Be a Precinct Delegate for the Democratic Party

What is a Precinct?

The Precinct is the smallest political unit in the country and all Voters in a Precinct Vote at one location. It is where elections are won and lost. It's your neighborhood. You know the people and what issues are most important to them.

What is a Precinct Delegate?

The role of a Precinct Delegate is very important, yet the least understood of any elected office. A Precinct Delegate serves as a liaison between the Democrats in their neighborhood and the Democratic Party. Precinct Delegates represent their neighborhoods at Democratic Party meetings. It is the active Precinct Delegate who Wins Elections for the Democratic Party.

What do Precinct Delegates do?

Help Democrats get registered to vote.
Take information on issues and candidates to the voters in your precinct.
Identify other Democrats, and recruit new Party Members.
Help Turn Out the Democratic Vote in your Neighborhood on Election Day.
Keep Democratic Leaders Informed About the Issues that Concern Voters.

How do Precinct Delegates get Elected?

Precinct Delegates are Elected in the Democratic primary every 2 years in August. Only Democratic Voters choose Democratic precinct delegates. THE NEXT ELECTION IS AUGUST 2026.

Each Precinct is allotted precinct delegates based on past Democratic voting strength. The County Chair will be able to cite how many delegate positions are allocated to a precinct.

Precinct Delegate Candidates file an Affidavit of Identity to get on the ballot, which can be filed with the C ounty Clerk, and must be notarized. The filing deadline for Precinct Delegate Candidates falls on the twelfth Tuesday prior to the August primary. A Precinct Delegate can be elected with just one vote.

What are the Responsibilities of Precinct Delegates?

Precinct Delegates are the campaign leaders for the Democratic Party in their Precincts. After the primary, those elected will be notified by the County Clerk through the mail. This notification will include the time and place of the district or county Democratic Convention, to be held in August or September after the primary.

The Convention may also debate or adopt Resolutions for recommendation to the State Convention’s Platform Committee. Precinct Delegates should take their official notification to the County Convention to register with the Convention Credentials Committee.

After Election Day, Precinct Delegates must convene in a county convention to elect executive committees and officers to serve through the next general election. There they will also elect Delegates to the February State Convention, where new State Party Officers and State Central Committee will be chosen to serve for the next 2 years.

Checklist to Become a Precinct Delegate

Obtain a precinct map from the county, city or township clerk’s office.
Find out the number of Democratic precinct delegate positions in your precinct.
File your Affidavit of Identity with your county, city or township clerk no later than 4 pm on the twelfth Tuesday before the August Primary, in May. Your Affidavit of Identity must be notarized.
Get involved in your local Democratic Party. Keep the Party informed of what your neighbors are talking about and your neighbors informed about what elected Democrats are doing for them.

Run for Precinct Delegate, Grassroots Community Building