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The LocalVoter
Getting Involved Guide (Texas) - 2006
Part 2: What is a Primary Election
and Why Does it Matter?
Find out more about the Getting Involved Guide
en Espanol
What is a Primary Election?
▪ A process (not just an election) run by the Republican and
Democratic Parties;
▪ To select the their candidates for the General Election;
▪ AND, just as importantly, to select their local leadership
(County and Precinct Chairmen), and policy positions.
When are they held?
▪ Even numbered years;
▪ This year on March 7, with early voting starting on February
21.
What is a precinct convention?
▪ A meeting of voters in your precinct (neighborhood) who voted
in the primary election. It’s the foundation of our political
system.
▪ Where is it? Location of the precinct convention should be
posted at your polling place on election day. If you don’t find
that information, ask someone at the polls or contact the
political party.
Why should I attend the precinct convention?
▪ If you want to play in role in our political system, this is a
great place to start.
▪ Meet the folks who live next to you who also care about
political issues.
▪ Most precinct conventions are lightly attended. One voice can
make a big difference.
▪ Play a part in shaping the issue positions of the parties and
candidates.
▪ Help to organize voters and volunteers locally in support of
issues and candidates you care about.
How do I qualify to attend?
▪ Vote! You must have voted in the primary run by that party
(you can’t go to the Democratic precinct convention if you
voted in the Republican primary that day).
▪ You do not have to be a registered or contributing member of
either political party to vote in the primary or attend the
precinct convention.
One more time, for emphasis... Any ordinary person (yes, that means
you...) who is registered to vote can choose a primary to vote
in and attend that party’s precinct convention.
Its a great country, don’t you think?
I don’t like either party, why should I participate in the
primary process?
▪ Because you can. It’s an opportunity to steer that party
closer to your views (and you just might find a new political
home!).
▪ Because more participation is better than less.
▪ Important note: if you plan to
participate in the nominating process for a party other than the
Democrats or Republicans you should not vote in the March 9th
primary. Contact your local party leadership for details
on their nominating process (links available on LocalVoter).
I belong to another political party like the Greens or the
Libertarians. Will my party have a precinct convention?
▪ Only the Republican and Democratic parties participate in the
formal primary election process, but all political parties have
a participatory process for selecting their candidates and
leaders.
▪ LocalVoter has links to the local websites of the Green and
Libertarian parties in your county (not all counties have local
organizations for those parties). Just select your location and
county from the pull-down menu, then see the box at the bottom
right of the page.
▪ Contact the party by phone or email and find out how to
participate.
▪ And remember, if you intend to
participate in the nominating process for the Green or
Libertarian Party do not vote in the March 7th primary.
Summary
When we learn about democracy in the classroom we hear a lot
about the
Gettysburg Address, “We the People” and D-Day. The
value of those grand ideas and events is obvious, but it's
extremely important to recognize and protect the foundation that
sits beneath them. Democracy works (or fails to work...) from
the ground up. It takes interested, informed, involved people
at the foundations to create and support our way of life.
On March 7, voters from each of the two major parties in Texas will
decide who will be their candidates for the general election in
November. However, the real action,
which forms the nuts and bolts of our democracy, will start on
the evening of the 7th in the precinct
conventions.
If you want to take your place in the democratic
process there is no better way to start than by showing up for
your precinct convention.
The doors are wide open. Remember, most precinct conventions are
lightly attended. Both the Democratic and Republican parties have long
lists of precincts which currently have no precinct-level
leadership.
The
precinct convention is democracy at its dirty, greasy, glorious
best.
The ideas you’ll hear will range from enlightened to wacky. Have
patience and take the good with the bad.
Depending on your
political leanings you may find the environment exciting and
exhilarating or frustrating and depressing, but understand that
democracy is a process. Even if your candidates or ideas don’t
find immediate approval, your participation
there almost by itself is having an influence on the outcome.
Think of it as a giant scale. The side you sit on may come out
weighing less, but it will still influence how far the other
side can sink!
If you’ve ever felt alienated from the political system,
wondered how it works, wanted to get more involved, or felt
moved by the sacrifices for freedom made by others, the primary process is a great place to start
making your own contribution.
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