Florida Delegate Selection

Slideshow Transcript

1. Slide 1: Florida Delegate Selection to the 2008 Democratic National Convention August 25-28, 2008 ~ Denver, Colorado Issued by: The Honorable Karen L. Thurman, Chair Florida Democratic Party 214 South Bronough Street Tallahassee, FL 32301 September 2007 www.fladems.com/2008DNC
2. Slide 2: Quick Facts This is the first time since 1952 that a sitting president or vice president will not be a candidate for the nomination of either major party. This convention may be historic with the possibility of nominating a Hispanic, an African American or a woman for the first time in history! The Democratic National Convention, which is held every 4 years, will be in Denver, Colorado. This will be the second national convention held in Denver - the first one was held 100 years ago, in 1908.
3. Slide 3: Who’s Running In 2008? US Senator Joe Biden (DE) US Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) US Senator Chris Dodd (CT) Former US Senator John Edwards (NC) Former US Senator Mike Gravel (AK) US Rep. Dennis Kucinich (OH) US Senator Barack Obama (IL) Governor Bill Richardson (NM)
4. Slide 4: Presidential Preference Primary The “first determining step” of Florida’s delegate selection process will occur on January 29, 2008, with a “binding” state-run Presidential Preference Primary election.
5. Slide 5: Ok…But Why All The Fuss With That Date? Florida’s state-run Presidential Preference Primary date is set by the Florida Legislature. With Republican Speaker of the House making it a priority to move up the Primary, the Republican Legislature passed a bill to move it to January 29, rather than the already scheduled March date, in violation of both Democratic and Republican National Committee Rules. The Legislature passed the bill, which also included the requirement that all Florida elections have a paper trail starting in 2008. Governor Charlie Crist signed the bill into law in May. However, coming before February 5, the new date does not comply with the scheduling window ordered by DNC's rules. Therefore, the DNC has issued a 100% reduction of our delegates to the national convention. The DNC only allows Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina to go before February 5, but Florida law set ours for January 29.
6. Slide 6: The Party and Democratic leaders considered many options – A Vote By Mail Program, Caucuses, and a Nominating Convention – to comply with DNC Rules, but none were able to meet the following goals: • Holding an open and fair process • Maximizing participation • Protecting the right to vote • Building the Democratic Party Additionally, the other solutions would: • Fail to reach all Democrats • Spend money the Party doesn’t have or that should be spent on winning elections • Confuse voters by taking away from Jan. 29
7. Slide 7: Also On January 29, 2008… The Republican-controlled Legislature placed a referendum on a major statewide property tax constitutional amendment on the ballot. If this amendment remains on the ballot and passes, our friends in labor, including firefighters, teachers, and other school board employees, hospital workers and police, will face potentially devastating cuts across the state. Additionally, numerous municipal elections are tied to this date. This affects large cities such as Orlando, Miami Beach, Gainesville, Aventura, Naples and others where Democratic leadership during the Presidential election will be crucial.
