Highlights of the 2008 Rules
Posted by on August 21, 2006 at 02:32 PM
On August 19th the members of the Democratic National Committee adopted the Delegate Selection Rules for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The Rules govern the development and implementation of a delegate selection process by each state and territorial Party.
Some highlights of the 2008 Rules:
Calendar
Last year the Party's Commission on Presidential Nomination Timing and Scheduling issued its recommendations on the 2008 primary and caucus calendar.
The Party recognizes the need early in the nominating process to broaden participation to reflect the Party’s rich racial, regional, and economic diversity by including 2 additional states. Twelve states applied to conduct early primaries and caucuses. We believe that shows the energy and excitement for opening up the process.
The addition of 2 states early in the process will also open up the dialogue to engage a broader range of people to talk about a wider variety of issues. This will enable the Democratic Party to choose the strongest candidate to be our Presidential nominee.
The new schedule is as follows:
- Iowa holds the first-in-the-nation caucus on January 14.
- New Hampshire holds the first-in-the-nation primary on January 22.
- Nevada conducts a caucus between Iowa and New Hampshire on Saturday, January 19.
- South Carolina holds a primary 1 week after the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, January 29
The regular window will open for all other states on the first Tuesday in February -- February 5, 2008.
Presidential Candidate Sanctions on the Window
There is a new rule that imposes new sanctions on presidential candidates. If a state, any state, violates the rule on timing/the window, presidential candidates will face sanctions if they campaign in that state. Examples of campaigning include: making personal appearances in the state, hiring campaign workers, and buying advertising and so on.
Currently, the only punishment for states that violate the window was on State Parties. This new enforcement provision recognizes that presidential candidates must also bear a responsibility in enforcing the window or face sanctions.
Internet Voting
The 2008 Rules contain a new provision allowing Internet voting under certain conditions. Internet voting can only apply to State Party-run primaries and must be accompanied by in-person voting locations and vote by mail. Additionally, Internet voting must include a comprehensive outreach and education program to reach those who lack access as well as certain security and technical safeguards.
Voting Machine Equipment
The 2008 Rules contain a new provision requiring State Parties to take provable positive steps to acquire optical scan voting machines and DRE voting machines that produce a voter verified paper record.
Inclusion Programs
The 2008 Rules contain a new provision requiring State Parties to adopt and implement inclusion programs for LGBT Americans and persons with disability to achieve the full participation of these groups in the delegate selection process. Such programs, may as is already the case in a number of states, include setting goals.
Additionally there are new requirements on presidential candidates to use all their best efforts to maximize participation in the delegate selection process.
Comments (8) «
While I wouldn't disagree with any of these items
the document seems rather incomplete.
African-Americans already pick our presidential candidate because of super Tuesday in the south. I think the move to add primary states in front of Iowa and New Hampshire is intended to reduce the influence of whites even more. I guess you want to accelerate the move of white men to the Republicans.
Posted by rla on August 21, 2006 at 06:45 PM
These are highlights. The full documents is many, many pages long. We summarized for the blog!
I think the day of South Carolina's primary is Tuesday, January 29, not Saturday.
Hi TracyJoan!
It's nice to have you back. Thank you for your most excellent coverage and this opportunity to see everything from your perspective! Almost like being there. I watched the CSPAN coverage, but this is more personal.
I will apologize for all the hostility directed at you. Good grief. All I can say is, I think it's misplaced anger from too many years of rePug rule.
Warning, too: The griping that it's only "inclusion" and not "affirmative action" will begin soon, too. I'm afraid that if I hear one more threat to join the Lob Cabin crew, I'll say "go on wit ya bad self, then!". And take a good look at one of those defense of marriage petitions, cuz it ain't our team spreading that stuff around--
so I appreciate your patience. And truly thank you for all that you do.
Best regards,
Fade
I'm afraid that if I hear one more threat to join the Lob Cabin crew, I'll say "go on wit ya bad self, then!". And take a good look at one of those defense of marriage petitions, cuz it ain't our team spreading that stuff around--
Well, now, there'll be no need for us to join up with the LCRs as long as the Dem party keeps up the way it is!
Oh, and while YOUR team may not be spreading the anti-gay amendments around (true enough), YOUR team isn't exactly fighting them either.
Examples:
1. YOUR team is trying to undo the election of an openly gay candidate in AL supposedly because she's not black and WON fair and square in a primarily black district as an openly gay, white woman.
2. YOUR teammate, Phil Bredesen, said about TN anti-gay marriage amendment that it's not a matter of whether it will pass or not but whether it will pass by 85% or 95%!!!!!
Now, where is the money trail of the Dem party to LGBT issues to fight anti-gay amendments at the states? WHERE????
I'm curious to know exactly how much money and manpower the DNC is putting behind fighting FOR US instead of assuming we're going to fail.
The two organizations fighting anti-gay issues in my state, as far as I know, have no connections to the Democratic Party and get no support from any local, state, or national Dems.
Where can I get a full record of the new rules?
Also, can you please advise whose idea internet voting was?
If I understand the author correctly, the DNC is
urging internet voting for primaries within the United States.
If so, this is a huge blow to election integrity.
There is no riskier way to cast your ballot than on the internet.
Prior to the Nov 2004 election, a multitude of computer worms and viruses hit the internet with a fury.
Internet Voting is a horrible idea, and it shouldn't be used under any circumstances for any sort of balloting.
Please post a link to the full rules.
Where can I get a full record of the new rules?
Also, can you please advise whose idea internet voting was?
If I understand the author correctly, the DNC is
urging internet voting for primaries within the United States.
If so, this is a huge blow to election integrity.
There is no riskier way to cast your ballot than on the internet.
Prior to the Nov 2004 election, a multitude of computer worms and viruses hit the internet with a fury.
Internet Voting is a horrible idea, and it shouldn't be used under any circumstances for any sort of balloting.
Please post a link to the full rules.
(This explains why it was so hard to get a verified voting law passed in North Carolina - I couldn't understand it since the Democrats had the majority vote in both sides of the state legislature. They nearly ran the clock out on our legislation, which was introduced at the beginning of the sesion, and barely got passed on the last day.)
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