FROM PRAYER TO ENGAGEMENT: Party Conventions 101

By Kim Hesley, Guest Contributor

This is the first blog post in our new, ongoing educational series, “FROM PRAYER TO ENGAGEMENT: EDUCATING CHRISTIANS ABOUT THE POLITICAL PROCESS”

Disclaimer: While Christians Engaged does not endorse candidates or political parties, part of our mission is to educate and empower believers in Jesus Christ on how they can become involved in the political process by turning their prayers and values into action.

“I want to get involved in my party of choice, but I don’t know where to start…”

Is this something you’ve thought about or talked about with friends or family?  There are various ways to be involved in your party like volunteering on campaigns or joining a local political club, but one very effective and satisfying way is through the convention process.  Participation starts at the precinct level and is open to anyone eligible to vote in the primary election.[1] However, you may not vote in one party’s primary and participate in the other party’s convention.

The first level of conventions are precinct conventions.  In many counties, these are held on Primary election night right after the polls close, however they may be held at a later date or even on the same day as the next level Convention.  Each county party leadership makes that decision.  The way to find out about your precinct conventions is to look on your county party’s website or on the local commissioner’s court bulletin board if there is no website.[2]  You can also contact your local county chair or precinct chair.  Their contact information should also be available through the local and/or state party’s website. Your precinct number is on your voter registration card.

In Texas, political parties are organized by the 31 State Senate Districts or SD for future reference.  If you live in a larger county that has multiple SD’s, you will have Senatorial District Conventions in your county. If you live in a smaller county that is entirely in a single SD, then you will have a County Convention. These are all held on the same day, the 3rd Saturday after the Primary election which this year is March 21st.  Again, look on your local party’s website or commissioner’s court bulletin board for time and location.

The business conducted at both precinct and County/SD conventions are:

1) Electing officers just for the convention.

2) Electing delegates and alternates to the next level convention.

3) Voting on resolutions.

At the County/SD level, there are committees selected to review resolutions and nominate delegates/alternates to the State Convention. These committees present their reports to the full convention for debate and vote.

There are formulas to determine how many delegates and alternates are allotted to the next level convention based on previous election turnout.  They differ by party and that information can be found in the party rules[3].

Resolutions can be on any subject a voter feels strongly about.  Many issues-based organizations provide sample resolutions that can be used, or you can write your own.  These eventually make up the state party platforms referenced in the footnotes.

From here, it’s on to the State Conventions.  Those dates are set by state party leadership and are available on the parties’ websites.  Committees are again selected to review all the resolutions passed at the County/SD conventions and submit to the full convention for debate and vote.  Party Rules are also debated and voted on at this convention.  Party leadership is elected which includes State Chair, Vice Chair and State Committee members.  In Presidential years, the conventions do National business which includes selecting delegates and alternates to the National convention and selecting Presidential Electors.

I have limited this discussion to the two major parties, but there are several minor parties to participate in as well who do not hold primary elections but nominate by a convention process.

If this is something you find interesting, I hope you will participate in your local conventions and I hope this information clears the fog a bit!

[1] Texas does not require selecting a party when registering to vote; however, by participating in the convention process, a voter is affiliating with a party.  If you miss voting in the primary election, you can still participate by signing an oath of party affiliation. Ref: Election Code Section 162

[2] Ref Election Code Section 174

[3] For the Republican Platform and Party Rules www.texasgop.org / for the Democrat Platform and Party Rules https://www.texasdemocrats.org/