Call to Caucus

CALL TO CAUCUS OF THE GLOUCESTER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE TO ELECT DELEGATES AND ALTERNATES TO THE CD -01 DISTRICT AND STATE CONVENTIONS

The Gloucester County Democratic Committee (GDC) will hold an unassembled caucus on Monday, April 15, 2024, from 6 – 6:30p.m. at the Abingdon Volunteer Fire and Rescue for the purpose of electing: [8] delegates and [2] alternates to the First District (CD-01) Convention to be held at Patrick Henry High School in Ashland, Virginia, at 10:00 a.m. on May 18, 2024, and the Virginia Democratic State Convention on Saturday, June 22, 2024 (10:00AM) in Richmond, Virginia at the Richmond Convention Center.

I. Candidate Filing:

Each person seeking to become a Delegate to the CD-01 and State Conventions shall need to file an electronic Declaration of Candidacy form by no later than 5:00 p.m., Saturday, April 13, 2024, for these caucuses held on Saturday, April 20, 2024. This declaration form shall include the Presidential Candidate this Delegate seeks to represent. This declaration form will be posted at  www.vademocrats.org/delegateselection after the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary.

A voluntary non-refundable administrative fee of $25 is requested to accompany all candidate filings, and can be paid via ActBlue immediately following the submission of an application. No waiver is necessary if a candidate is unable to pay the fee.

II. Candidate Qualification

Only candidates committed to the nomination of the Democratic candidate for President of the United States may serve as Delegates or Alternates. 

Prospective candidates: 

• Must be a resident of and registered to vote in the Gloucester County, Virginia;

• Must be a member of the Gloucester County Democratic Committee only and not any other political party;

• Will not support, endorse, or assist any candidate who is opposed to a Democratic nominee or endorsee in the November 2024 election;

• Has and will not participate in the nomination process of any other political party for the November 2024 election. 

III. Notice

The Gloucester County Democratic Committee shall provide notice of this caucus by placement of a general notice of the caucus, including noticing the caucus date, time, and location, along with the Call to Caucus, on the Democratic Party of Virginia, the Gloucester County Democratic Committee websites; by email notification to the members of the Gloucester County Democrats who reside in the Gloucester County; and through other reasonable means that will disseminate information about the caucus to registered voters in Gloucester County. In addition, reasonable actions shall be taken to promote participation in the caucus in accordance with the Affirmative Action provisions of the Party Plan of the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA).

IV. Participation:

Every Democrat who is a registered voter in Gloucester County is urged to attend and participate. Each participant must sign a written declaration that he or she:
● Is a Democrat and not a member of any other political party;
● Does not intend to support any candidate who is opposed to a Democratic nominee in this General Election;
● Has not participated in and will not participate in the nominating process of any other party for the positions listed above; and
● Is registered to vote in Gloucester County

V. Conduct of Caucus

Voting will begin at 6:15 and will close at 6:30 pm. Those in line at the close of voting will be permitted to vote. The Chair of the Gloucester County Democratic Committee, or his or her designee, shall be the Chair of the Caucus and shall appoint a Secretary and such other Officers of the Caucus as is deemed appropriate. The Gloucester County Democratic Committee will prepare the Rules for the Caucus.

VI. Determination of the Delegates

Participants  must all declare preference for a Presidential Candidate. For each  Presidential Candidate who is allocated delegates, the delegates  allocated to that candidate shall be elected by the caucus participants  declared for that candidate. That candidate’s delegation shall comprise  the top number of vote-getters equal to the number of delegates  received. For example: if Presidential Candidate Joe Biden was entitled  to 5 Delegates, then the top 5 vote winners who were pledged to Joe  Biden shall be elected.
 
 Alternates shall be elected separately from delegates. A candidate may  file to run as a Delegate OR an Alternate. The highest vote winners from  those who filed as Delegates shall be elected Delegate, and the highest  vote winners of those who filed as Alternates shall be elected  Alternates.
 
 If the number of candidates for delegate/alternate is equal to or fewer  than the total allocated to each presidential candidate per the March 5,  2024, Presidential Primary results in Gloucester County, the Chair  shall cancel the caucus and those delegate/alternate candidates who have  filed shall be deemed to be elected by the caucus.
 The rules for the Virginia Democratic Party Selection of Delegates can be found at here.
 Filing forms for delegate candidates and caucus attendees will be found here.
 
 Adopted by the Gloucester County Executive Committee, March 18, 2024.