HOW YOU CAN HELP PICK THE 2008
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT

by Mark Brewer, Chair
Michigan Democratic Party

Michigan Democrats will have the historic opportunity to play a key role in determining who the Democratic Candidate for President will be in 2008 by voting in the most accessible Michigan Democratic Presidential Caucus ever on February 9, 2008 or earlier.

This fact sheet explains how you can help pick the 2008 Democratic Candidate for President.

1.         Q: What is the date of the Michigan Democratic Presidential Caucus?

A: Saturday, February 9, 2008 unless another state violates the scheduling rules of the Democratic National Committee, in which case the Michigan Democratic Party (MDP) will move its Caucus earlier, possibly on or before the offending state. Many of the pre-Caucus dates in this fact sheet will change if the Caucus is moved to an earlier date.

2.         Q: What is the difference between a Presidential Caucus and a Presidential Primary Election?

A: A primary election is run under state law and paid for by the state, while a caucus is a nomination process paid for by a political party and run under its rules.

3.         Q: When and where will the Democrats nominate a Presidential Candidate?

A: Democrats will nominate their candidates for President and Vice-President and adopt a platform at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The Convention will be held in Denver, Colorado on August 25-28, 2008.

4.         Q: Who will represent Michigan at the National Convention?

A: Michigan will be represented by a delegation of 156 Delegates, 21 Alternates, 18 Convention Committee members and 4 Pages.

5.         Q: How will that delegation be selected?

A: The delegation will be selected in 3 steps.

First, on Saturday, February 9, 2008 (or earlier), voters will cast ballots in the Michigan Democratic Presidential Caucus where they will vote for their preferred candidate for President. Candidates for President who receive at least 15% of the vote will earn delegates to the National Convention in proportion to their vote.

Then, on March 29, 2008, 83 delegates and 15 alternates will be elected at 15 Congressional District Conventions based on the results of the February 9, 2008 Caucuses.

Finally, on May 17, 2008, based on the results of the February 9, 2008 Caucuses, 45 delegates, 6 alternates, 18 Convention Committee members and 4 pages will be elected at a meeting of the Democratic State Central Committee in Grand Rapids.

All of these elected delegates, alternates, committee members, and pages, together with 28 super-delegates – Michigan's Governor, 2 U.S. Senators, 6 U.S. Representatives and 17 Democratic National Committee Members and 2 others– will make up Michigan's delegation to the National Convention.

6.         Q: How will the February 9, 2008 Caucus work?

A: Voting centers will be open between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M. EST. You can vote at any voting center in the county where you live anytime during those hours. People in line at 4 P.M. EST will be permitted to vote. Ballots will be available in Spanish and Arabic as well as English. Those persons who wish to vote must provide proper identification establishing a residence within the county where the voting center is located (with, for example, a voter registration card, Michigan driver’s license, Michigan identification card or utility bill.) Photo identification is not required. Voters must complete a ballot, including a public declaration that they are a Democrat and are or will be a registered voter before the November election. After the voting centers close at 4 P.M. EST, the votes will be counted and the results reported back to the Michigan Democratic Party that day where they will be added to the vote by mail and Internet vote totals.

7.         Q: How many voting centers will there be?

A: There will be over 150 large voting centers statewide with at least one large voting center in each county. A person may vote at any voting center in the county where they reside.

8.         Q: Who is in charge of the voting centers?

A: The county and congressional district Democratic parties are in charge of locating, staffing and running the voting centers.

9.         Q: How can I find the locations of all of the voting centers where I can vote?

A: You can vote at any voting center in the county where you live. Once the voting centers are established, the voting center list will be given to the press, local party organizations and local clerks, published in the Michigan Democratic Party newsletter, posted on our website at www.michigandems.com
and made available in other ways.

10.       Q: Do I have to be a member of the Michigan Democratic Party in order to vote at a voting center?

A: No. However, at the voting center, on the mail ballot and on the Internet ballot, everyone must publicly declare him or herself as a Democrat for purposes of voting in the Presidential Caucus.

11.       Q: Can there be campaigning at voting centers?

A: Yes, campaigning, collection of petition signatures and similar activity will be allowed under rules to be set out by the Michigan Democratic Party.

12.       Q: Can I vote by mail?

A: Yes, you can vote by mail if you qualify. On and after January 1, 2008 (or earlier if the Caucus date is moved) a person may apply for a mail ballot (for themselves only) by visiting our website – www.michigandems.com or by mail, FAX or e-mail. Unlike traditional absentee voting in Michigan you do not need a reason such as age or disability to vote by mail. Applications must be received by February 2, 2008 at 6 P.M. (or earlier if the Caucus date is moved).

