Research Guide

The reason for PROCINCT and the PC Strategy Alliance is to help citizens become voting members on their governing county party central committee for the various states we are researching.   Therefore the primary question to be answered for a state is: 

How do I become a voting member of my county central committee??? 

(we want to use the county committee as an 'anchor point' because from county service, it's usually only ONE step up the ladder to be on the state committee where you influence national committeeman selection, and we point that out in many other places, so let's all use the same 'starting point') 

I usually start my research for a given state at the baseline authority for all things GOP: GOP.com - scroll down the opening page and there is a list of states - click the one you are researching.  See if you can find contact info for the county chairs.  (save the link - that is the most important resource!)  See if the state bylaws are available and save that link.  See if there is a page that tells you how to become a PC (more and more states are publishing this) save that link if it's available.

In many or most locations, this requires that you first become a voting member of a geographic sub-division of the county such as a precinct, ward, or district.  From there you could be a 'two hatter' as in CA where you automatically have a seat on the county committee as well.  In other locations, you must be delegated/elected by your local committee to serve on the county committee (AZ) - usually this isn't tough if you simply indicate to your local committee that you want that job.  Find out and document the details.  'Two hatter'? or does your local committee delegate you to serve at the county level? 

But it's 2011 and in most states that elect to these positions, the next election is not until early or mid- 2012.  If you are in a state that uses the causcus or convention system, those causcuses are going on right now at the time of this writing (Feb 2011).  We want to try to facilitate activists to serve this week or this month, not wait for 2012.  So we have more questions.  Can I be appointed to fill a vacancy?  Who appoints?  Can I be appointed as an alternate (or hold a proxy) to vote in the absence of another member?  How can I make this happen?   How can I start participating in mid-stream in 2011?   What can I do if I come in late in Nov 2011?  Can I still get an appointment and still vote?

When I initiate research on a given state, I usually simply visit the state party web site and try to drill down to call and email 2 or 3 county chairs. If I can't do that I will call/email the state party secretary and chair. This usually nets me all the answers I need in 2-3 days.   

To Summarize: 
How do I become a voting member of my county central committee???  Explain. 
  - If elected on a public ballot, get the name of the agency (Board of Elections, County Registrar, etc.) who they will file with to be on the ballot. 
  - If elected in a public meeting when/where are the meetings held?  Who do you contact to find out when/where the meetings are? 'Two hatter'? or does your local precinct/ward/district committee delegate you to serve at the county level?  Explain. 

Can I be appointed to fill a vacancy?  Who appoints? 

Can I be appointed as an alternate (or hold a proxy) to vote in the absence of another member?  How? 

Bonus Points: 
1.  Get a copy of the state party by-laws 
2.  Get the person you talked to/emailed to agree to be a public contact 
point (phone, email) for more info on the process in their state