Once again, today’s election is a two step process. Whether you voted early or are voting today, go to a precinct caucus at 7:15 after the polls close.
One of the things that happens is introducing resolutions. Equality Texas has proposed four for the Democratic Party and one for the Republican Party. Here’s what Equality Texas has to say about today’s vote:
When: Precinct conventions are Tuesday, March 2nd, at 7:15 p.m. in the building where your precinct has voted on election day. A notice should be posted at the polls to announce the meeting, and election judges should be on site to assist. If you are an “early voter,” check the precinct number on your voter registration card to determine the location of your precinct convention.
Why: The precinct convention approves resolutions that can, ultimately, determine the state party platform. The convention also elects delegates for the next level in the convention process, the Senate/County convention.
Who: Anyone who has voted in the party primary can participate in that party’s precinct convention.
To ensure that resolutions reach the state convention and are adopted, it is important to get as many people as possible to submit the same resolution at each level of the convention process.
The 2010 Precinct Resolutions:
Below are downloadable copies of the 2010 pro-equality precinct resolutions. Print these resolutions and bring them to your precinct convention on March 2nd.
Democratic Resolution:
Resolution Supporting Non-Discrimination Legislation (Democratic)
Resolution Supporting Accurate Birth Certificates (Democratic)
Resolution Supporting Safe Schools (Democratic)
Resolution Supporting Competitive Insurance Benefits (Democratic)
Republican Resolutions:
Resolution Supporting Non-Discrimination (Republican)
I eagerly await the results from the GOP primary to see if that resolution passes. My bet, and I will put money on this, is that it will fail.
The only non-discrimination Repubs support is against old white guys.
A number of Democrats crossed-over to vote in the Republican primary. That makes them registered Republicans through this election cycle and eligible to participate in the caucus tonight. They can introduce the resolution at their precinct meeting.
I voted in the Republican primary just because it’s the only game in Fort Worth, and I wanted to vote against Rick Perry and the other Tea Party recommendations.
I’ve never done this before but am willing to give it a try in my Fort Worth precinct.
Any ideas on specifics? Should I just print out the Republican recommendation and get their early and ask that it be discussed at the meeting? Is there a special way to make a motion or something like that?
Yup. That’s just how it’s done. The precinct chair will call for resolutions. You can read it or just hand it to the chair who will call for a vote or just submit it to the county party, if there are so few people at your precinct meeting.
Well David, I tried.
There were only 31 people at the Republican meeting including myself. The vote was 30 to 1, with myself the only one in favor of the resolution. While the guy was reading it, the Tea Party white trash were making all kinds of nasty comments. The Tea Party was out in full force at the meeting. They got to send 4 people to the state convention.
The shocking part is that such a small number of people at the meeting can have such an impact!
We should use this to our advantage and turn a lemon into lemon-aide:
If all it takes is 31 people to win a precinct in Fort Worth, why not beat the Tea Party at their own game next time. Sure, even in my Fort Worth precinct, there has to be at least 30 LGBT people? Next primary, why not try to get every LGBT person to vote in the Republican primary and then stay for the precinct meeting?
With 31 LGBT people, we would have won my precinct in ultra conservative Fort Worth. We could have passed any number of resolutions and we could have sent 4 LGBT to the state convention.
Apparently that is what the Tea Party did. They organized and got their people to take over precinct meetings.
The big question is how to get the word out withouth attracting the attention of the Tea Party so we can show up and surprise them with our numbers before they know what hit them.