2013 New York Precinct Committee Election
New Yorkers will elect precinct committeeman in many of the more than 16,000 precincts across the state at the New York Primary Election on September 10, 2013.
Well, that's not totally true, because as many as half of those precinct committee positions will remain vacant for lack of interest or lack of awareness.
Do you like the way your party is run in your county? In New York? Well, you can change that. But you have to get up off the couch and put yourself on the ballot.
This is another opportunity to achieve a center of power and it won't come around again for another two years.
Qualifications
Most importantly, you have to get on the ballot.
You must live within the precinct boundary.
You must be registered to vote (or 18 years old by the general election in November) and indicate a party affiliation for the party you want to represent. You can change party affiliation at the time you file.
I challenge you. Do you have what it takes to actually accomplish something of lasting effect? Or will you use one of your pat excuses? I've heard them all. (See The Power Is There for the Taking.)
To answer questions so that you can get yourself elected at your county caucus, Project City Hall will produce a live teleconference on June 25th (see below) to discuss strategy and answer your questions.
| What: | New York Precinct Committee Election Teleconference |
| When: | Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 9:00 pm (Eastern) |
| Where: | Your home or mobile telephone |
| Details: | To receive teleconference call details, Sign up or text New York PC, {your name}, {your e-mail address} to (973)498-8066 |
How to Determine Your Election District
- Go to the County Boards page.
Getting on the Ballot
When you have a plan, you don't have to guess what to do next. Written plans are always better than winging it. With that in mind, we've put together the Precinct Committee Candidate Checklist to give you a starting point for your plan.
For information about running for party positions, see Running for Office.
Petition circulation period begins June 4, 2013 and ends July 11, 2013. To get you petition form, download a Designating Petition Sec. 6-132, ELECTION LAW petition here, or get it from your County Boards.
- Call your county elections board and ask how many committeemen your precinct can elect.
- Ask for the names of each of the current committeeman and their contact information (e-mail address and telephone number).
- Ask how many people from the county voted at the previous primary election, and how many votes were cast for each committeeman on the ballot.
- Join other New Yorkers on the live teleconference call (see above) where you can ask questions.
- Prepare printed information about yourself so that you can quickly communicate the information to everyone you meet from your precinct.
Winning the Election
Winning a committeeman position is not very challenging, especially if no one is running against you. You can do it if you prepare in advance and have a plan. Many people are looking for leaders and will accept almost anyone who simply steps up to lead. Just look at your current set of elected officials for proof of that.
After the Election
- Get a current copy of your state party central committee by-laws and of your county party central committee by-laws along with the rules of the convention you are elected to.
- Keep in touch, because we'll be producing training teleconferences about all the aspects of being an effective caucus participant.
Who Should Attend?
- Anyone who wants to take their country back.
- Anyone who values freedom and liberty.
- If you're already a precinct committeeman, attend to encourage others and to relate your own experience.
What You'll Learn
- The power of the convention delegate.
- What happens at a caucus.
- Why you need to connect with like-minded individuals before the caucus.
- Why you should bring your posse.
- How to win in a competitive election.
Reference Material
- Election Law, Artilce 2, Party Organization
- Election Law, Artilce 6, Designation and Nomination of Candidates
County Party Information
If you have corrections or additions to this information, please let us know.
County Boards of Elections
The source for all documents and repository for all filings is your county election board. We've compiled information here that is not otherwise easily available in one place, so don't shoot us if it's not 100% accurate.
It was last verified in June 2013. If you are aware of changes or corrections, please let us know.
County Convention Information
The county convention, where the new chairman and other officers are elected, occurs just a few days after the primary election in September. This is the meeting at which the newly elected members of the county committee first exercise their power.
If you have corrections or additions to this information, please let us know.
You've Got A Friend
If this is your first meeting, it helps to get together with others who may be a little more organized. The party insiders already know the other insiders, so incumbents, as usual, always have an advantage. Here are a list of contacts, by county, who are willing to take you under their wing, so to speak. You may not agree with them on everything, but they are not insiders, so they, like you, are probably in the minority.
All politics is local. We cannot reach the goal alone. We need your help. These people are actively recruiting precinct committeemen in their county. If you'd like to recruit for your county, add your comment to this article and a way to contact you.
County Rules Analysis
Below you will find an analysis of county organization rules that differ from the norm.
