Precinct captain

{{Short description|Local political party position, usually elected}}

A precinct captain, also known as a precinct chairman, precinct delegate, precinct committee officer or precinct committeeman, is an elected official in the American political party system. The captain establishes a direct link between a political party and the voters in a local electoral precinct.{{cite web |url=http://www.collincountygop.com/wp-content/uploads/precinct_chair_handbook.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=www.collincountygop.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228225909/http://www.collincountygop.com/wp-content/uploads/precinct_chair_handbook.pdf |archive-date=28 February 2013 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |title=Most Powerful Office in the Land |url=https://networkamerica.org/where-do-i-get-info-on-running-for-precinct-captain/the-most-powerful-office-in-the-land/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Network America™ |language=en-US}} Their role is to build a relationship between those who hold public office and those who vote at the polls.{{Cite web |last=Bryant |first=Christine |title=What Are the Duties of a Precinct Committeeman? {{!}} Synonym |url=https://classroom.synonym.com/what-are-the-duties-of-a-precinct-committeeman-12081494.html |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=classroom.synonym.com |language=en}}

Election to the office is by ballot or by the county party executive committee. Voters file their declaration of candidacy with their party in their voting district. If elected during the primary, the Precinct Captain shall serve as long as one remains eligible, or until seeking reelection in the subsequent district primary. Requirements vary among states and counties.{{cite web |url=http://www.eac.gov/election_survey_2004/chapter_table/Chapter13_Polling_Places.htm |title=Archived copy |website=www.eac.gov |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060209220352/http://www.eac.gov/election_survey_2004/chapter_table/Chapter13_Polling_Places.htm |archive-date=9 February 2006 |url-status=dead}}

Responsibilities of the post include facilitating voter registration and absentee ballot access; leading get out the vote outreach efforts; distributing campaign and party literature; promoting the party; and addressing voter concerns.{{Cite web |last=Gianassi |first=Donald |date=2023-01-21 |title=Who Is My Precinct Committeeman? [Comprehensive Answer] - CGAA.org |url=https://www.cgaa.org/article/who-is-my-precinct-committeeman |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=CGAA |language=en}} In many states Precinct Captains are also eligible to establish party unit committees for fundraising.

The concept of precinct leadership is to provide a grassroots position with officials generally serving as volunteers, though in some states they receive a stipend.{{cite web |url=http://www.txdemocrats.org/take-action/become-a-county-or-precinct-chair/ |title=Become a County or Precinct Chair | Texas Democratic Party |website=www.txdemocrats.org |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926182635/http://www.txdemocrats.org/take-action/become-a-county-or-precinct-chair/ |archive-date=26 September 2009 |url-status=dead}} Positions of county captain have also been created, but are usually used for election campaigns rather than party organizing.

In Illinois, Michelle Obama got her initial introduction to Democratic party politics when her father served as a Precinct Captain and the then-Michelle Robinson accompanied the elder Robinson on his rounds through his precinct.{{cite book|last=Obama |first=Michelle|title=Becoming |date=2018|publisher=Viking Press|language=en|isbn=978-0-241-33414-0}}

In Washington, in case of a vacancy in the state legislature, the precinct committee officers will nominate candidates to fill the vacancy, which then need to be approved by the county council.{{cite news |newspaper=The Stranger |author=Rich Smith |url=https://www.thestranger.com/slog/2019/07/01/40639365/a-legislative-shake-up-in-bothell-rep-derek-stanford-fills-palumbos-old-seat-and-deputy-mayor-davina-duerr-fills-stanfords |date=2019-07-01 |access-date=2020-01-19 |title=A Legislative Shake-Up in Bothell: Rep. Derek Stanford Fills Palumbo's Old Seat, and Deputy Mayor Davina Duerr Fills Stanford's }}

Office title designation by state

Titles may vary by political party.

Alabama – Unknown
Alaska – Unknown
Arizona – Precinct Committeeman{{Cite web |last1=GOP |first1=AZ |last2=INC |first2=PSYCLONE MEDIA |last3=azgop.com |title=Precinct Committeeman |url=http://azgop.com/pc |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=AZ GOP |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2013-06-12 |title=What is a PC? |url=http://beapc.com/what-is-a-pc/ |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=Be A Precinct Committeeman |language=en-US}}
Arkansas – Unknown
California – Precinct Committeemen{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Cheryl |date=March 2021 |title=California Republican Party Structure |url=https://precinctstrategy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-03-01-california-republican-party-structure-by-cheryl-perez-1.pdf |access-date=1 Oct 2023 |website=Precinct Strategy}}
Colorado – Precinct Committee Person (Republican){{Cite web|last=Souldern |first=Jeanne |date=2024-02-28 |title=Precinct caucuses 101: Taking the mystery out of the process

|url=https://soprissun.com/precinct-caucuses-101-taking-the-mystery-out-of-the-process/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Sopris Sun |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Griswold |first=Jena |title=Caucuses, Assemblies and Conventions FAQs |url=https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Candidates/FAQs/caucuses.html |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=Colorado Secretary of State |language=en-es}} ~ Precinct Organizer or Block Captain (Democrat){{Cite web|last=Souldern |first=Jeanne |date=2024-02-28 |title=Precinct caucuses 101: Taking the mystery out of the process

|url=https://soprissun.com/precinct-caucuses-101-taking-the-mystery-out-of-the-process/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Sopris Sun |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Fish |first=Sandra |date=2023-02-06 |title=Colorado Democratic Party, GOP prepare for intraparty reorganizations that will have big influence over their future |url=http://coloradosun.com/2023/02/06/colorado-democrats-gop-reorganization-2023/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=The Colorado Sun |language=en-US}}

