What is a Precinct?

A precinct is the smallest political geographic division in a state. The area varies on size and is determined by population. A precinct contains a maximum of 2,999 registered voters, although many precincts are smaller. It is up to the local municipalities to draw their own precinct lines. 

What is a Precinct Delegate?

A Precinct Delegate is an elected representative to the local political party from the precinct. Every precinct has at least one Republican Delegate, and some have more. The local party determines the number of delegates based on the number of Republican votes in the previous election. 

How do you become a Precinct Delegate?

Where is my Precinct?

The first thing to do is find out which Precinct you live in. You can get this information from your voter registration card or from the County, City or Township Clerk where you live. Once you get this information the next step is to get a map. Maps are available from the local clerks. Your Republican County organization may be able to provide you with a map. The map will show you the boundaries of your Precinct. 

How do I get to know my Precinct?

Once you have your map the best thing to do is drive around your district. As you are driving take notice of the characteristics of your Precinct. Notice which areas are industrial, commercial, farmland, or residential. Make note of the kinds of homes in your area, are they single-family homes, multi-family dwellings, or communities with restricted access. Look for growth, new homes, subdivisions, or businesses. All of this information will be useful to you, the Precinct Delegate, as well as local candidates as you plan for election activities. 

How do I get to know the people in my Precinct?

After you have driven around your Precinct and became familiar with the area it is time to meet the people who live there. The best way to do this is by walking your precinct. It is a good idea to walk your precinct at least once a year. This shows you are active in your neighborhood and that you care about the community. It is a great way to find out where the Republicans live in your precinct. Once you have identified Republicans in your precinct you can ask these individuals to volunteer during the next election, place a yard sign in their yard, and remind them to vote on election day. Keeping in contact with the Republicans in your precinct is a great resource for all of the Republican candidates.

What else do I need to know?

It is important to remember that you have been chosen by the Republicans in your Precinct to be the liaison to the Republican Party. As a Precinct Delegate you will be asked to help with a variety of activities. Your help is needed by local candidates and the party as a whole because of the local knowledge you have of your precinct. Others in your area will look to you for Republican information and connections. You are the point person for your Precinct.

What Happens on Election Day?

After months of hard work and campaigning the only thing that matters is the results on Election Day. For this reason there are several programs that run on election day. These programs are important to ensure that our voters get to the polls on election day and that they vote for the entire Republican ticket. On election day you should be involved with three main programs. These programs are working the polls, poll watching, and GOTV phone calls.

How do you work the polls?

Working the polls is the last chance you get to inform the voters about the Republican Candidates. When volunteers work the poll, they stand outside of the polling place for the precinct and pass out information about specific candidates or slate cards for the entire ticket. They give this information to voters as they enter the building to vote. One thing to remember is that Michigan state law requires that poll workers must stay at least 100 feet from the polls.

What is poll watching?

Poll watching is a way to check if the Republicans in your district have voted. Take the precinct list to the poll and check off the names of all the Republicans that vote. Around 5:00 p.m. take the list to a phone bank, or your home and make phone calls to the Republicans who have not yet voted. Remind them that time is running out to vote and that the polls are open until 8:00 p.m. This is a great way to ensure that every Republican votes. Poll watching is more important than working the polls, so if you can only find one volunteer to work at a specific time, have them poll watch.

Do I continue GOTV Phone calls?

Yes, Get-Out-The-Vote phone calls must continue on Election Day. If you have already called your list, call them again. Do not be afraid to call too many times. Offer voters rides to polls if they need them, and have volunteers available to pick them up. Make sure that everyone on your list has been reminded to vote on election day. GOTV phone calls should be the number one priority for Precinct Delegates.

What is a County Convention?

A County Convention is a meeting of the Precinct Delegates and Elected Officials in a County. At these meetings the participants elect individuals to be delegates and alternates to the State Convention or they elect people to serve on the County Party Executive Committee.

When do County Conventions take place?

The first County Convention will be held in August. This Convention will take place soon after the August primary when the Precinct Delegates are elected. The next County Convention will be held within 30 days of the November General election. The third and final County Convention will take place in January. In Presidential election years there is an additional County Convention which takes place in April.

What specifically occurs at each of these Conventions?

August - At the August County Convention the newly elected Precinct Delegates meet together to elect delegates and alternates to the State Convention. The State Convention will be held in August . At this State Convention the delegates will elect candidates for the following statewide offices:

Michigan Supreme Court (2)
Michigan State University Board of Trustees (2)
University of Michigan Board of Regents (2)
Wayne State University Board of Governors (2)
State Board of Education (2)

At this State Convention in Presidential election years all of these statewide offices are elected except for Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General. These positions are four- year terms and only elected in the gubernatorial election year.


November - At the November County Convention Precinct Delegates elect the members of the County Executive Committee. The members of the Executive Committee serve a two year term.

January - At the January County Convention Precinct Delegates elect delegates and alternates to the State Convention. The State Convention is in late January or early 
February and is held to elect the Republican State Party leadership. The leadership elected at this convention are the following:
State Chairman
Six Vice-Chairmen
State Committee Members
District Executive Committee Members
District Officers

During Presidential election years there is an additional County Convention in April.

April - During this County Convention the Precinct Delegates again elect people to be delegates and alternates to the State Convention in May. At the May state convention the delegates elect people to be delegates to the Republican National Convention and elect the Republican National Committeeman and Committeewomen from Michigan.

How do I know when and where the Conventions take place?

About thirty days before the County Convention, Precinct Delegates should receive an official call to Convention. The official call will be sent out by the Republican County Chair and will give all of the details of the County Convention. If you are elected a Delegate or an Alternate to a State Convention you will receive information from the Michigan Republican State Committee.

What are Political Programs?

