Why Get Involved With Your Local Democratic Party?

Voters are hungry for change, and Kansas Democrats are ready to deliver! There has never been a more exciting or historic time to be involved with the Democratic Party than in 2010. Everyday, new Democrats are calling our office to get involved, Independent voters are signing up to volunteer for Democratic campaigns, and disgruntled Republicans are coming in our doors to change parties.

Your involvement will help continue to turn Kansas blue! By helping elect Democrats at lower levels of government, you will be helping to expand the number of Democratic elected officials in this state. The Senators, Congress members, and Governors of tomorrow are the state legislators, city councilors, and school board members of today.

Need another reason to get involved? Meet other people who think like you do! It can often be isolating being a Democrat in Kansas. Getting involved with your local party will allow you to meet and mingle with people who share the same values and ideologies that you do.

Take a Stand! Make a Difference! Get Involved!

Sign up to receive e-mails via our Democratic Update E-List. We regularly send out information about volunteer opportunities, campaigns, and upcoming events and activities electronically. To sign up, simply send your name and e-mail address to info@sedgwickcountydemocrats.com.

Attend the monthly Warner Moore Democratic Luncheons. If you are interested in getting to know other Democrats and learning more about our candidates and relevant political issues, join us for our Warner Moore Democratic Luncheons. Named to honor the late Warner Moore, father of Kansas Congressman Dennis Moore and long-time Democratic activist and chair who helped build and shape the local party, these luncheons provide Democrats with an opportunity to meet and socialize with other like-minded people.

These luncheons are held on the last Friday of every month at The Larkspur Restaurant & Grill, located at 904 E. Douglas Ave., on the northeast corner of Douglas & Mosley. A lunch buffet is available for $11, with the price including drink, tax, and tip.

Volunteer. There are plenty of volunteer opportunities and ways to make a difference in the Sedgwick County Democratic Party. We are one of only a few county parties that operate and staff a year-round headquarters that is open even in off-election years. We need volunteers to help staff the office, make phone calls, work on mailings, and walk their neighborhoods. Additionally, candidates are always looking for eager activists to plug into their campaigns. Whatever your talents are, we can put them to good use to make a difference!

Ways You Can Help Get Democrats Elected…

Learn the names and addresses of voters in your precinct by canvassing the precinct either by phone calls or personal visits. Sign as many voters up to advance vote as possible. Register anyone in your precinct not already registered to vote. During such a canvass, it is hoped that you will learn the opinions of the voters in your district on issues and candidates.

Accompany any candidate who wishes to meet the voters in your precinct. “Walking a precinct” generally happens on Saturdays, Sundays, or weekdays after work.

Identify persons willing to display lawn signs for candidates – and get them such a sign. Your assistance in the removal of signs after the election would be appreciated.

Be willing to participate, as your schedule allows, in campaign activities such as phone banks, delivery of campaign literature to your precinct’s doorsteps (“lit drops”), preparation of mailings, and the planting of campaign signs along the roadway or at important intersections. You can contact the Kansas Coordinated Campaign at 316-201-6137 and find out how you can help today!

Take off work on Election Day in order to act as a poll watcher in your precinct. The most important duties of poll watcher are to:

1. Challenge anyone you believe to be voting improperly in your precinct,

2. Challenge decisions of the election judge and poll worker about any individual’s right to vote, and

3. Report at set times during the day to campaign headquarters (usually by phone) the number (and possibly also the names) of those who have voted so far.

How to Become a Precinct Committee Chair…

Each precinct of the approximately 260 precincts in Sedgwick County is allowed one precinct committee chairman and one precinct committee chairwoman. Precinct Committee Members are requested to attend the approximate four Sedgwick County Democratic Central Committee Meetings annually. They are the most important part of grassroots organizing, working to turn out the Democratic vote in their neighborhoods by making contact with voters, registering them, and making sure they get to cast a ballot either by mail or in person. They should also assist their candidates running for state legislature and county offices in their campaigns as their schedule allows.

Precinct Committee Members are also voting member of the Central Committee, representing all Democrats in their precinct. They vote on official business that arises before the Sedgwick County Democratic Central Committee during their quarterly meetings.

Without hard working Precinct Committee Members, Democrats cannot win elections! The term is two years– those elected in August 5, 2008 primary will serve until August of 2010. Many of the precincts have no chairman or chairwoman. If this is the case, we can have you appointed now and send you the form to file to be on the ballot! We are working hard to fill each precinct spot in our county, but we need you to accomplish this goal. To see if there is a vacancy in your precinct, call Democratic HQ at 316-262-7534.