How a caucus works

[displacedtexan]

the following email from the michigan state party chair explains how the 2004 caucus will work:

HOW YOU CAN HELP PICK THE 2004
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT

by Mark Brewer, Executive Chair
Michigan Democratic Party

This factsheet explains how you can help pick the 2004
Democratic Candidate for President.


1. Q: When and where will the Democrats nominate a Presidential
Candidate?
A: Democrats will nominate their candidates for President and
Vice-President and adopt a platform at the 2004 Democratic
National Convention. The Convention will be held in Boston,
Massachusetts on July 26-29, 2004.
2. Q: Who will represent Michigan at the National Convention?
A: Michigan will be represented by a delegation of 153
Delegates, 22 Alternates, 18 Convention Committee members and 4 Pages.
3. Q: How will that delegation be selected?
A: The delegation will be selected in 3 steps.
First, on Saturday, February 7, 2004, people can attend a
Presidential Caucus in the county where they live to vote for their
preferred candidate for President. Delegates to the National
Convention will be apportioned based on the total vote for each
presidential candidate from caucus sites, by mail and over the
Internet.
Then, on April 3, 2004, 83 delegates and 15 alternates will be
elected at 15 Congressional District Conventions based on the
results of the February 7, 2004 Caucuses.
Finally, on May 15, 2004, based on the results of the February
7, 2004 Caucuses, 47 delegates, 7 alternates, 18 Convention
Committee members and 4 pages will be elected at a meeting of the
Democratic State Central Committee in the Metro Detroit area.
All of these elected delegates, alternates, committee members,
and pages, together with 23 super-delegates – Michigan's
Governor, 8 Federal lawmakers and 14 Democratic National Committee
Members – will make up Michigan's delegation to the National
Convention.
4. Q: How will the February 7, 2004 caucuses work?
A: The caucuses will be open on Saturday, February 7, 2004
between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M. EST. You can vote anytime during those
hours and people in line at 4 P.M. EST will be permitted to vote.
Ballots will be available in Spanish and Arabic as well as
English. All voters must provide proof of residence and complete a
ballot, including a public declaration that they are a Democrat and
are or will be a registered voter before the November election.
After the caucuses close at 4 P.M. EST, the votes will be
counted and the results reported back to the Michigan Democratic Party
(MDP) that day where they will be added to the vote by mail and
Internet vote totals.
5. Q: How many caucus sites will there be?
A: There will be over 400 caucus sites statewide, with at least
one caucus site in every county. The sites are apportioned based
on population and voting performance. Each site will serve a
specific caucus zone. The people in the zone vote at the site for
that zone. Any building may be used as a caucus site, except a
private home. All of the sites must be accessible to people with
disabilities.
6. Q: Who is in charge of the caucus sites?
A: The county and congressional district Democratic parties are
in charge of locating, staffing and running the sites on
February 7, 2004.
7. Q: How can I find out at which caucus site I vote?
A: You can vote only at the caucus site in the caucus zone where
you live. Once the sites and zones are established in late
September, 2003 the list will be given to the press, local party
organizations and local clerks, published in the Michigan Democratic
Party newsletter, posted on our website at www.mi-democrats.com
and made available in other ways.
8. Q: Do I have to be a member of the Michigan Democratic Party
in order to vote at a caucus site?
A: No. However, at the Caucus sites, on the mail ballot and on
the Internet ballot, everyone must publicly declare him or
herself as a Democrat for purposes of voting in the Presidential
Caucus.
9. Q: Can there be campaigning at caucus sites?
A: Yes, campaigning, collection of petition signatures and
similar activity will be allowed under rules to be set out by the
Michigan Democratic Party.
10. Q: Can I vote by mail?
A: Yes, you can vote by mail if you qualify. On and after
January 1, 2004 a person may apply for a mail ballot (for themselves
only) by visiting our website – www.mi-democrats.com or by
mail, fax, or e-mail. Unlike traditional absentee voting in Michigan
you do not need a reason such as age or disability to vote by
mail. Applications must be returned by January 31, 2004 at 6 P.M.
A ballot will be mailed to those who apply and are registered
to vote. All vote by mail ballots must be returned to the
designated location in Lansing by February 7, 2004 at 10 A.M. Mail
ballots will not be accepted at the caucus sites and anyone who
votes by mail cannot vote again at their caucus site on February 7,
2004. Safeguards will be in place to prevent multiple voting.
If you are ineligible to vote by mail, you will be notified and
still have the option to vote at a caucus site.
11. Q: How can I get a vote by mail application?
A: Applications will be accepted beginning January 1, 2004 and
no sooner. Any application received before January 1, 2004 will
not be processed. On January 1, 2004 vote by mail applications
will be available on the MDP website at www.mi-democrats.com and
from local party organizations or by contacting the Michigan
Democratic Party by e-mail [email protected], phone (517)
371-5410 or mail 606 Townsend, Lansing, MI 48933. Applications
must be returned by January 31, 2004 at 6 P.M.
12. Q: Can I vote over the Internet?
A: Yes, you can vote over the Internet if you qualify. Follow
the same application procedures as voting by mail. Your vote by
mail ballot will contain instructions on voting over the Internet.
You can only vote once – at a caucus site, by mail or over the
Internet. Safeguards will be in place to prevent multiple
voting.
13. Q: How can I run for delegate or alternate to the National
Convention?
A: To qualify as a candidate for delegate or alternate, an
individual must file a “declaration of candidacy” form with the
MDP. The forms will be available from the MDP on January 1, 2004.
To run as a district level delegate or alternate, the
declaration must be filed no later than 5:00 P.M. on March 4, 2004. To run
as a state level delegate or alternate, the declaration must be
filed by 5:00 P.M. on May 3, 2004. There are no exceptions to
the deadlines. Presidential candidates have the right to approve
all candidates for delegate or alternate pledged to them.
After a person timely files and is approved by a presidential
candidate, they must campaign for election as a delegate or
alternate at the congressional district or state level.
14. Q: Who is eligible to vote for delegates and alternates at
the April 3, 2004 Congressional District Conventions?
A: Precinct delegates elected in August, 2002, certain nominees
for county and legislative office and members of the Michigan
Democratic Party who join the Party on or before March 4, 2004 are
eligible to vote. No proxy votes are permitted. Party membership
does not require a financial contribution.
15. Q: How can I join the Michigan Democratic Party?
A: You can join at our website: www.mi-democrats.com. You can
also get a membership form by calling [phone], faxing (517)
371-2056, e-mailing [email protected], or by writing
606 Townsend, Lansing, MI 48933. Forms should be returned to the
MDP at 606 Townsend, Lansing, MI 48933.
16. Q: Who is eligible to vote for delegates and alternates at
the May 15, 2004 State Central meeting?
A: State Central Delegates, Alternates, Michigan DNC Members,
and MDP Officers and Officers-at-Large are eligible to vote. There
is no proxy voting.
17. Q: Who is in charge of this whole process?
A: MDP Executive Chair Mark Brewer supervises the entire
delegate selection process.
18. Q: How can I get more details on the whole process?
A: This document is simply a summary of some key issues and the
Delegate Selection Plan is the official governing document. You
can get a copy by visiting our website at www.mi-democrats.com,
calling the MDP at [phone], faxing [phone], or
writing 606 Townsend, Lansing, MI 48933.