This will be the 1st caucus I've ever gone to and need to get some info from veterans here.

[texas_indy]

1. How early should I show up? Is 7pm OK or taking chances?
2. Can I take a camcorder? I want to record it for my kids.
3. What should I expect? How long ya think it will last?
4. is there a web ste giving me more information like this i could go too?


I've tried web searching for it but can't find a site telling me what the detail I'm asking above.

Thanks for the help.


Texas is Obama country! VIVA OBAMA!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fd-MVU4vtU

[crispini]

1. Seven is good.

Cameras and recorders aren't allowed in polling places by law. I don't know if a convention counts as a polling place. I would think that being recorded might make some people uncomfortable. You might just take it and record things like lines, signing in, etc., and be prepared to put it away if asked.

The time is going to really depend on how many people show up, how many people want to be delegates, and how many resolutions you have. I'd budget a couple of hours. There is lots more stuff here: http://www.burntorangereport.com/ check upper right hand corner.

Cheers. :toast:

[Vincardog]

2. Bring you resolution already written up with all the where asis and get on the resolutions committee

[Honeycombe8]

14. What resolutions? Voters don't do resolutions to caucus to elect the caucus delegates.

ARe you speaking of the conventions, where people decide on who the delegates are going to be, rather than the caucuses, where voters show up to vote?

[sonias]

15. You do both

You elect delegates to move on to the county/Senate District convention and you pass resolutions. Assuming you're willing to stay to the end. And if you want to be a delegate you probably need to stay to the end.

Some sample resolutions that you or anyone in your PCT can take are listed here at BOR, but there will be plenty of others.
Resolutions and your precinct convention

No you don't do a resolution to elect/nominate the delegates - those are done by a show of hands. It is not a secret vote.

Sonia

[Honeycombe8]

17. Thanks. Reported on TV that the extra delegates will be picked at the caucus...

those that are in addition to the number of REGULAR pledged delegates decided by voters in the PRIMARY. There are 30 to 45 extra delegates in the state that are picked solely at caucuses in certain locations, is what I heard on TV. Those extra delegates are determined by a show of hands at the caucus. Solely. Having nothing to do with the primary votes.

But that doesn't happen in all locations. Only in a few locations. All locations have the conventions. But only a few choose those extra delegates solely at the caucus.

Maybe the process I heard described on TV was wrong. I listened carefully, and that was indeed what they were saying. Oh, well. I don't want to be a delegate or anything. I was just going to return to have a say on how the extra delegates would be pledged.

[sonias]

19. Some good links for you to read at BOR

This one describes the 42 at-Large delegates allocated by the "caucus" system:
Everything You Need To Know About the Texas Delegate Process, Part 1

All PCT conventions elect delegates that will go on to a second process called the Senate District convention. That convention is also called a county convention. Delegates are actually awarded in Texas based on your senate district. There is another convention by Senate District where the whole process gets repeated and the delegates are pared down again. Eventually this system will produce 42 at large delegates that come strictly from the caucus system. The rest are awarded based on the popular vote and are usually party members loyal to one or the other candidate.

Attending your PCT caucus does indeed give you a voice because you will be able to vote for the delegates that get to move on in the process.

BOR has a lot of reading material you can go through if you really want to wrap you head around the whole process. All these links are available in the upper right hand corner of the home page labeled "TX Primary Resources".

http://burntorangereport.com


Sonia

[sonias]

3. The TDP sent out this message

This has a lot of good information as well. It comes straight from the TDP.

Precinct Convention Information from the Texas Democratic Party

I agree with crispini on this, cameras are probably not allowed. Check with your local county party chair. Kids are allowed as long as they are not disruptive. They just can't vote.

Good luck!

Sonia

[twompy]

5. Is it possible there is no rule against cameras?

I was in the gd forum and saw a link to this article in The Texas Observer.

"But with more than 8,000 precincts in the state, it will be impossible to place independent monitors everywhere. Davis, of Texans for Obama, is encouraging Obama supporters to take video cameras to the polls. “I want to shine a big flashlight on this so nothing under the table happens,” he said." http://www.texasobserver.org/article.php?aid=2689

There is always the possibility that something underhanded can transpire at the conventions. This is my first precinct convention, and I had thought of bringing a camera for the sake of transparency, in case something happened that was against the rules. Should I not be worried? It seems with as hotly as this election is being contested, it is entirely conceivable for some supports to act underhandedly.

[crispini]

7. There are going to be so many people there,

from each sides, that if anything underhanded happens, I strongly suspect that the underhanded person will be immediately squashed to death like a small bug.

Davis needs to take a chill pill. It's obvious from another quote in that article that he doesn't quite get the system himself yet. :eyes:

[sonias]

10. I know that Texas has a law against cameras at the polls

But I do not know what the law is if any about video equipment at the caucuses. The media is allowed to attend the caucuses and that does bring up an interesting point about cameras. If they are allowed to bring in cameras then I guess citizens can as well.

Texas Election Code

Here is the section of Texas Election Code on media (TEC § 174.002).

Sec. 174.002. MEDIA ACCESS. Representatives of the broadcast and print news media are entitled to attend a convention held under this chapter for the purpose of reporting its proceedings.
Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 211, Sec. 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1986.

