by Rick Bova

3/26/12 UPDATE:  Now is the time to become a Delegate to the 2012 National Convention. Many have already filed and deadlines are fast approaching. Filing to become a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte is open to all California Democrats. Click HERE to fill out application forms online.  Besides filling out the online form you must print it and submit a signed copy by fax or by mail to the Sacramento office. Your faxed form must be received no later than 5 p.m. on the day of the deadline (April 11 for Form A to be a district level Delegate). If you are mailing the form, it must be postmarked by the deadline. All the instructions for how to be a delegate are at the State Party Web Site at the above link. Feel free to Email Rick Bova at budb@cox.net with any questions.

ORIGINAL POST: What are you doing the week of September 3, 2012? How would you like to go to Charlotte NC to attend the Democratic National Convention? The Democratic National Convention is where Democrats will choose their candidate for president. In all likelihood, this will be Barack Obama for his second term as president. The lack of a contested nomination does not mean this won’t be an exciting event. It will be an honor to attend. How much does it cost to go to the convention? Each delegate has to pay their own way (flight, hotel, food and expenses). The “How to Become a Delegate” document shows an estimate of the costs. These estimates should be considered conservative estimates. So now that you have decided that you may like to go, how does one get to be a delegate?

There are three types of delegates: (1) District level delegates (2) At-Large delegates (3) Party Leaders and Elected Officials (PLEO’s). Democrats in each congressional district elect their delegates at a caucus. The “How To” document talks about how the district level delegates are elected.  There are between six and nine delegates for each Congressional District. The California Delegate Selection Plan shows what they were last time in 2008 and how they were divided between male and female. The thing to remember is that each candidate’s campaign runs the election process. They decide who will be allowed to be a delegate, where and when the caucus will be held and they will run the election. The state party’s role is just to make sure the elections process is followed. The At-Large delegates are from the state at large. These are assigned by the state party. You can submit your name to be considered. The state party takes pride that the delegates from California represent the ethnic diversity of the state. These At-Large delegate slots are used to ensure ethnic diversity is represented. Who makes up the Party Leaders and Elected Official delegates is self-explanatory and probably doesn’t apply to you.

Going to a national convention can be a fun and exciting time. If you plan on working for President Obama’s re-election, you should consider going to the convention. I would be happy to meet with anyone to talk more about the process and to connect them with people who have gone in the past so they can get a better feel for what it is like to attend the convention.

Sign up to get updates from the 2012 Democratic Convention.

Read More about the process on the State Party Web Site.

Get more information on the convention and Charlotte from the DNC. 

Email Rick Bova at budb@cox.net.