Reply #43: Here are the Texas rules, for those who really want to know how it will work. [View All]

[TexasObserver]

Source:
www.txdemocrats.org/the_party/article_vii_national_delegate_selection_rules

Bold Print below is mine, to make the reading easier

Article VII - National Delegate Selection Rules
A. Delegates

1. In presidential years, the Party shall hold a presidential preference primary election (the "presidential primary") at the same time, in the same manner, and using the same ballot as for the general primary election (the "first primary"). (Texas Election Code §191.004)

2. To qualify for a place on the presidential primary ballot, a candidate must:

(a) Timely file all documents, if any, required by the Texas Affirmative Action Plan, or the Texas National Delegate Selection Plan.

(b) File an application for a place on the presidential primary ballot in accordance with he same Election Code provisions applicable to a candidate for the United States Senate, including submission of an appropriate petition subject to the limitations of Section 191.002 of the Texas Election Code or payment of the same filing fee. The oath on the application of a presidential candidate shall be:

"I, ______________ of __________________, __________ County/Parish, _____________, being a candidate for the Office of President of the United States, swear that I will support and defend the constitution and laws of the United States. I further swear that I will fully support the Democratic nominee for President whoever that shall be."

3. The names of all candidates qualifying to appear on the presidential primary ballot shall be certified in accordance with Article III.C.1. of these Rules, except that the State Chair also shall certify all presidential preferences to the Secretary of State. The SDEC shall, at the meeting required in Article III.C.1., decide by majority vote whether to include "Uncommitted" as an alternative on the presidential primary ballot. (Texas Election Code §191.004)

4. Results of the presidential preference primary election shall be canvassed at the same time and in the same manner as for the first primary, except that the SDEC also shall certify the results of the presidential preference primary election totaled by senatorial district.

5. The total number of Delegates and Alternates to the National Convention shall be that number allocated by the National Committee in its official Call to the Convention.

6. The process for selection of Delegates and Alternates to the National Convention shall be governed by the Texas National Delegate Selection Plan adopted by the SDEC for the presidential year. If the Plan and these Rules conflict as relates to the selection of Delegates and Alternates to the National Convention, the Plan shall be considered to supersede these Rules for that purpose alone.

7. Each elected Delegate shall be entitled to cast one vote at the National Convention, and the total vote permitted the State's delegation shall not exceed the number of its Delegates in attendance at the Convention.

8. (a) At least 75% of the base number of Delegates, not including designated Party and Elected Official Delegates, shall be elected by Senatorial District Caucuses at the State Convention. The exact number (between 75% and 100%) to be so elected shall be determined by majority vote of the SDEC at its meeting in January of presidential years and shall be included in the official Call to the State Convention of that year.

(b) Such Delegates shall be apportioned among the 31 senatorial districts by a formula giving equal weight to (a) the Democratic vote in the last gubernatorial election and (b) the Democratic vote in the last presidential election. The formula may be stated mathematically as follows:

Let P equal a given district's percentage of the statewide Democratic vote in the last gubernatorial election, and let V equal that district's percentage of the total statewide vote for the Democratic nominee in the last presidential election (district vote/state vote). ( P + V) divided by 2 = that district's percentage of the total number of Delegates to be elected by the senatorial districts, as opposed to the number to be elected at-large.

(c) To apply the apportionment formula, multiply the resulting percentage times the total number of Delegates to be elected from all Senatorial District Caucuses. Assign each Senatorial District Caucus the whole number of Delegates resulting from this product. Assign remaining Delegates to Senatorial District Caucuses in descending order of fractional remainder, until all allocated Delegates have been assigned.

9. The remaining Delegates to the National Convention (between 0% and 25%) shall be elected at-large by majority vote of the State Convention as a whole. Such At-Large Delegates shall be nominated by the Convention's Permanent Nominations Committee for At-Large Delegates and/or from the floor, in accordance with these Rules.

10. The explicit number of National Convention Delegates to be elected by each senatorial district and the explicit number to be elected at-large by the Convention according to the above procedures shall be announced by the State Chair and certified to the Secretary of State at least 30 days prior to the Precinct Conventions.

11. (a) The procedure for nominating and for electing Delegates within the Senatorial District Caucuses shall be as follows: Each Senatorial District Caucus may choose, by majority vote, any of the following methods to nominate such officers, Delegates, Alternates, and members of permanent Convention Committees which the Caucus is entitled to elect: elect a Nominations Committee(s); direct the Caucus Chair to appoint a Nomination Committee(s); or act as a Committee of the Whole, with all nominations made from the Caucus Floor.

(b) Regardless of the method chosen, however, all persons eligible to participate in a Caucus shall be permitted to nominate themselves or other eligible persons for any office to be filled by the Caucus. If a Nominations Committee is appointed, such nominations may be made by submitting them in writing to the Nominations Committee of the Caucus and/or by proposing them from the floor after a Nominations Committee has made its report and before a vote is taken.

(c) Election shall be by majority vote of the duly elected Delegates in attendance at the Caucus, each casting a proportionate share of the full voting strength allotted to the county represented, and each entitled to vote for as many Offices, Delegates and Convention Committee members as there are positions to be filled by the Senatorial District Caucus.