Here is the section prohibiting cameras which just passed in 2007 (TEC § 61.013)

§ 61.013. USE OF CERTAIN DEVICES. (a) A person may not
use a wireless communication device within 100 feet of a voting
station.
(b) A person may not use any mechanical or electronic means
of recording images or sound within 100 feet of a voting station.
(c) The presiding judge may require a person who violates
this section to turn off the device or to leave the polling place.
(d) This section does not apply to:
(1) an election officer in conducting the officer's
official duties; or
(2) the use of election equipment necessary for the
conduct of the election.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 697, § 1, eff. September
1, 2007.

My advice is to ask your local party chair. I really don't know if the convention is considered a polling place for the purpose of the primary or not.

Sonia

[thevoiceofreason]

12. Sonia

In Houston, we have been told that cameras, etc. at the convention is fine (especially since we don't have a procedure for media credentials, therefore "who constitutes the media?" Again, as you have noted so appropriately, "disruptive" is the operative word.

[sonias]

13. Fine by me, I don't have a problem with it

I did ask an SDEC person too. I would agree with you on "who constitutes the media?" We're all media. And I dare anyone to challenge that.


Sonia

[BrightKnight]

4. Someone told that you had to go back again after voting in the Primary.

What is this?

[BrightKnight]

6. I guess that I get the procedure but

it is an odd way of doing it and locks a lot of people out of the process.

[crispini]

8. It rewards the activist.

Those who can't come back for the convention still get to vote, and the primary determines the majority of our delegates. I don't have a problem with it. This is, after all, the Democratic primary. Not a general election. It's for Democrats. Party activists should count for something.

[tanyev]

9. I have a question, too.

My husband is a Canadian citizen, so of course he can't participate, but he would be very interested in just sitting at the back of the room and observing. Would he be able to get in? Or are people who voted in the Dem primary the only ones allowed in the room?

[sonias]

11. Anyone is allowed in the room if they are not disruptive

Sample Script for Precinct Conventions prepared by PPC
C. PREPARATION OF A LIST OF QUALIFIED PARTICIPANTS: The next business in order is the preparation of a list of
qualified participants. State law (TEC § 162.001-162.005 & 174.024) and the Rules of the Democratic Party, require that only
registered voters of this election precinct who voted in the current Primary Election either in person, early or by mail may
participate in this precinct convention. Proxy voting is not permitted. Members of the media may remain and children may remain
as long as they are quiet and not disruptive (TEC § 174.002).

Kids are allowed in the caucus. They just can't vote. The media is allowed as well. Whoever chairs the PCT convention should just ask the people not authorized to vote to stay a comfortable distance away from the caucus and tell them they can not participate. That means they can not add anything to the discussion either. They are simply observers.

That's why I think crispini's idea of using cards to indicate "eligible caucus" voters is a good idea. Or maybe mark the observers with a tags as well.

Sonia

[tanyev]

16. OK, thanks!

[susanr516]

18. Here are some answers from my own experiences

I'm the elections administrator for the Democratic Party in Nueces County.

1. I recommend showing up by 7 pm. The precinct conventions can not be convened before 7:15. However, the convention may be delayed if there are still voters waiting in line at 7:15. The rules are clear that a precinct convention may not be conducted until every voter waiting has finished and the polling place is closed.

2. All meetings, at all levels in the Texas Democratic Party are open to the public and to the press. There is nothing in the rules prohibiting recording of the proceedings.

3. The length of the meeting depends upon the precinct itself. There are several factors that could increase the length of time you might have to spend at the convention. A voting precinct could have anywhere from 100 to 3500 registered voters. It could be heavily Democratic or Republican. The average turnout could be very low to very high. Signs that it could take some time: A large number of registered voters; middle or upper-middle class income area; 40% or greater Democratic turnout in the past; a registered voting population that is heavily Anglo; a larger percentage of voters under 65; and located in an urban/suburban area where both candidates have campaigned.

You don't have to stay for the entire precinct convention, but I would encourage it. The resolutions are not considered until after the entire delegate selection process is completed, but staying for the resolutions portion of the convention allows you to see grassroots democracy in action.

Remember that there is a precinct convention every 2 years, at 7:15 pm after the primary election. I encourage you to make attending these conventions part of every primary elections.

[sonias]

20. Thank you susan516

How was the early voting in Nueces? Record turnout I hope.

:hi:

This will be my third precinct caucus. My first was Howard Dean's run in 2004. And the 2006 one was a breeze - only the real hard core people wanted to go to Fort Worth. I think this year with the State Convention in Austin and the contested presidential primary, we're going to see a whole lot of new people come to the State Convention. Even more than in Houston in 2004. But that's a good thing!

:dem:


Sonia

[susanr516]

21. Double the turnout on D side

Which is impressive because we always have 2-3 times more D voters than Rs. I don't have hard numbers yet, but total turnout was 14.55% (I think that's both parties.) We were at 4500 voters for Friday at 5 pm. We are at a 30% (combined D/R) turnout pace right now, but some people are whispering up to 35%. Big X factor in S Texas and heavily Hispanic areas is the fact that many people love the block party atmosphere of voting on election day, rather than early. It's traditional in many precincts. It's a 12-hour pachanga. Neighbors bring coffee and pan dulce in the morning, and the guys from Granny's sell tamales in the afternoon. Most of that excitement died down in the past 20 years, but the thrill is back in Hispanic precincts--which could mean that some of the people who had been voting early might have decided to wait this time. Who knows? The only thing I know is that we're going to have fun on Tuesday!

[sonias]

22. Great report

They're going to need a block party if the lines are going to be that long.

Tamales on election day - that makes my mouth water. I only get good homemade tamales around Christmas.

Best to you on election day!

Sonia