Become a Precinct Captain
BECOME A
PRECINCT CAPTAIN
What is a precinct
captain?
A
grassroots leader of a political
party.
Canyon County is divided
geographically into 52 precincts, each with a
designated polling place.
Democrats in each precinct may select a
captain to participate in planning and
directing party projects for the
county. Together precinct
captains elect the leaders that represent
Canyon County at the state level.
Why become a
precinct captain? To make a
difference.
Representing
your precinct increases your impact in local
politics and your influence in statewide
political and governmental decisions. You
learn the workings of campaigns and elections
and share what you know with
others.
While all citizens may select from
ballot choices, you are active in determining
what those choices are. (Besides, it’s fun to
be part of a team working for shared goals!)
What if I
disagree with some Democrats? Use the
80% rule.
If you support 80% of the Democratic issues or 80% of Democratic candidates, you are a good Democrat. You do not give up your right to dissent or use your own judgment when you commit to a political party.
What does a precinct
captain do?
Support a healthy
party organization: Participate in
setting and fulfilling your county party’s
goals, attend central committee meetings, and
support your county and state party
organizations. The Central Committee now
meets at 7 p.m. the 3rd Tuesday of
each month, usually at the Canyon County
Courthouse, 11th and Albany,
Caldwell.
Meet your neighbors:
Find out what’s important to your neighbors
and learn who is open to voting for Democratic
candidates.
Register
Democrats. Help others enter the
political process. Currently less than half of
Canyon County’s potential voters are
registered, and some elections are decided by
15-20% of those eligible to
vote.
Support
Candidates: Connect
candidates to people who may be willing to
invest their time, talents and money to help
their campaigns.
Improve communication:
Make voter information available
and encourage your neighbors to
connect to Democratic newsletters, web pages,
blogs and other communication tools. Encourage
them to speak out on the radio, in
letters-to-the-editor and in other
ways.
Host neighborhood
events:
Join with others to host
informal gatherings to build stronger
connections in your neighborhood, share ideas
and find new team members. Invite voters in
your neighborhood to meet Democratic
candidates.
Turn out Democratic
voters: During the final weeks of the
election, help ensure that everyone who plans
to vote for Democratic candidates actually
votes. Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) activities
include delivering reminder flyers, making
calls, driving people to the polls and poll
watching.
Be a good
neighbor:
Being visible as a good neighbor and a
Democrat, helps dispel
stereotypes of
Democrats.
How are precinct
captains chosen? By primary voters or other
precinct captains.
Precinct captains are elected by
Democratic primary voters in May of each
even-numbered year. For your name to appear on
the ballot, you must submit a Declaration of
Candidacy to Canyon County Elections, 1102
Chicago, Caldwell, between March 8 and 19. Between
elections, vacancies are filled by a vote of
the other precinct captains in the
county.
Where is my
precinct?
Get your precinct
number at www.idahovotes.gov.
You can request a precinct
map from Canyon County Elections and Passport
at 1102 Chicago, Caldwell. There is a small
charge for copying. Call Chair Judy Ferro
at 454-8742 or e-mail her at idadem@yahoo.com to
find if the Democratic captain position in your
precinct is open.
REMEMBER
CANYON COUNTY IS IDAHO’S SECOND LARGEST
COUNTY.
STATEWIDE AND 1ST
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CANDIDATES NEED 45% OF
THE VOTE HERE TO WIN.