12. No Texas Delegate to a National Convention may be selected by any method, whether called "direct election primary" or otherwise, which has the effect of being a winner take all Primary.



B. Alternates

1. The total number of Alternates shall be allocated among the senatorial districts in the same manner specified for Delegates, except that the exact number of Alternates to be elected by the Senatorial District Caucuses (between 75% and 100%) need not be set by the SDEC at a percentage identical to that set for Delegates.

2. After the Senatorial District Caucuses elect Delegates to the National Convention, they shall nominate and elect their Alternates in the same manner. A person nominated for Alternate by a Senatorial District Caucus shall be eligible for election as an At-Large Delegate. When the Nominations Committee selects an Alternate from a Senatorial District Caucus to serve instead as an At-Large Delegate, the Nominations Committee shall declare such Alternate position vacant and shall fill it as if it were an At-Large Alternate position.

3. Following the election of At-Large Delegates by the Convention, At-Large Alternates shall be elected in the same manner.



C. Succession of Alternates to Delegate Status

Alternates shall succeed to Delegate status according to the procedures outlined in Article IV.A.17 of these Party Rules.



D. Guidelines for Representation of the Delegation

1. The Convention shall make every feasible effort to encourage representation on the National Convention delegation of women, minorities, and youth in reasonable relationship to their presence in the population of the state.

2. Candidates for Delegate or Alternate shall be required to make known their presidential preference or uncommitted status to the relevant assembly prior to their election.

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HOW TO BE A DELEGATE TO THE 2008
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

www.txdemocrats.org/the_party/article_vii_national_delegate_selection_rules

Texas will send 228 delegates and 32 alternates to the Democratic
National Convention in 2008. These Texans will help
choose the Democratic nominees for President and Vice
President, and they will also express opinions on key national
issues. We encourage you to participate and to run
for national delegate. What follows is, in general terms, an
explanation of how to be a delegate to the National Convention.
If you want more information, read the “Texas
Democratic Party National Delegate Selection Plan for
2008” and the “Rules of the Texas Democratic Party.” Both
are available on the Texas Democratic Party website,
www.txdemocrats.org.
FILING REQUIREMENTS
To become a delegate to the National Convention you must:
1. Vote in the 2008 Democratic primary;
2. File a Statement of Candidacy with the State Chair no
earlier than April 21 and no later than May 21, 2008. Filing
forms will be available from the Texas Democratic Party
by April 5, 2008; and
3. Be elected by the State Convention in Austin June 6-7,
2008. If you participate in all stages of the convention process
and campaign among delegates to the State Convention,
you will have a better chance to become a delegate.
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
Texas will hold a presidential primary on Tuesday, March
4, 2008. The Primary will be open to any registered Texas
voter who does not vote in another party’s primary and who
does not attend another party’s political convention.
A total of 126 delegate positions (three-quarters of the base
delegation) will be distributed to presidential candidates
based on the results of the primary. Forty-two delegate positions
(one-quarter of the base delegation) will be distributed
based on the number of people attending the party’s
conventions. The delegates themselves will be elected at our
State Convention June 6-7, 2008, in Austin.
CONVENTION SYSTEM
Texas Democratic Party has a three-level convention system:
Level 1. Precinct Conventions;
Level 2. County Conventions (or Senatorial District Conventions
in urban areas); and
Level 3. State Convention.
Those who attend their Precinct Convention will elect delegates
to the County/Senatorial Convention; those who attend
their County/Senatorial Convention will elect delegates
to the State Convention. Those who attend the State Convention
will elect delegates to the National Convention.
PRECINCT CONVENTIONS
A convention will be held in your precinct at 7:15 p.m. on
March 4, 2008, the same day as the Presidential Primary.
The convention is usually held at the polling place and is
open to anyone who votes in the Democratic Primary that
day (or during the early voting period). There will be a sign
at the polling place telling exactly where the convention will
be held. If you can’t find a sign, ask your election clerk where
the convention will be held.
The convention begins at 7:15 p.m. when the Precinct Chair
calls the convention to order. If the Precinct Chair is absent,
anyone participating may start the meeting. The convention
is governed by Robert’s Rules of Order and Texas
Democratic Party Rules. If you are late to the convention,
you can still participate; however, you can’t change what
has already happened.
The first item of business is for everyone attending to
sign in and indicate the presidential candidate (including
undecided) he or she supports. This is not a secret
ballot. The State Party will provide your Precinct Chair
with forms to use.
Next, the convention elects a Chair and Secretary to run
the convention.
Third, the Chair announces:
1. The number of delegates to the County/Senatorial Convention
the precinct will elect;
2. The percent of people attending the Precinct Convention
who support each candidate; and
3. The number of delegates the supporters of each candidate
are entitled to elect.

Delegates are awarded to presidential candidates based on a
candidate’s share of supporters at the convention by using
the following formula:
E-Z Math Formula to Determine Threshold
Number of People at Precinct Convention
Divided By
Number Of Delegates To County/Senatorial
Convention To Which The Precinct Is Entitled
Equals
Threshold (Number of People
Required for a Candidate Caucus)
(Always Round Up)