8. Slide 8: But the DNC is calling this just a \"beauty contest\" and saying the results \"essentially won't count.\" Even if the vote is not recognized by the DNC, the choice of Florida voters for the Democratic presidential nominee will make waves across the county. The nation will be watching, and the outcome of the election will set the tone for the rest of the race. What about the delegate section process? The Party plans to appeal to the eventual Democratic nominee for President to be seated at the Convention. With this in mind, the Party will continue the delegate selection process as planned. And what about this so-called Four State Pledge? The early states (IA, NH, NV and SC) issued a pledge to maintain their influence in the nominating process by not allowing the Presidential candidates to campaign in Florida even if Florida Democrats held an alternative process. We don’t support the pledge, but the candidates signed it. In reality, the candidates were most likely not coming here anyway other than for fundraising. For more information on the Party’s decision to stick with Jan. 29, please visit www.MakeItCountFlorida.com
9. Slide 9: Its All About Representing Florida! In order to encourage full participation by all Democrats in the delegate selection process and in all Party affairs, the Florida Democratic Party has adopted and will implement programs with specific goals for African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian/Pacific Americans and women as well as members of the GLBT community, people with disabilities, military veterans and youth. Florida aims to send one of the most diverse delegations it ever has to the national convention. For the first time, the Party has included additional categories for people with disabilities, youth, and military veterans. African Native People with Hispanics Asian/Pacific GLBT Veterans Youth (18-30) Americans Americans Disabilities % in Democratic 24.00 8.70 0.30 0.80 10.00 8.5 3.00 8.10 Electorate Minimum Numeric 59 21 1 2 25 21 7 20 Goals for Delegation
10. Slide 10: Outreach & Education Outreach programs are concentrating on all Democratic constituencies including but not limited to: • African Americans GLBT Community • Hispanics People With Disabilities • Native Americans Youth • Asian/Pacific Americans Military Veterans • Women Seniors Targeted organizations for workshops and presentations include but are not limited to: • Educational Institutions • Labor Organizations • Democratic Clubs & Caucuses - both local and statewide • County DECs and their respective Affirmative Action Committees Outreach efforts will accommodate people with disabilities: • Ensure all sites are wheelchair accessible • Ensuring a sign language interpreter be present at sites if needed
11. Slide 11: Delegation Overview Florida has a total of 210 delegates and 36 alternates. • 121 district-level delegates and 25 district-level alternates. • 40 at-large delegates and 11 at-large alternates. • 24 pledged Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO) delegates. • Three (3) unpledged add-on delegates. • 22 Automatic unpledged delegates – DNC Members, US Congress and US Senate. Florida has been allocated eight (8) members on each of the three (3) standing committees, for a total 24. • Credentials - 8 • Platform - 8 • Rules – 8 Florida is allotted one (1) Delegation Chair and five (5) individuals to serve as Florida's Convention Pages.
12. Slide 12: All Democrats Are Welcome! Participation in Florida’s delegate selection process is open to all voters who wish to participate as Democrats and register as such by December 31, 2007. Florida is a closed primary state, in which only registered members of the Democratic Party can participate.
13. Slide 13: District-Level Delegates Florida is allocated 121 district-level delegates and 25 district-level alternates. District-level delegates and alternates will be allocated to presidential candidates through a proportional representation system based on the January 29, 2008 Primary. The post-primary congressional district caucuses are on March 1, 2008. All district-level delegate candidates must be identified as to a presidential preference or to an uncommitted status.
14. Slide 14: Qualifying At The District Level An individual can qualify as a candidate for district-level delegate or alternate by submitting the following: Loyalty Oath Statement of Candidacy & Pledge of Support
15. Slide 15: District-Level Qualifying Dates: Begins - Monday, December 3, 2007 at 9 AM Closes - Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 12 PM Sample forms are currently online. Official Forms will be available two weeks (14 days) prior to beginning of the qualifying period. You can sign up online to receive an email alert when the forms are available.
16. Slide 16: Forms can be filed with the Florida Democratic Party in Tallahassee or with the Chair, Vice-Chair, State Committeewoman or State Committeeman of your local Democratic Executive Committee. Contact information for the DECs can be obtained from the Florida Democratic Party’s website.
17. Slide 17: Apportionment Delegates Alternates District Males Females Total Males Females Total 1 2 2 4 1 0 1 District-level delegate and 2 3 3 6 0 1 1 3 2 3 5 1 0 1 alternate positions will be 4 2 2 4 0 1 1 allocated to fairly reflect the 5 3 2 5 0 1 1 expressed presidential 6 2 3 5 1 0 1 7 3 2 5 0 1 1 (or uncommitted) 8 2 2 4 1 0 1 preference of the primary 9 2 2 4 0 1 1 10 2 3 5 1 0 1 voters in each district. 11 3 2 5 0 1 1 12 2 2 4 1 0 1 13 2 3 5 1 0 1 After the district-level 14 2 2 4 0 1 1 delegates are elected, those 15 3 2 5 0 1 1 16 2 3 5 1 0 1 persons not chosen will be 17 4 3 7 0 1 1 considered candidates for 18 1 2 3 1 0 1 district-level alternate 19 4 3 7 0 1 1 20 3 3 6 1 0 1 positions unless they specify 21 2 2 4 0 1 1 otherwise when filing. 22 2 3 5 1 0 1 23 3 3 6 1 0 1 24 2 2 4 1 0 1 25 2 2 4 0 1 1 TOTAL 121 25
