What is a Precinct Delegate?
A precinct delegate is elected directly by the voters in each precinct and are elected to serve as a liaison between the Republican Party and voters in their neighborhood. Precinct delegates also represent their neighborhood at various Republican meetings throughout their two-year term.
How do you become a Precinct Delegate?
All candidates must submit the Precinct Delegate Affidavit of Identity This form must be submitted to the Ottawa County Clerk's office by Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 4:00 PM in order to appear on the ballot. Write-in candidates may file with the Ottawa County Clerk's office until Friday, August 2, 2024 at 4:00 PM. Write-in candidates must submit a Write-In Candidate Declaration of Intent form in order to be elected. More info is on the Ottawa County Clerk's website. Once at the link, click on Precinct Delegate under Office Deadlines & Requirements 2024.
There are also opportunities to be elevated to the level of a Precinct Delegate at future County Conventions, where there are vacancies. Please check back here prior to the next County Convention for more information and vacancy information.
Additional information about Precinct Delegate Qualifications can be found here
Role of a Precinct Delegate:
The role of a precinct delegate is to be a liaison between their neighbors and the Republican Party and is responsible with helping turn out the Republican vote on Election Day. You will be asked to help register people to vote, distribute literature, identify Republican supporters and ensure they vote on Election Day.
You are also a delegate to the County Convention's called during your two year term. Depending on the cycle, this can be 3 or 4 conventions. Each convention has a different purpose which will be detailed when the convention is called. Conventions take place in Ottawa County in the evening and notices are sent to delegates detailing the time and location. These notices, or "Call to Convention", are sent out via first-class mail roughly 30 days prior to the convention and as well as by email.
County Conventions are where delegates have the opportunity to vote on things at the County level, such as county party leadership and nominations of delegates to State Convention etc.
State Conventions are where nominated delegates have the opportunity to vote on State level activities, State party leadership, nominations for Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Board of Education, Electoral College representation etc.
While every election and delegate differ, delegates should plan on attending conventions and spending roughly 2 hours a week helping Republican Candidates up and down the ballot. If everyone who files does this, we will WIN THE DAY!
Information about Precinct Delegates at State Conventions
Questions?
Email [email protected] or call 616-396-3791
Important Disclaimer: We have been asked in the rare but sometimes case of what happens when a precinct delegate does something inappropriate or veers away from the OCRP Accountability Resolution Platform. We've been asked questions such as, "Why is this person still a delegate?" and "Why don't you just remove them from your organization?!" *We agree that is not okay when a "Republican" precinct delegate chooses to no longer align with the Party's platform, that they should be admonished one way or another, through the tools of censure or condemnation of language or behavior. Discipline varies, depending on the delegate and the delegate's actual behavior. In these cases, our Accountability Subcommittee will investigate and may, depending on their findings, recommend the delegate for removal. HOWEVER and this is a very important point: ***The OCRP can only remove a delegate as a member of the OCRP, Inc., but the OCRP, Inc does not have the power to remove a delegate from the elected position of being precinct delegate. This is because the delegate is elected by the voters in their precinct. No citizen or organization has the power to remove a sitting elected. The OCRP, Inc can choose to no longer affiliate with the delegate and prevent them from attending all other events outside of conventions, etc., but cannot prevent them from being credentialed at convention since they are elected. The OCRP, Inc., is required to abide the law and our Bylaws.
***If the Public wishes to see the actual removal of a precinct delegate, their options are to either 1.) start a recall effort or 2.) lead an effort to have the delegate primaried in the next upcoming election cycle.