Assembly District Election Meetings

The California Democratic Party ("CDP") has standardized the way Assembly District delegates ("ADDs") and Assembly District Executive Board Representatives ("E-Board representatives") are selected. The ADDs and E- Board representatives are elected by Assembly District Election Meetings ("Election Meetings" or "ADEMs") in each of the 80 Assembly Districts.

Read the relevent section of the bylaws on this process. (pdf link)

California Democrats who were all integral to our historic 2008 campaign victories are invited to help select delegates for the California Democratic Party’s Convention, which will be held April 24-26, 2009 in Sacramento. The California Democratic Party is convening delegate election meetings in each of the state’s 80 Assembly Districts on January 10 or 11, 2009. These 12 people will represent their Assembly District for both the 2009 and 2010 State Conventions. They will elect one person to represent the AD on the State Party’s Executive Board.

Democrats interested in running to be an Assembly District Delegate must file with the State Party by 12 noon, Wednesday, December 31, 2008.

A semi-official list of winners of the Assembly District Election Meeting in each district is now available online.

View the semi-official list of Assembly District Election Meeting Winners.

FAQ

1. Who may run for Assembly District Delegate to the California State Central Committee?

The qualifications for running for Assembly District Delegate to the California State Central Committee are the same as those for participating in the Election Meeting, with one important caveat: candidates must submit their names to the CDP at least 12 calendar days prior to the Election Meeting.

You may file online to run for Assembly District Delegate by going to www.cadem.org/ADdelegate.

NOTE: Due to the holidays, for 2009, the deadline is 12 noon, Wednesday, December 31, 2008. Candidates should confirm receipt of filing prior to the deadline. The CDP will not be responsible for failed, delayed, unreadable, or corrupted filings whether by hardcopy delivery or electronic filings such as faxes or emails.

2. Who may participate?

Participants, for the purpose of these Guidelines, are simply persons who may attend and vote for ADDs and E-Board representatives.

A person may participate in the ADEM if he/she:

1. Is a Democrat residing in and registered to vote in the Assembly District (by the October 20, 2008 deadline, unless the person turned 18 or was naturalized after deadline, and is registered or registers onsite);
    
2. Pays a $5 fee to defray the cost of the ADEM or signs a form declaring that to pay the fee would constitute an economic hardship;
    
3. Signs in on a form (to be provided by the CDP) indicating his or her willingness to assume an organizational responsibility for one or more precincts within the district or to assume another specified organizational responsibility for the Party. The form will note that the person signing agrees that their contact information will be shared by the CDP with other chartered Democratic organizations. An indication by a person signing the form that they are not willing to take such responsibility shall not be grounds for disqualifying that person from participating in the ADEM.

3. Are voters required to stay for the entire Election Meeting?

Participants who do not wish to attend the full length of the ADEM may sign-in, vote, and leave, provided that each voter:

1. Completes the sign-in sheet by the closing of registration at their ADEM site on Sunday, January 11, 2009 (or alternative date/time if a variance has been granted);
    
2. Requests their ballots (one for delegate voting, one for Executive Board Representative voting) from the Convener, or their representative; and
    
3. Deposits the delegate ballot in the ballot box;

As soon as an ADEM site is set up by 2 PM (or later for some reason) and the process starts with registering and handing out ballots, a participant can vote and leave;

4. Are ballots secret or open?

Voting at an ADEM is by secret ballot. Regular ballots should not contain any markings indicating the identity of the voter.

5. Are delegate candidates who are not in attendance at the election meeting eligible to be elected?

Yes. A Candidate is allowed (but is not required to have) one surrogate speaker (must have letter/permission slip with candidate's signature or the Meeting Chair determines he/she is a legitimate surrogate speaker), can give a speech up to 1 minute max on behalf of candidate.

6. Can people register to vote at the election meeting?

In general, NO. In general, only voters registered as Democrats to vote in the Assembly District as of the close of registration 15 days prior to the just-conducted November state general election are eligible to participate in the ADEM. However, there is an exception for persons who became eligible to register after October 20, 2008, the close of registration for that election (usually either because of turning 18 or becoming a naturalized citizen). These new voters may register on the spot, and become an eligible participant, by filling out a voter registration card. Any county or Secretary of State card can be used by any voter. Be sure to put VR cards in the regular mail to the county within three days.