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Election District Committee Role

POSITION DESCRIPTION

ELECTION DISTRICT COMMITTEEMAN/WOMAN ROLE

The Election District Committeeman/Woman is key to the success of the Republican Party, our Republican Candidates, and consequently the conditions in the state of Delaware.  This powerful position is indirectly responsible for electing the Chair of the Republican National Committee, directly for the Delaware State Republican Party and the local Region Chair and the rest of the Executive Committee.  This includes who will serve as their Representative District Chair.

The time commitment is a few hours per week and will ramp up during the election season. 

PARTY ORGANIZATION

  • Know the party organization.  Get acquainted with your County officers, State Party Officers and elected officials to include your local representative, senator(s), County Councilman/woman and Row Officers.  
  • Keep up-to-date on Party activities.  Attend training sessions, conferences, and conventions.  
  • Attend monthly Sussex Region Republican Committee meetings on the 2nd Monday of the month.
  • Attend monthly meetings held by your RDC. 
  • If we are to be successful, EDCs must be active during the entire 24 months of the election cycle.

DEMOGRAPHICS

  • Understand the demographics of your election district- the cultural makeup, students of voting age, # of Republicans and Independents.  You will get this information by canvassing your voting district and using the data your RDC sends you in a spreadsheet.  These data are collected from the Delaware Voter Registration database.
  • Know your neighbors.  Get acquainted with as many Republicans in your election district as you can. Meet their families and learn their interests and concerns.  As you get to know them on a personal level, let them know that you can be a resource for them. Give them your contact information.  Make sure you check to see if anyone needs to register to vote.  Anyone who will turn 18 by the next election can register.  Focus on relationships and developing trust.
  • Contact newly registered voters in your ED and report outcomes to your RDC.  Offer to stop by and give them a copy of the Rescue Delaware Plan, the Sussex GOP brochure and the county’s Constituent Services pamphlet.  
  • Discern where these new Delawareans are from originally to give you an idea of why they moved to Delaware.
  • As we work to increase the diversity of our constituents, focus on younger and minority voters.
  • Use these contact opportunities to invite them to our Region Meetings and recruit Neighborhood Team Leaders.

ELECTION REGULATIONS

  • Know the local election laws and deadlines for registering.  
  • Since many of our neighbors come from other states, be aware of the differences in Delaware’s election laws as they relate to the laws that govern elections in other states.  (e.g. Delaware’s Presidential Primary is separate from the State office, Congressional and U.S. Senate primaries.) Your RDC will go over these at your monthly EDC meetings.
  • Recruit Checker/Challengers to work on Early and General Election Days.  Give the names of these to your RDC.  The Sussex GOP will provide training before the election so these volunteers know the policies and processes that govern the manner in which each polling place must operate.

ISSUES

  • Know the issues.  Read your local papers to learn about the major concerns affecting your city, town, county and the state.  Know about important Republican issues in Delaware and the Republican Party positions.
  • Become conversant with the “Rescue Delaware Plan.”
  • If you learn of any issues of which our legislators or County Council people should be aware, let your RDC know these so s/he can alert the appropriate official.
  • Prepare and be ready to counter statements that are untrue or only half true with facts in a non-confrontational manner should you be confronted.
  • Take an active role in addressing legislation with letters to the editor, emails and phone calls to legislators outlining your reasons for supporting or opposing a particular bill,

CANVASSING

  • At election time, canvass by walking door-to-door either with or without our candidates.  This will assist with getting to know the people in your election district.  This tactic is very effective and important to election success.  It is through canvassing that you will learn what is important to the people in your district.  
  • You can establish yourself as an opinion maker which means that your neighbors will rely on you for information, advice and help in solving public problems.  Use the Constituency Service brochures (free at county offices and libraries) to assist new neighbors acclimate themselves to services available in Sussex County.
  •  Field canvassing is a valuable means of outreach education and fundraising for advocacy and non-profit organizations.  Incorporating canvassing with effective database management as support allows our party to build a real grassroots membership and funding base.
  • Canvassing is a valuable method for mobilizing members and creating visibility for legislative and issue campaigns.
  • Canvassing gives you the chance to identify voters, requests for help and provide service for them.  Make sure you follow through on all requests.  If you don’t know the answers to questions say “I don’t know, I will find out and get back to you.”  Then make certain you do.
  • While canvassing, you may meet people who want to participate in the Republican Party. Get contact information for these individuals (name, phone, and email address) and give these to your RDC for follow-up.
  • Use the time canvassing to identify people who can assist you in organizing the district.  Ask these people to assist you in voter registration when new people move into the neighborhood.  They can also circulate petitions and work on Get-Out-the-Vote (GOTV) efforts. Get contact info for these helpers and give it to your RDC.
  • Identify areas in your election district that will work for sign-waving or voter registration.