18. Slide 18: At-Large Delegates The state of Florida is allotted 40 at-large delegates and 11 at-large alternates.
19. Slide 19: Qualifying For At-Large An individual can qualify as a candidate for at-large delegate or alternate by submitting the following: Loyalty Oath Statement of Candidacy & Pledge of Support
20. Slide 20: At-Large Qualifying Dates: Begins - Monday, April 7, 2008 at 9 AM Closes - Friday, April 25, 2008 at 5 PM Sample forms are currently online. Official Forms will be available two weeks (14 days) prior to beginning of the qualifying period. You can sign up online to receive an email alert when the forms are available.
21. Slide 21: Forms must be filed with the Florida Democratic Party in Tallahassee. All at-large delegate candidates must be identified as to a presidential preference or to an uncommitted status.
22. Slide 22: Selection Of At-Large Delegates The Florida Democratic Party State Executive Committee will select these delegates. Receipt of a plurality of the votes cast will constitute election as a delegate. After the at-large delegates are elected, those not chosen will be considered candidates for at-large alternate positions unless they specify otherwise when filing. The selection of these delegates and alternates will occur on May 17, 2008.
23. Slide 23: Pledged Party Leaders (PLEO) Delegates Florida is allotted 24 pledged Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO) delegates. Individuals are eligible for the pledged Party Leader and Elected Official delegate positions according to the following priority: big city mayors and state-wide elected officials (to be given equal consideration); state legislative leaders, state legislators, and other state, county and local elected officials and party leaders.
24. Slide 24: Qualifying For PLEO An individual can qualify as a candidate for a position as a pledged PLEO delegate by submitting the following: Statement of Candidacy & Pledge of Support
25. Slide 25: The form must be filed with the Florida Democratic Party in Tallahassee. An individual may or may not have previously filed forms for other positions and still may be eligible to file under this category. Pledged PLEO delegate candidates must be identified as to a presidential preference.
26. Slide 26: PLEO Qualifying Dates: Begins - Monday, February 25, 2008 at 9 AM Closes - Friday, March 14, 2008 at 5 PM EST Sample forms are currently online. Official Forms will be available two weeks (14 days) prior to beginning of the qualifying period. You can sign up online to receive an email alert when the forms are available.
27. Slide 27: Selection Of PLEO Delegates The Florida Democratic Party State Executive Committee will select these delegates. Receipt of a plurality of the votes cast shall constitute election as a delegate. Selection of the PLEO delegates will occur on April 5, 2008.
28. Slide 28: Unpledged Add-On Delegates Florida will select three (3) unpledged add- on delegates. Individuals are nominated for these positions by the Chair of Florida Democratic Party. The Florida Democratic Party State Executive Committee will select these delegates. Receipt of a plurality of the votes cast will constitute election as a delegate. Selection of the unpledged add-on delegates will occur on April 5, 2008.
29. Slide 29: Automatic Delegates Unpledged Party Leaders & Elected Officials Florida has 22 automatic delegates. • Members of the Democratic National Committee who legally reside in Florida. • All of Florida’s Democratic Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
30. Slide 30: Convention Standing Committees Florida has been allocated eight (8) members on each of the three standing committees for a total of 24 members. The committees are Credentials, Platform and Rules. The Florida Democratic Party State Chair and the presidential candidates will nominate such candidates to serve on the Convention Standing Committees. The members of the standing committees must be approved by a quorum of Florida’s national convention delegates. Approval of committee members will occur on May 17, 2008.
31. Slide 31: Delegation Chair & Pages Florida is allotted one (1) Delegation Chair and five (5) individuals to serve as Florida’s Convention Pages. The Delegation Chair will be selected by a quorum of Florida’s national convention delegates. Convention Pages will be selected by the Chair of the Florida Democratic Party in consultation with the members of the Democratic National Committee from the state. The selection of the Delegation Chair and the Convention pages will take place on May 17, 2008.
