballot access.
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Possible second roll call if no majority obtained for endorsement.
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Charter amendments debated for ten minutes equally divided.
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Resolutions adopted under suspension of the rules without debate.
Feel free to report from your caucus in the comments.
tedf says
May I gently point out that many of these caucuses fall on Saturday and thus exclude observant Jews from participating. And since these are caucuses and not primaries, it seems to me there is no “absentee ballot,” though I’d be happy to be corrected on that if I’m wrong.
tedf says
And may I further gently point out that the same is true of the state convention itself.
Christopher says
You are correct that you must be present to vote and in nominating years present to be elected unless you are on active duty and notify the chair of your interest by yesterday. Each community takes into account what the best time might be though the state party requires weekends or weekday evenings. Convention can’t be a weekday as a practical matter and if it’s Sunday you might run into the same issue with observant Christians. Plus there’s any number of other reasons that people won’t be available. From a timing standpoint there is simply no way to guarantee that everyone will be able to participate.
stomv says
I served as a Shabbos goy today for an observant Jew.
We established a contract a few days ago. I met him, signed him in, and initialed his vote slips.
Seemed to work just fine for him.
johntmay says
After the last few state conventions, I’m taking a break. Newcomer Don Berwick virtually tied Martha Coakley in a convention that Steve Grossman won, only to see then newspaper headlines the next day proclaim “It’s Coakley versus Baker”. At the Springfield convention the alleged focus was on wealth/wage disparity in the Commonwealth although only one breakout session addressed it and the topic was swiftly dismissed in the following days. The most recent convention was a constant reminder, speaker after speaker that Black Lives Matter, that women deserve equal pay, that you ought to be allowed to marry the person you love and that women need to control their own reproductive rights. Not that I have an argument against any of these nor wish them to be dismissed, but who were the speakers trying to convince? The speeches lasted so long that I finally gave up at about 2:30 PM and left having dined on one too many $7.50 hot dog and $5.00 soft pretzels.
The conventions are a good place to meet up with past acquaintances and meet new people, I’ll miss that this year, but I will not miss giving up $75 and a Saturday for what should amount to so much more.
Christopher says
OK folks, time to post what you see – I’ll start. I visited the Tewksbury caucus where they elected a not quite full slate of mostly DTC members. We heard from Tram Nguyen who is challenging Jim Lyons and a couple of surrogates for other candidates. Then on to Lowell where I am the DCC Secretary and acted as chair for one of the wards that does not have one. The wards had a range of participation and it was a signature-palooza. Setti Warren, Josh Zakim, about have the CD3 field, and most of the local delegation showed up.
stomv says
Brookline had Jay Gonzalez and Bob Massie, Quentin Palfrey and Jimmy Tingle, Bill Galvin and Josh Zakim, Deb Goldberg and Suzanne Bump were present as well.
(apologies to others I left out).
sco says
In Watertown we had over 100 participants (most since 2006, I think). Jay Gonzalez delegates won 23 of the 24 delegate slots (one slot went to a Setti Warren supporter). Congresswoman Katherine Clark stopped by as did Steve Grossman who spoke on Setti Warren’s behalf and Maria Curtatone, the Middlesex South Register of Deeds.
markbernstein says
In Malden, we had more than 100 participants. Sightings included Jay Gonzalz, Setti Warren, Katherine Clark, Maria Curtatone, Donna Patalano and Marie Ryan (running for DA), and Josh Zakim.
With regard to he Saturday problem: might scheduling caucuses either for late afternoon Saturdays (Sunset tonight is 5:02) or for weeknight evenings make sense?
Christopher says
As I understand it about 100 of a total of 600 caucuses were held today (2/10). I attended Dracut (where I was drafted to be a tabulator) and Haverhill, where all wards caucused simultaneously and there were several candidates and elected. Dracut had its share of those too and since both communities are in CD3, well, you do the math! What are others seeing?