Connecticut – Town Committeeman{{Cite web |title=2022 Town Committee Primaries |url=https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Election-Results/2022-Town-Committee-Primaries |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website |language=en}}
Delaware – City Committee Member in Wilmington, Delaware, County Committee Member in the rest of Delaware{{Cite web |date=Feb 2022 |title=Springfield Democrats |url=https://springfielddems.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Delco-Committee-Member-Guide.docx.pdf |access-date=1 Oct 2023 |website=springfielddems.org}}
Florida – Precinct Captain{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Precinct Captain Manual |url=https://insider.sarasotadems.org/tools/docs/PCManual_211001.pdf |access-date=2 Oct 2023 |website=sarasotadems.com}}
Georgia – Precinct Captain{{Cite web |title=Precinct Organizing |url=https://fultondems.org/north-fulton/scope/ |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=Fulton County Democrats |language=en}}
Hawaii – Precinct Committee{{Cite web |last=OahuGOP |title=Precinct Election Meetings – Honolulu County Republican Party |url=https://oahugop.com/precinct-election-meetings/ |access-date=2023-10-03 |language=en}}
Idaho – Precinct Committeeman{{Cite web |title=Section 34-624 – Idaho State Legislature |url=https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title34/t34ch6/sect34-624/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |language=en-US}}
Illinois – Precinct Committeeman{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Become A Precinct Committeeman |url=https://www.illinoisfreedomalliance.us/become-a-precinct-committeeman |access-date=30 Sep 2023 |website=Illinois Freedom Alliance}}
Indiana – Precinct Committeeman{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=Precinct Committeemen Handbook |url=https://cdn.kicksdigital.com/hamiltoncountygop.org/2020/08/Precinct-Committeemen-Handbook-Final.pdf |website=Hamilton County GOP}}
Iowa – Precinct Captain{{Cite web |last=desmoinesdem |date=2016-01-31 |title=How the Iowa caucuses work, part 4: What a precinct captain does |url=https://www.bleedingheartland.com/2016/01/31/how-the-iowa-caucuses-work-part-4-what-a-precinct-captain-does/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Bleeding Heartland |language=en}}
Kansas – Precinct Captain{{Cite web |title=Become a Precinct Captain {{!}} Northwest Johnson County Republicans |url=http://nwjocorepublicans.org/precinct.html |access-date=2023-10-04 |website=nwjocorepublicans.org}}
Kentucky – Precinct Captain (with allowances for a Co-Captain and a Youth Captain for at least the Republican party){{Cite web |title=Kentucky – Republican Party Overview – Take Over the GOP |url=https://takeovergop.com/kentucky-republican-party-overview/ |access-date=2023-10-04 |language=en-US}}
Louisiana – unknown
Maine – unknown
Maryland – Precinct Captain{{Cite web |title=Precinct Captain Responsibilities |url=https://www.calvertdemocrats.com/precinct-captain-responsibilities |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=Calvert County Democratic Party |language=en-US}}
Massachusetts – Town Committeeman{{Cite web |title=The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |url=https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVIII/Chapter52 |access-date=1 Oct 2023 |website=Massachusetts Legislature}}
Michigan – Precinct Delegate{{Cite web |date=2021-09-20 |title=Become a Precinct Delegate |url=https://miprecinctfirst.com/become/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=MI Precinct First |language=en-US}} (officially, but less commonly, referred to as Delegate To County Convention)
Minnesota – Block Captain{{Cite web |last=mnhd66brepublicans |date=2022-02-25 |title=Be a Block Captain in Your Precinct |url=https://mnhd66brepublicans.org/2022/02/24/be-a-block-captain-in-your-precinct/ |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=Minnesota House District 66B Republicans |language=en}}
Mississippi – unknown
Missouri – unknown
Montana – Precinct Officer{{Cite web |title=Become a Precinct Officer |url=https://mtgop.org/become-a-precinct-officer/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=Montana GOP |language=en-US}}
Nebraska – unknown
Nevada – Precinct Captain{{Cite web |title=Clark County Republican Party |url=https://clarkcountyrepublicanparty.com/ |access-date=5 Oct 2023 |website=clarkcountyrepublicanparty.com}}
New Hampshire – unknown
New Jersey – County Committeeman or Committeewoman
New Mexico – Ward Chair{{Cite web |title=Ward & Precinct Chair Roles |url=https://bernalillodems.org/ward-precinct-chair-roles/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=DPBC |language=en-US}}
New York – District Leader{{Cite web |date=2021-04-29 |title=What do district leaders do? |url=https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2021/04/what-do-district-leaders-do/182920/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=City & State NY |language=en}}
North Carolina – Precinct Chairman{{Cite web |date=2019 |title=NC Democrats 2019 Precinct Packet: Your Guide to Organizing Your Precinct |url=https://www.guilforddems.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019-NCDP-Precinct-Packet.pdf |access-date=1 Oct 2013 |website=guilforddems.org}}
