Become a Delegate or Vote for One: California Caucus is 5/1/16; Last Day to Signup is 4/13/16

[amborin]

Just returned from a Bernie Barnstrorm and learned some crucial info that is news to me.

Besides its June Primary, California has a Caucus, on May 1, 2015. You have to be registered as a Democrat to participate. This applies to all states, not just to California.

In California, you can vote for a pro-Bernie delegate on May 1, which is crucial.

You can also sign up to be a potential delegate (and then run your own campaign), but you must do so by April 13, 2016.

As this is news to me, it may be news to others, too. If you live in California, please take the time to process this and then vote for a pro-Bernie delegate. It's my belief (and I will verify this) that one needs to check their Congressional District as the first step in the process.

​If you are a supporter of Bernie Sanders, please realize that you will NOT REALLY be voting for Bernie directly (unless you are a delegate). You will be voicing your opinion in a very complex process that ultimately chooses DELEGATES to the Democratic National Convention. The delegates vote at the convention to choose the party's nominee.

Why should I become a delegate? To have a greater involvement in our political process! Delegates will select the party nominee at the Democratic National Convention July 25 – 28, 2016 in Philadelphia.

How do I become a delegate? The process for becoming a delegate will vary from state to state and territory to territory. Some states elect delegates during caucuses, some during primaries, others have completely separate events. Generally, the first step is to submit a statement of candidacy to stand for election as a national convention delegate or alternate. In this statement, identify which candidate to which you pledge your support.

The delegates elected during this process are called pledged delegates because those running voice their support for a specific candidate. The process also involves selecting alternates in case there is a need to swap delegates or delegates cannot make it to the convention.

Find your state or territory below for more information on becoming a delegate:

http://www.berniesandersvideo.com/how-to-become-a-delegate-for-bernie-sanders.html





What is a delegate?

Delegates are individuals chosen to represent their states at their party conventions prior to a presidential election. The rules for selecting delegates, which are dictated by the parties, can be dizzying—the guidelines vary not only by party, but by state, and sometimes by congressional district. A party might grant additional delegates as a reward if a state has a recent history of supporting that party, for example. In other cases, delegates might simply be allocated to a state based on the percentage of votes that state is granted in the Electoral College.

Who are the delegates?

Delegates are often party activists, local political leaders, or early supporters of a given candidate, says Anthony Corrado, government professor at Maine's Colby College. Presidential campaigns often encourage "a member of a county board or a local state representative or a state senator" to run for their slate of delegates, says Corrado, "because they help to bring their own political constituencies or they're a recognizable name." Delegates can also include members of a campaign's steering committee. In some cases, delegates are long-time active members of their local party organization, and running as a delegate is "one of the rewards for their service to the party over the years," says Corrado.

Democratic National Convention

California Democrats will have one of the largest, most diverse delegations at the Democratic National Convention scheduled for the week of July 25-28, 2016, in Philadelphia.

Filing forms to become a delegate

District-Level Delegate (FORM A)

At-Large Delegate (FORM B)

PLEO Delegate (FORM C)

Which form should I file?

Approved applicants will be posted every Wednesday. The cut off for the weekly posting will be every Friday.

Please click on the drop downs below for approved FORM A applicants (as of March 18, 2016 at 5pm)
Learn more about the 2016 Democratic National Convention

Delegate Selection Plan

Delegate Selection Plan (Approved by the Democratic National Committee on 10/26/15)

Presentations

WORKSHOP: Philly Primer 2016 (2/27/2016)

DNC Delegate Selection Presentation (11/9/2015)

Important FAQ Sheets

How to become a Delegate to the 2016 Democratic National Convention?

5 Simple Steps to become a District-Level Delegate

How much does it costs to get to the DNC Convention in Philadelphia?

Useful Links

2016 Democratic National Convention - convention.democrats.org

Philadelphia Host Committee - www.phldnc.com

Democratic National Committee - www.democrats.org

[amborin]

1. kicking for California voters---please check your district, learn who your Bernie delegates are,

and vote on May 1

[MineralMan]

2. Been there, done that.

It's amazing how few show up at those. If you'd like to be involved and you live in CA, go to this. It's amazing. Be part of the process. I did it several times and was a delegate a few times. But, if you're not there, nobody will care.

[amborin]

7. thank you for sharing your experience

[politicaljunkie41910]

3. Don't bring your hate to our state.

[amborin]

4. kicking

[amborin]

5. kicking again

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Kick and you are correct, most folks have no clue

[amborin]

8. thanks! and I didn't have a clue, either

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Well except for the primary election

and some minutiae, the state parties do it mostly the same.