How our endorsement votes work
These are the parts of our bylaws that apply when the Central Committee votes on endorsements. The full bylaws are linked at the bottom of this page, and the article and section numbers point you to the exact rule.
Who votes
Regular and Ex Officio Members vote (Article 2, Section 1). You need to be current on your $35 annual dues, or have a waiver or payment plan approved by the Executive Committee, before voting starts (Article 2, Section 6 and Article 7, Section 2(c)). Associate, Student and Honorary Members have the floor but do not vote.
Every voting member may vote on every endorsement, wherever the race is (Article 7, Section 2(c)).
Alternates
A member in good standing can name an alternate by writing to the Secretary. The alternate votes only when that member is absent (Article 2, Section 5). If the member is here, the member votes. If a member arrives and votes on an item their alternate already voted on, the member's vote replaces the alternate's.
Conflicts of interest
You may not vote on or make a motion about an endorsement in a race when (Article 7, Section 9):
- you or an immediate family member, such as a spouse, is a candidate for that office;
- you are a paid employee or contractor of a candidate's campaign committee for that office; or
- you work in a paid job at the pleasure of a candidate for that office.
You can stay for the discussion, and your alternate can vote in your place. On your ballot, tap "I have a conflict of interest in this race" and the site records your recusal. Serving without pay on a public board or commission is not a conflict.
What it takes to endorse a candidate
For endorsements, the whole Central Committee sits as a committee of the whole. We hear every candidate together and serve as the interview committee for every race (Article 7, Section 4). Your one vote on a candidate counts twice: once as your vote on the committee's recommendation, and once as your vote on the endorsement itself.
- 60% Yes of the members voting: the committee recommends endorse (Article 7, Section 4(j)), and the same vote endorses (Article 7, Section 3(b)).
- 60% No: the committee recommends no endorsement, and the Central Committee takes no position.
- Anything in between is no consensus, and the Central Committee takes no position.
- After a vote falls short, a member can move to endorse the candidate anyway. That is a new vote, and it takes two-thirds (Article 7, Section 3(b)).
- We endorse no more candidates than there are seats (Article 7, Section 2(c)). If more candidates clear the bar than there are seats, the screen flags it and the Chair rules.
Ballot measures
Supporting or opposing a county, city or special district measure takes 60% of members present and voting. Short of that, we take no position (Article 7, Section 5). On a measure you choose Support, Oppose, or No position.
How the votes are counted
"Present and voting" counts Yes and No votes, or Support, Oppose and No position on a measure. Abstentions and recusals are left out. When a percentage lands on a fraction, it rounds up (Article 6, Section 5).
For example, with 21 members voting, 60% is 12.6, so an endorsement needs 13 Yes votes. Two-thirds of 21 is 14.
No secret ballots
Secret ballots are not allowed at any Central Committee meeting (Article 4, Section 1(d)). Your ballot carries your name. The Secretary keeps ballots for at least three months, and the minutes and our website list how each member voted on each endorsement (Article 7, Section 3(e)). The Chair, or a majority of the Central Committee, can direct that endorsement votes be taken by recorded electronic ballot like this one (Article 7, Section 3(d)).
Using this ballot
- Open your personal link, or go to this site and type your access code.
- The Secretary checks you in at roll call.
- When the Chair opens a vote, it shows up on your screen. Tap your choice. It saves right away, and you can change it until the Chair closes that vote.
- When a vote closes, the result and the roll call go up on the projector screen.
If your phone gives you trouble, or you do not have one, raise your hand. The Secretary can enter your vote from a paper ballot you sign, and the record marks it as entered by an admin.