A ballot will be mailed via the U.S Postal Service to those who apply and are registered to vote. All vote by mail ballots must be returned to the designated location in Lansing by February 9, 2008 by 10 A.M. (or earlier if the Caucus date is moved). Mail ballots will not be accepted at the voting centers and anyone who votes by mail cannot vote again at a voting center. Safeguards will be in place to prevent multiple voting and multiple votes will not be counted.

If you are ineligible to vote by mail, you will be notified by mail and still have the option to vote at a voting center in your county.

13.       Q:  How can I get a vote by mail application?

A: Applications will be accepted beginning January 1, 2008 (unless the Caucus date is moved). On January 1, 2008 (unless the Caucus date is moved) vote by mail applications will be available on the MDP website at www.michigandems.com  and from local party organizations or by contacting the Michigan Democratic Party by e-mail midemparty@michigandems.com, phone (517) 371-5410 or mail 606 Townsend, Lansing, MI 48933. Applications must be received by February 2, 2008 at 6 P.M. (or earlier if the Caucus date is moved).

14.       Q:  Can I vote over the Internet?

A: Yes, you can vote over the Internet if you qualify. Follow the same application procedures as voting by mail. Your vote by mail ballot will contain instructions on voting over the Internet. You can only vote once – at a voting center, by mail or over the Internet. Safeguards will be in place to prevent multiple voting.

15.       Q:        How can I run for delegate or alternate to the National Convention?

A: To qualify as a candidate for delegate or alternate, an individual must file a “declaration of candidacy” form with the MDP. The forms will be available from the MDP on January 1, 2008. An individual can qualify as a candidate for district-level delegate or alternate by joining the Michigan Democratic Party and by filing a statement of candidacy with the Chair by 5 P.M.
February 28, 2008 at 606 Townsend St., Lansing, MI 48933. An individual can join the Party by completing an application and submitting it by hand-delivery, mail, FAX, e-mail or at the Party's website.

There are no exceptions to the deadlines. Presidential candidates have the right to approve all candidates for delegate or alternate pledged to them. After a person timely files and is approved by a presidential candidate, they must campaign for election as a delegate or alternate at the congressional district or state level.

16.       Q: Are there affirmative action goals for delegates and alternates?

A: Yes, affirmative action is very important to the MDP. The delegates must be equally divided among men and women. The affirmative action goals are African Americans: 37 Delegates, 5 Alternates; Arab Americans: 6 Delegates, 1 Alternate; Hispanics: 6 Delegates, 1 Alternate; Asian/Pacific Americans: 3 Delegates, 0 Alternates; Native Americans: 2 Delegates, 0 Alternates; GLBT: 6 Delegates, 1 Alternate; People with Disabilities: 8 Delegates, 1 Alternate; Young People (age 18-35): 19 Delegates, 3 Alternates.

17.       Q: Who is eligible to vote for delegates and alternates at the March 29, 2008 Congressional District Conventions?

A:Enrolled Democrats are the only persons eligible to participate in the district conventions. Enrolled Democrats include only the following:

1) Precinct delegates who were duly elected at the primary election held August 8, 2006 and the nominees for county and legislative office as set forth in Michigan Democratic Party Rules Article 5.C. In order to vote at the district conventions, these persons must be members of the Michigan Democratic Party on or before March 29, 2008. They may become members that day when they register at the district conventions; and

2) Members of the Michigan Democratic Party at least thirty (30) days prior to March 29, 2008 or by February 28, 2008. Any eligible person may become a member of the Michigan Democratic Party, and there exists no requirement for any financial contribution to the Party in order to join.

18.       Q: How can I join the Michigan Democratic Party?

A: You can join at our website: www.michigandems.com. You can also get a membership form by calling (517) 371-5410, faxing (517) 371-2056, e-mailing midemparty@michigandems.com,, or by writing 606 Townsend, Lansing, MI 48933. Forms should be returned to the MDP at 606 Townsend, Lansing, MI 48933.

19.       Q: Who is eligible to vote for delegates and alternates at the May 17, 2008 State Central meeting?

A: State Central Delegates, Alternates, Michigan DNC Members, and MDP Officers and Officers-at-Large are eligible to vote. There is no proxy voting.

20.       Q: Who is in charge of this whole process?

A:MDP Chair Mark Brewer supervises the entire delegate selection process.

21.       Q: How can I get more details on the whole process?

A: This document is simply a summary of some key issues and the Delegate Selection Plan is the official governing document. You can get a copy by visiting our website at www.michigandems.com, calling the MDP at (517) 371-5410, faxing (517) 371-2056, or writing 606 Townsend, Lansing, MI 48933.
                                                                                                                                               
5/23/07