Endorsement Rules

If you are a candidate seeking the endorsement of the 43rd District Democrats, please review our rules of endorsement.

Notes in "[ ]" have been added as reference by the Vice Chair for Elections.  That are not part of the endorsement rules but may be a useful for candidates and supporters.

 

Article One: Rules

  1. Applicability. These Rules shall apply to the selection of any candidate for public office who seeks the endorsement of the 43rd District Democrats.
  2. Decision of Chair is Final. The decision of the chair with respect to any question of interpretation of these rules is final.

Article Two: Candidates

  1. Only Democrats and Non-Partisans are Eligible for Endorsement. The candidate must publicly attest his or her support of the Democratic Party and his or her desire to be publicly known as a Democrat; and the candidate must be otherwise eligible under state law for election to the office sought. Candidates for judicial positions are not subject to this rule.
  2. King County Democratic Central Committee (KCDCC) Questionnaire. Candidates must have filled out the KCDCC questionnaire at least ten (10) days prior to the endorsements meeting date or the last day of filing, whichever is later. Incumbents in partisan offices running for re-election may be waived from fulfilling this requirement if they have previously filled out the KCDCC Questionnaire at the discretion of the Chair.
    [ Questionnaires can be found at: http://www.wa-demchairs.org/kcdems/2012/races.php ]

Article Three: Balloting

  1. Creation of a Slate. The meeting may dispense with balloting by acclamation for any office in which a single candidate is eligible for endorsement.
  2. Ballot Required. Each member and PCO will vote by written ballot for as many candidates for each office as they so choose. The results shall be tallied and reported to the Chair.
  3. Sixty (60.00) Percent Vote Required. Any candidate receiving sixty (60.00) percent of the vote will receive an endorsement. Ballots marked as “No Endorsement” will be counted as a vote.
  4. Threshold Demonstration of Party Support Required. In the event no candidate receives sixty (60.00) percent of the vote, any candidate receiving forty (40.00) percent of the vote will be eligible for reconsideration. In the event one candidate receives over sixty (60.00) percent of the vote, no other candidate may be reconsidered, regardless of whether they have received forty (40.00) percent of the vote. Referenda and ballot initiatives are not eligible for reconsideration.
  5. Process for Reconsideration. During a reconsideration vote, a written ballot is required and the results shall be tallied and reported to the Chair. Any candidate receiving sixty (60.00) percent of the vote will receive an endorsement. Only one reconsideration vote will be allowed. The reconsideration ballot will include any candidates who qualify, as well as “No Endorsement.”

Article Four: Speeches

  1. Candidate Presentation. All candidates eligible for endorsement must be nominated by a member of the District organization. Each candidate or the candidate’s representative(s) will be entitled to address the meeting for at least one (1) and no more than five (5) minutes.
  2. "No Endorsement" Speech.  If only one candidate is considered for endorsement, the Chair will allow a member to speak in favor of making no endorsement. The speaker in favor of "no endorsement" will be entitled to address the meeting for the same length of time as a candidate speech.

For more information about our endorsement process and procedures, please read our bylaws or contact us.

[ Voting membership is defined in the bylaws and includes people who paid dues seven (7) days prior to the meeting or PCOs ]
[ Though the organization's records are maintained by the Treasurer, a publicly posted list of donations is available at: http://www.pdc.wa.gov/MvcQuerySystem/CommitteeData/contributions?param=NDNSREREIDEwMg====&year=2011&type=party_legdist]
[ Though the organization's records are maintained by the Vice Chair for Recruiting, a publicly posted list of PCOs is at: http://wa-demchairs.org/kcdems/pco/pcolist.xls]