North Dakota – Precinct Committee Person{{Cite web |title=Bylaws - Dem-NPL Party Democrats |url=https://demnpl.com/bylaws-2/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=Dem-NPL Party |language=en-US}}
Ohio – Precinct Captain{{Cite web |title=Precinct Captains Fairfield County GOP Ohio |url=https://www.fairfieldcountygop.org/precinct-captains.php |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=www.fairfieldcountygop.org}}
Oklahoma – Precinct Chair{{Cite web |date=February 2021 |title=Precinct Leadership and Volunteer Guide |url=https://okdemocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Precint-Leadership-Guide-20211.pdf |access-date=6 Oct 2023 |website=okdemocrats.org}}
Oregon – Precinct Committee Person{{Cite web |title=Become a PCP |url=https://oregon.gop/become-a-pcp/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Oregon Republican Party |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Precinct Committee Persons |url=https://dpo.org/get-involved/precinct-committee-persons/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Democratic Party of Oregon |language=en-US}}
Pennsylvania – Precinct Committee Member{{Cite web |date=May 2019 |title=Republican Precinct Committee Member Qualifications and Duties |url=https://www.gopccpa.org/uploads/9/1/0/8/9108683/duties_of_a_precinct_committee_person.pdf |access-date=9 October 2023 |website=Cumberland County Republican Party}} (Republican) ~ Precinct Committee Person{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=Precinct Committee Person Guide & Resources |url=http://delcodems.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/PrecinctPersonHandbook2017.pdf |access-date=9 October 2023 |website=delcodems.com}} (Democrat)
Rhode Island – unknown
South Carolina – Precinct President{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=My South Carolina GOP |url=https://www.myscgop.com/Sample%20FORM%201%20and%20FORM%202.pdf |access-date=10 October 2023 |website=myscgop.com/}}
South Dakota – Precinct Committeeman or Committeewoman{{Cite web |last=Sand |first=Elisa |title=There are 194 contested GOP precinct committee races in SD this year. Here's what voters should know |url=https://www.aberdeennews.com/story/news/politics/2022/05/24/south-dakota-republican-200-contested-races-precinct-committee-voting-election-2022/9663839002/ |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=Aberdeen News |language=en-US}}
Tennessee – Precinct Committeeman or Committeewoman{{Cite web |title=TN Voices For Liberty |url=https://tnvoicesforliberty.com/ |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=tnvoicesforliberty.com}}
Texas – Precinct Chair{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Precinct Chair and Activist Training and Reference Manual |url=https://collindemocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/Precinct-Chair-and-Activist-Training-and-Reference-Manual-FINAL-Edits-2021-02-02.pdf |access-date=1 Oct 2023 |website=collindemocrats.org/}}{{Cite web |last=bingham |title=Collin County Republican Precinct Chairs {{!}} CollinGOP |url=https://www.collincountygop.org/about/collin-county-republican-precinct-chairs/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=Collin County Republican Party |date=25 April 2016 |language=en-US}}
Utah – Precinct Chair{{Cite web |title=Precinct Positions – Precinct Portal |url=https://precinctportal.org/precinct-roles/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |language=en-US}}
Vermont – unknown
Virginia – Precinct Committeeman{{Cite web |date=2021-02-14 |title=How to Become a Precinct Committeeman – Conservative Action Center |url=https://conservativeactioncenter.com/2021/02/11/how-to-become-a-precinct-committeeman/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |language=en-US}}
Washington – Precinct Committee Officer{{Cite web |title=Become a Precinct Committee Officer |url=https://www.wa-democrats.org/local/pco/ |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Washington Democrats |language=en-US}}
West Virginia – unknown
Wisconsin – Committeeman or Committeewoman{{Cite web |title=Wisconsin Statutes 8.17(1) |url=https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/8/17 |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=Wisconsin Legislative Documents |language=en-US}}
Wyoming – precinct committeeman and committeewoman{{Cite web |title=2021 Wyoming Statutes :: Title 22 - Elections :: Chapter 4 - Political Parties :: Article 1 - Major Political Parties :: Section 22-4-101 - Application; Composition, Election and Qualifications of County Central Committees; Certificate of Election. |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/wyoming/2022/title-22/chapter-4/article-1/section-22-4-101/ |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=Justia Law |language=en}}

References

Sources

[https://books.google.com/books?id=2o561jt4Ct4C&dq=%22duties+of+the+precinct+captain%22&pg=PA66 Lincoln, Abraham and Don E. Fehrenbacher. ''Speeches and writings. page 66. Online Google Books. June 19, 2008.]
[http://www.twyman-whitney.com/apgovpol/glossary_political_terms.htm Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics] Online. June 19, 2008.

Category:Political parties in the United States

Category:Elections in the United States