- Virginia
Democratic
Delegate
Selection « text of
Virginia Democratic Party brochure
March 2, 2016
Virginia’s Delegate Selection Process
During the week of July 25, 2016, Democrats will convene to nominate the next President of the United States. Virginia’s delegation will include approximately 109 delegates and 8 alternates.
Process Summary
The DPVA called for a Presidential Preference Primary to be held on March 1, 2016 to determine the allocation of State and National Convention delegates. Cities and counties will hold caucuses April 16 or 18 2016 to elect delegates (and alternates) to congressional district conventions and the State Convention. These delegates and alternates will attend congressional district (CD) conventions in May 2016 and choose 3 - 8 National Convention delegates (some districts will also choose one alternate). The same state delegates/alternates will attend a State Convention on June 18, 2016 to elect National Convention delegates and alternates.
Get Involved!
YOU can participate by registering to vote, volunteering for your local Democratic committee, running for congressional district and State Convention delegate, and even running for a National Convention delegate position. The DPVA is committed to an open and inclusive delegate selection process and we encourage YOUR participation.
Step 1 – Register to Vote If you are a Virginia resident who will be 18 years of age by the fall election, you can register to vote in the primary. Contact your local registrar or the Virginia State Board of Elections (www.sbe.va.us; 804/786-6551; toll free 800-552-9745)
Step 2 – Volunteer Contact the DPVA to get information on how you can make a difference by volunteering for presidential candidates in Virginia. You can also contact your local committee and find out how you can help build our party from the ground up.
Step 3 – Presidential Primary Voters must choose to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary on March 1. The percentage each candidate receives in the primary will determine that candidate’s percentage of CD/State delegates for each locality and the percentage of National Convention delegates elected at each CD convention and the state convention.
Step 4 – City or County Caucuses City and county caucuses will elect district/State Convention delegates and alternates. Cities and counties will hold assembled or unassembled caucuses on April 16 or 18, 2016. Localities may also provide for absentee voting on April 14, 2016. Delegate and alternate candidates must pre-file by a given deadline to be considered. Caucuses must be publicized and locations must be fully accessible.
Each jurisdiction has been allocated a certain number of delegates and if that number or fewer delegate candidate pre-file, the local party can cancel the caucus and declare those delegates elected. Slate voting is permitted.
To participate in a city or county caucus, you must (1) be a registered voter, (2) reside in the jurisdiction, and (3) sign a Democratic pledge form. You must pre-file to run as a district/State Convention delegate. Participation in the delegate selection process is free; however, there is a voluntary administrative fee for each delegate and alternate candidate to cover caucus and convention expenses.
Step 5 – District and State Conventions – National Convention Delegate Elections Congressional District Conventions will be held on May 7, 14, or 21, 2016 and the conventions will elect 3 delegates/1 alternate (9th CD), 4 delegates/1 alternate (6th CD), 5 delegates/1 alternate (1st, 2nd, 5th, 7th CDs), 6 delegates (4th, 10th CDs), 7 delegates (11th CD), and 8 delegates (3rd, 8th CDs). The filing deadlines are 14 days before the convention.
The State Convention will be held on June 18., 2016 and will elect 21 at large delegates, 2 at-large alternates and 12 Pledged Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO) delegates. The filing deadline is May 25, 2016. Virginia’s delegation will also include approximately 15 Automatic PLEO delegates.
Virginia’s National Convention Delegation will be equally divided between men and women at the Congressional District and State levels. Presidential candidates have the right to approve or disapprove all National Delegate candidates. Because the delegate allocations are based on the primary results, all delegates and alternates must be committed to a single presidential candidate.
Affirmative Action
To encourage full participation by all Democrats in the delegate selection process, the DPVA has adopted an affirmative action program that includes contacting constituency organizations and holding outreach seminars and workshops. All meetings of the DPVA are open and discrimination is prohibited.
Virginia’s Delegate Selection Process
During the week of July 25, 2016, Democrats will convene to nominate the next President of the United States. Virginia’s delegation will include approximately 109 delegates and 8 alternates.
Process Summary
The DPVA called for a Presidential Preference Primary to be held on March 1, 2016 to determine the allocation of State and National Convention delegates. Cities and counties will hold caucuses April 16 or 18 2016 to elect delegates (and alternates) to congressional district conventions and the State Convention. These delegates and alternates will attend congressional district (CD) conventions in May 2016 and choose 3 - 8 National Convention delegates (some districts will also choose one alternate). The same state delegates/alternates will attend a State Convention on June 18, 2016 to elect National Convention delegates and alternates.
Get Involved!
YOU can participate by registering to vote, volunteering for your local Democratic committee, running for congressional district and State Convention delegate, and even running for a National Convention delegate position. The DPVA is committed to an open and inclusive delegate selection process and we encourage YOUR participation.
Step 1 – Register to Vote If you are a Virginia resident who will be 18 years of age by the fall election, you can register to vote in the primary. Contact your local registrar or the Virginia State Board of Elections (www.sbe.va.us; 804/786-6551; toll free 800-552-9745)
Step 2 – Volunteer Contact the DPVA to get information on how you can make a difference by volunteering for presidential candidates in Virginia. You can also contact your local committee and find out how you can help build our party from the ground up.
Step 3 – Presidential Primary Voters must choose to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary on March 1. The percentage each candidate receives in the primary will determine that candidate’s percentage of CD/State delegates for each locality and the percentage of National Convention delegates elected at each CD convention and the state convention.
Step 4 – City or County Caucuses City and county caucuses will elect district/State Convention delegates and alternates. Cities and counties will hold assembled or unassembled caucuses on April 16 or 18, 2016. Localities may also provide for absentee voting on April 14, 2016. Delegate and alternate candidates must pre-file by a given deadline to be considered. Caucuses must be publicized and locations must be fully accessible.
Each jurisdiction has been allocated a certain number of delegates and if that number or fewer delegate candidate pre-file, the local party can cancel the caucus and declare those delegates elected. Slate voting is permitted.
To participate in a city or county caucus, you must (1) be a registered voter, (2) reside in the jurisdiction, and (3) sign a Democratic pledge form. You must pre-file to run as a district/State Convention delegate. Participation in the delegate selection process is free; however, there is a voluntary administrative fee for each delegate and alternate candidate to cover caucus and convention expenses.
Step 5 – District and State Conventions – National Convention Delegate Elections Congressional District Conventions will be held on May 7, 14, or 21, 2016 and the conventions will elect 3 delegates/1 alternate (9th CD), 4 delegates/1 alternate (6th CD), 5 delegates/1 alternate (1st, 2nd, 5th, 7th CDs), 6 delegates (4th, 10th CDs), 7 delegates (11th CD), and 8 delegates (3rd, 8th CDs). The filing deadlines are 14 days before the convention.
The State Convention will be held on June 18., 2016 and will elect 21 at large delegates, 2 at-large alternates and 12 Pledged Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO) delegates. The filing deadline is May 25, 2016. Virginia’s delegation will also include approximately 15 Automatic PLEO delegates.
Virginia’s National Convention Delegation will be equally divided between men and women at the Congressional District and State levels. Presidential candidates have the right to approve or disapprove all National Delegate candidates. Because the delegate allocations are based on the primary results, all delegates and alternates must be committed to a single presidential candidate.
Affirmative Action
To encourage full participation by all Democrats in the delegate selection process, the DPVA has adopted an affirmative action program that includes contacting constituency organizations and holding outreach seminars and workshops. All meetings of the DPVA are open and discrimination is prohibited.
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