Reply #11: This applies to Ohio...

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

But if you're interested and live in another state, I'll be more than happy to do the research to get you started.

For Ohio:

The Precinct Executive (or Precinct Captain) is the lowest elected official in the State of Ohio. But the position does gives you the right to vote within the County Democratic Party, including voting on the executive leadership.

Precinct Executives are elected every two years during the even-year primaries. To get on the ballot, you need only obtain a nominating petition from the Board of Elections and then get five signatures from Democrats in your precinct (Independent and Non-Affiliated Voters are OK -- just no Republicans). Assuming that nobody else is on the ballot for Precinct Executive, which is usually the case, all you have to do is vote for yourself and you win!

At other times of the year, you can be appointed to a Precinct Executive position by contacting your Ward Chair and expressing an interest. The County Party then checks your voting record to make sure you are really a Democrat, then sends you a letter of appointment.

In your particular case, Jen, I'm pretty sure that you don't currently have a Ward Chair -- if you're still living where you were living last summer -- so PM me and I'll take your name to the County Party for consideration.