The Republican State Party has several programs they ask Precinct Delegates to assist in implementing. These programs include distributing yard signs, performing literature drops, helping with absentee voter programs, and get-out-the-vote phone calling. These programs are an important part of the campaigns of local and statewide candidates. Participation in these programs makes the difference between Republican candidates winning and losing. 


How do you distribute yard signs?

Yard signs are an important tool for increasing the name recognition of candidates. Over the course of the election you may be asked to distribute yard signs for a number of candidates. The State Party usually designates a weekend in October for a sign blitz for the statewide candidates. You will be informed of when this will take place. Local candidates may also ask you to help distribute signs, or just find locations.

As you drive around your precinct take notice of houses with high visibility and those located at busy intersections. Approach the owners of these homes and ask if they would be willing to have a yard sign in their yard. Also think of the homes or businesses who have previously displayed political signs and ask them if they would be willing to help again for the upcoming election. When you are walking through your precinct and meeting people, ask them if they would be willing to display yard signs and keep a list. One thing to remember is that you need to have permission from the owner of the property before you put signs in their yard.

Also check with your local clerk on any sign ordinances that may exist. Some municipalities have regulations on when signs can go up, when they need to be taken down, and the size of the signs. Others have restrictions on where signs can be placed. Make sure that you pay close attention to these laws and pass the information on to the local candidates. If you witness other campaigns not complying with the laws or participating in the stealing of signs, notify the proper authorities. Do not let this type of behavior go unchallenged. 

What is a Literature Drop?

The Literature Drop program is the process of covering the entire county, precinct by precinct with Republican campaign literature. The lit drop usually takes place on a weekend in September or October, and the State Party works to coordinate with each County Party. The State Party and most County parties will provide literature. In addition, other candidates may also ask for their pieces to be included.

Once the literature is gathered, it is delivered in a door-to-door fashion. People canvass the area and give a packet of literature to every home in the County. Make sure to watch for communities that are closed or gated. Keep those policies in mind when going door-to-door. Also remember it is against Federal law to place items inside a mailbox.

What is the Absentee Voter Program?

The Absentee Voter Program is a combined effort of the State Party and local Republican activists. This programs runs in the weeks prior to the election, in coordination with the local clerks as they send out Absentee Ballots. The idea of the Absentee Voter Program is to send Republican information to Absentee Voters within a day of when their ballot is mailed. To accomplish this, daily updates from the local clerks need to be gathered, the mail labeled and mailed, all within a short period of time. This program needs a lot of volunteers and Precinct Delegates working together. 

What is Get-Out-The-Vote Calling?

Get-Out-The-Vote calling also takes place just prior to Election day. Get-Out-The-Vote phone calls are made to likely Republican voters to remind them to vote for the Republican Candidates. These calls are very important and really make the difference in elections. The phone lists are prepared by State Party and broken down by Precinct. Each county or campaign designs a plan that ensures these calls are made. Your county chair should inform you of the specific details. 

Do I need to do everything by myself?

No, recruiting volunteers is a key part of being a Precinct Delegate.

How do I find Volunteers?

Finding good volunteers is a key to being a successful Precinct Delegate. Recruiting volunteers can be easy if you ask. Many Americans are willing to help in the political process but have never been asked, and those who have helped in the past are usually willing to help again. Begin recruiting by asking those who have worked in prior elections. Next, look for individuals who are members of Republican auxiliary organizations or who have stated they are Republicans. Ask high school and college students. Many schools require students to perform community service hours and helping with elections does count. Don’t forget to ask friends, neighbors, and business associates, anyone can help.

How do I divide the work?

Ask your volunteers what areas interest them, then assign them a specific task. Some volunteers may want to be a Area Captain or Block Captain. These people would be responsible for the supervision of all of the Get-Out-The-vote programs in a specific geographic area of your precinct. Other volunteers may want to help on a specific program like organizing Get-Out-The-Vote phone banks or coordinating yard sign distribution. Once you determine what your volunteer wants to do, give them a specific task and monitor their progress.

How do I keep the volunteers excited?

Two ways to keep your volunteers excited about the jobs they are doing is by making things fun and keeping them informed. It is easy to include fun into volunteer work. Host a volunteer party for your volunteers, invite local party and elected officials to meet your volunteers and spend time getting to know each other. Have refreshments at the phone banks or for the literature drop, or plan a social event after the work is completed. By including these types of activities volunteers will have a good time and want to volunteer more.

Keeping your volunteers informed is also important. If you continually update your volunteers on what is going on in your area they will feel like they are an important piece of the political process. You can keep volunteers informed by holding block meetings, sending out newsletters, or putting together an e-mail list. This small step goes a long way to keep your volunteers excited.

What is the most important thing?

The most important thing to remember is to always say Thank you ! Remember, these volunteers like you, are helping without pay. A smile and thank you go a long way. 

 

Making a Difference

Why Should I become a Precinct Delegate?

Politics begins at the local level when you talk to your family, friends and neighbors about the issues that are important to you. Once you get involved and become a Precinct Delegate you have the opportunity to share these issues and concerns and make a difference.

How do I make a difference?

Precinct Delegates play a key role in electing Republicans to every office. As a liaison to your community you have the opportunity to build personal relationships with Candidates and Party Leaders. These individuals come to you when they need to know specifics about your community. In addition Precinct Delegates have the opportunity to attend State Conventions where they help select the Republican Candidates for the Statewide offices. 
 

As a Precinct Delegate you have the opportunity to attend Republican gatherings where you can meet and make friends with people who share a similar philosophy. You also have the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge on current issues, legislation, and party policy through your contacts. This knowledge will help you be in a position to effectively express your views and share your opinions. 

Remember as a Precinct Delegate you are taking an active role in retaining and strengthening the freedoms that make America great and you are making a difference.