Caucus Night – Tuesday March 5, 2024
Join us this year for Caucus Night at Kaysville Junior High from 6- 8 pm! This is one of the largest grassroots organizing events of the year. This is where we start our work of getting candidates elected in November! It is important to note, Presidential nominations will be done by mail-in ballot this year. While we won’t be doing a presidential nomination, we will be electing delegates and precinct officers.
We will have several of our Democrats running for office joining us. This will give our candidates, and you a chance to know each other. In addition, we will have a wonderful speaker! Dr. Leah Murray, Director of the Walker Institute of Politics and Public Service and Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor will be speaking on civic engagement.
This is all hard work and Davis Democrats will be providing pizza and music to keep you feeling refreshed and ready to fight for Democracy!
Pre-register here! https://forms.gle/Jt7r6mLD6nrW9Wvn7
County Convention – Saturday March 30,2024
Convention will be held at Kaysville Junior High on March 30, 2024, 10am – 12pm.
Caucus is over, now it’s time to get to convention! At the 2024 county conventions, county delegates will formally elect delegates to the state convention, nominate candidates to appear on the ballot for districts entirely within that county (i.e. county commissions or councils, other county elected officials, and, in some counties, candidates for the state legislature). They may also adopt a county party platform or resolutions.
For those that have become county delegates or precinct leadership, you can find your roles below!
State Convention – Saturday April 27, 2024
The Utah Democratic Party’s State Convention is April 27th. Delegates from around the state will gather in Murray at Cottonwood High School to select our nominees for multi-county offices, National Committee Members, and for National Delegates.
IMPORTANT DATES:
March 4 – 15th: Filing period for all delegate positions.
March 4 – 22nd: Filing period for National Committee Members.
For more information on State Convention please visit https://www.utahdemocrats.org/2024-state-convention
National Convention – August 19-22, 2024
From August 19-22, 2024, delegates from around the country will gather in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention.
IMPORTANT DATES:
November 6th: Delegate filing forms become available online or at the Utah Democratic Party office at 825 N 300 W Suite C400, Salt Lake City, UT 84103
March 4 – 15th: Filing period for all delegate positions. Forms can be submitted to the UDP office, or emailed to convention@utdem.org
April 27th: Delegates are elected at the Utah Democratic Party state convention
For more information please visit https://www.utahdemocrats.org/2024-national-convention
What is Caucus Night?
Caucus Night is a bi-annual party organizing event county parties are required to hold under the Utah Democratic Party’s Constitution. Neighborhood Caucuses are held on even years and are the venue where our party elects county delegates and precinct officers.
The meetings are typically held the second week of March, following the end of the Legislative Session. They have traditionally been held on Tuesday evenings. This year’s neighborhood caucus night is Tuesday, March 5th
Why do we hold caucus night?
On caucus night you elect delegates and precinct officers. Delegates will later vote at the county and state conventions for the candidates they want to nominate.
What is a Precinct Officer?
Precinct Officers are the grassroots organizers in the Democratic Party. Each precinct has an opening for a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. Together, Precinct Officers work to organize their neighborhoods.
What is a Delegate?
Delegates constitute the governing body of the Democratic Party at conventions. Delegates select the Democratic nominee at convention for partisan offices and elect Democratic Party leadership.
What are County Conventions?
Your local county convention is a yearly meeting when all of the county delegates gather to conduct party business each year. This year, county delegates will be voting to nominate candidates for any districts that are located entirely within their county lines, as well as hearing from state party leaders and candidates for federal and statewide office.
Roles of Elected Precinct Leadership:
Precinct Chairs and leadership are the friendly faces for their local voters that helps them connect with other Democrats and the local Party. Precinct Chairs regularly touch base with voters year-round through canvassing (knocking on doors) and other means to keep them informed on issues, events, clubs, elections, and candidates!
Precinct Chair:
Precinct Chairs may be automatic state delegates, depending on the county. State delegates are expected to attend the state convention on April 27th.
Precinct Chairs may be members of the county party central committee, which is a policy- making body of the county party. As a member, you are expected to attend county central committee meetings.
Submit names of persons willing to serve as election judges, giving preference to active Democrats.
Locate the Democrats in your precinct. Recruit people for volunteer work, like passing out candidate literature door-to-door, and helping make sure Democrats in your precinct vote on time.
Help Democratic candidates in your precinct.
Notify Democrats in your precinct of party meetings and events.
Be prepared to host the next precinct caucus, or find someone who will.
Assist with other duties as requested by county party officers.
Precinct Vice Chair:
Assist the Precinct Chair in planning, recruiting, and organizing.
Serve as Precinct Chair if a vacancy occurs.
Precinct Vice Chairs may also be members of the county party central committee which is a policy-making body of the county party. As a member, you are expected to attend county central committee meetings.
Precinct Secretary:
(if applicable, otherwise assigned to the Precinct Chair)
Assist the Precinct Chair in planning, recruiting, and organizing.
Maintain contact information for all Democrats in the precinct.
Resources for Precinct Leadership:
- National Democratic Training Committee, What is a Precinct Chair? https://youtu.be/izMX5Er6Db4?si=r3PAV7PuvPV_fXXH
- Toolkit for Precinct Captains: https://democrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Rural-Precinct-Chair-Toolkit.pdf
Role of Delegate(s) Elected for the 2024-2026 Term:
Read the “Call to Convention” when it is sent to you. Make sure you know when and where the Convention is when you get the Call, and familiarize yourself with any other materials that may be sent to you at that time. Other items that may come with the Call include credentials that you would have to present to get a ballot to vote at the convention, the Party Platform or State Party rule changes that you might be expected to vote on at the convention.
Become familiar with Democratic issues and candidates. After the caucus meetings, candidates may contact you to gain support. It is important that you be well informed so you can make intelligent choices. Remember, you represent the other Democrats in your precinct. A well-informed delegate, capable of making knowledgeable decisions, is essential for the success of the democratic process.
Attend the convention. (NOTE: Anyone can attend the State and County Conventions and your participation in witnessing these events would be greatly appreciated; however, materials and ballots are only prepared for official delegates – only delegates are allowed to vote at the conventions.)
At the 2024 county conventions, county delegates will formally elect delegates to the state convention (in some counties state delegates are nominated at this precinct caucus, while in other counties they are selected entirely at the county convention), nominate candidates to appear on the ballot for districts entirely within that county (i.e. county commissions or councils, other county elected officials, and, in some counties, candidates for the state legislature). They may also adopt a county party platform or resolutions.
At the 2024 State Convention (April 27, 2024), state delegates will nominate candidates to appear on the ballot for the statewide and multi-county districts. A State Party Platform will also be adopted at this convention
Be active in your precinct. Remain in contact with your precinct officers throughout your two- year term in office. Support your precinct, legislative district, county, state, and national party officers by:
Helping organize your district
Distributing political literature
Attending party functions
Doing volunteer work for local campaigns & your county party
If you are unable to attend any convention or fulfill your duties as delegate, inform your precinct chair or a county party officer of your resignation. The County Party chair will need this resignation in writing to replace you as a delegate