Utah for Ron Paul Caucus

Family, friends, and neighbors who live in your precinct
Ask your precinct chair for a list of attendees from the previous caucus
Distribute a flyer on the Constitution or on a party rules issue, and see who is interested

4. Attend your voting precinct caucus:

A person must be 18 by the time of the General Election in November to be a registered voter.
Registered voters who are affiliated with the Republican Party may participate.
Registered voters not affiliated with any party may participate.
Registered voters may affiliate with the Republican Party that night.
Registered voters affiliated with another party may not participate.
Those who are elected as precinct officers and delegates must affiliate (or already be affiliated).
Those who may not participate may observe the caucus.
Participate means to address the caucus and to vote.

Inform Lowell Nelson or your Meetup Group Organizer of your intent to run (to coordinate our efforts) because s/he may know others in your precinct who will support you (or vice versa).

5. Be nominated, get elected:

Before the elections, ask how many citizens will be voting. Vote totals must not exceed this number.
Nominations may not be closed until everyone who wants to run is nominated (named).
You may nominate yourself. Say, "I would like to serve in that office."
Be prepared with a one- or two-minute nomination speech. Think ahead of questions you might be asked.
Someone you trust should volunteer to help count the ballots. Each ballot must be counted only one time.
Winners must receive a majority of the votes that are cast (not just a plurality).
Stimulate discussion about national, state, or local issues, so you know who to support.

In Salt Lake County, precinct chairs are members of the county central committee.
In Utah County, precinct chairs and vice chairs are members of the county central committee.
In Utah County, a precinct chair is also a state delegate and a county delegate.
In Utah County, a precinct vice chair is also a county delegate.

Tell Lowell Nelson or your Meetup Group Organizer how your caucus went; which election(s) you won; etc.

Precinct officers and delegates serve for two years. Here are some of their responsibilities:

Chair: attend Central Committee meetings (one per calendar quarter)
Vice chair: attend Central Committee meetings (one per calendar quarter)
Secretary: provide notice of precinct meetings, take minutes, maintain historical documents
Treasurer: receive, account, and submit to the party monies collected on Caucus Night
County delegate: attend the county convention (one each year) - dates on the Events page
State delegate: attend the state convention (one each year) - Saturday, May 10, 2008 (this year)

County delegates vote for county officials and for state legislators whose districts lies within the county
State delegates vote for federal officials and for state legislators whose districts span two or more counties
A candidate who is unopposed or who receives 60% or more at convention becomes the party's nominee; otherwise, he and the runner-up face each other in a June 24 Primary Election

Elements of a persuasive nomination speech:

background (home, family, community, career)
party experience (or information that shows you understand what is expected of the position you are seeking)
why you are running or want to be involved (describe how a right is being violated by current law, for example)
promise to devote the necessary time, and to study the candidates before making a decision
strong conclusion (quote a Founder or a popular American; ask for their vote/support)

Delivering a persuasive nomination speech:

Elections:

Majority: 50% plus 1
In case of a tie, vote again; in case of a deadlock, flip a coin
Plurality: more votes than other candidates
Multiple Ballots: used when three or more candidates seek the same office/position

IRV: Instant Runoff Voting; an analog of (same as) a multiple ballot election but done with a single ballot
To vote: rank the candidates 1, 2, 3, ...
To count: group the ballots according to first preference; distribute the shortest stack according to second preference (which eliminates the candidate with the least number of votes); etc.

Multi-seat election: Just because you can vote for two or more candidates does not require you to vote for two or more candidates. Vote just for those you support.

Votes should be counted by at least three people: one opens and reads the ballot, one keeps a tally, and one watches the first two to ensure that the correct name is read and that the tally sheet is correctly marked. Others can watch if desired.
Election results should be announced in detail, or so each candidate knows how many votes were cast in his support. This also assures participants that the number of votes counted does not exceed the number of votes that were permitted to be cast.

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Web site by Utahns for Ron Paul, 11167 North 5100 West, Highland, Utah, 84003