32. Slide 32: Replacement Of Delegates Permanent replacement of a delegate: • A permanent replacement occurs when a delegate resigns or dies prior to or during the national convention and the alternate replaces the delegate for the remainder of the national convention. Temporary replacement of a delegate: • A temporary replacement occurs when a delegate is to be absent for a limited period of time during the convention and an alternate temporarily acts in the delegate’s place. Any alternate replacing a delegate must be: • Of the same presidential preference (including uncommitted status). • Of the same gender of the delegate he/she replaces. • From the same congressional district within the state as the delegate. The delegation chooses the alternate.
33. Slide 33: Frequently Asked Questions How are the district-level caucuses run? Who chooses the delegates? The selection of district-level delegates will be in 25 post-primary district- level caucuses around the state on March 1, 2008. The highest vote- getters slotted under each presidential candidate are elected. (The numbers each presidential candidate gets in each district is dependent on the Presidential Primary results in that district.) In order to participate as a voter in the caucus, a voter must establish that he or she is a registered Democrat within the Caucus’ Congressional District. Voters must present a voter registration card and photo I.D. The voter will then be required to fill out a statement of support for the presidential candidate whom he or she supports. Delegates and alternates will be elected only by those participants at the caucus who have declared support for the same candidate to whom the delegate or alternates are pledged. Each participating voter must vote for exactly the number of delegate candidates to which the presidential candidate is entitled. Undervotes and overvotes will result in that ballot becoming invalid and will not count. Where are they located? Locations of district-level caucus sites are currently being determined. They will be finalized this Fall and published online.
34. Slide 34: FAQ Continued What is the role of a delegate? Delegates at the national convention represent their state, their congressional district and their community in casting a vote to decide who the Democratic nominee will be. This convention may be historic with the possibility of nominating a woman, a Hispanic or an African American for the first time in history! What should one budget for the trip? What are the expenses? This depends on the individual. Generally, travel to and from Colorado, travel within Denver and the hotel stay are the main costs. (The hotel hosting the Florida delegation is still being worked out.) Additionally, food, reception fundraisers and miscellaneous recreational opportunities around Denver should also be considered. I really want to be a delegate, but I don’t think I can afford to go. What are my options? Unfortunately, the Florida Democratic Party is not in a position to cover the expenses of any delegates to the national convention. Individuals who are interested in fundraising opportunities to cover such costs should contact their county Democratic Executive Committee as well as their respective caucuses.
35. Slide 35: FAQ Continued Did I have to be a state delegate to the 2007 convention in order to run for a national delegate position? No. The only prerequisite to run for a national delegate position is that you are a registered Democratic voter by December 31, 2007. However, attending the State Convention in October provides both great networking opportunities as well as training sessions on how to run successfully as a delegate. If I am a delegate, can my family go as well? While members of your family are welcome to go on the trip, they will be unable to enter the convention hall unless they too are a Florida delegate. Furthermore, any events or parties that the delegation is invited to will most likely require the purchase of a ticket for additional guests. Can I switch my candidate preference mid-process? No. Since the presidential preference breakdown is based on a fixed percentage, a delegate is unable to change their candidate preference. If you are unsure of your preference at the time of filing, there is always the option of qualifying as “uncommitted.”
36. Slide 36: FAQ Continued Do both delegates and alternates go to Denver? Yes. But only delegates are able to cast their official vote in the nominating process. Are all presidential candidates going to be on the ballot? How do they qualify? In order to be placed on the January 29, 2008 Presidential Preference ballot, a candidate must file a Statement of Candidacy with the Florida Democratic Party and certify in writing the name(s) of his or her authorized representative(s) by September 14, 2007. Individuals who announce their candidacy after this date must provide this information no later than ten (10) days following their official announcement. Do the presidential candidates have to do anything to ensure the diversity goals of the delegation are met? Yes. By September 14, 2007, all Democratic candidates for president must submit a written statement to the Florida Democratic Party indicating the specific steps their respective campaign will take to encourage full participation in Florida’s delegate selection process. An individual who announces their candidacy after this date must provide his or her written statement no later than ten (10) days following the official announcement.
37. Slide 37: For further information and to view Florida’s full Delegate Selection Plan: www.fladems.com/2008DNC Also visit: www.demconvention.com www.denverconvention2008.com www.denverdnc2008.com (unofficial)