DRAFT – 2020 Presidential Delegate
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DRAFT Montana Delegate Selection Plan For the 2020 Democratic National Convention Issued by the Montana Democratic Party March 2019 Page 1 The Montana Delegate Selection Plan For the 2020 Democratic National Convention Table of Contents I. Introduction & Description of Delegate Selection Process ................................................................... 3 A. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 3 B. Description of Delegate Selection Process ....................................................................................... 3 C. Voter Participation ............................................................................................................................ 4 II. Presidential Candidates ........................................................................................................................ 5 A. Ballot Access .................................................................................................................................... 5 III. Selection of Delegates and Alternates ................................................................................................. 6 A. District-Level Delegates ................................................................................................................... 6 B. Automatic Delegates........................................................................................................................ 11 C. Pledged Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO) Delegates ...................................................... 12 D. At-Large Delegates and Alternates ................................................................................................. 13 E. Replacement of Delegates and Alternates ...................................................................................... 15 IV. Convention Standing Committee Members ...................................................................................... 18 A. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 18 B. Standing Committee Members ....................................................................................................... 18 V. The Delegation .................................................................................................................................... 20 A. Delegation Chair and Pages. ......................................................................................................... 20 B. Delegation Chair............................................................................................................................. 20 C. Convention Pages ........................................................................................................................... 20 VI. General Provisions and Procedural Guarantees ................................................................................ 22 VII. Affirmative Action, Outreach and Inclusion Plan ........................................................................... 24 A. Statement of Purpose and Organization ......................................................................................... 24 B. Efforts to Educate on the Delegate Selection Process .................................................................... 25 C. Efforts to Publicize the Delegate Selection Process ....................................................................... 26 D. Representation Goals ..................................................................................................................... 27 E. Obligations of Presidential Candidates to Maximize Participation ................................................ 28 F. Inclusion Programs.......................................................................................................................... 28 VIII. Challenges ...................................................................................................................................... 29 A. Jurisdiction & Standing .................................................................................................................. 29 B. Challenges to the Status of the State Party and Challenges to the Plan ......................................... 29 C. Challenges to Implementation ........................................................................................................ 30 IX. Summary of Plan .............................................................................................................................. 31 A. Selection of Delegates and Alternates ............................................................................................ 31 B. Selection of Standing Committee Members (For the Credentials, Platform, Rules Committees) . 32 C. Selection of Delegation Chair and Convention Pages .................................................................... 32 D. Presidential Candidate Filing Deadline .......................................................................................... 33 E. Timetable ........................................................................................................................................ 33 Exhibits to the Affirmative Action Plan .................................................................................................. 35 A. Members of the Affirmative Action Committee ............................................................................ 35 B. Media Outlets to be Contacted Regarding the Delegate Selection Process ................................... 35 Page 2 Section I Introduction & Description of Delegate Selection Process A. Introduction 1. Montana has a total of 22 delegates and 2 alternates. (Call I & Appendix B) 2. The delegate selection process is governed by the Charter and Bylaws of the Democratic Party of the United States, the Delegate Selection Rules for the 2020 Democratic National Convention (“Rules”), the Call for the 2020 Democratic National Convention (“Call”), the Regulations of the Rules and Bylaws Committee for the 2020 Democratic National Convention (“Regs.”), the rules of the Democratic Party of Montana, the Montana election code, and this Delegate Selection Plan. (Call II.A) 3. Following the adoption of this Delegate Selection Plan by the State Party Committee, it shall be submitted for review and approval by the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee (“RBC”). The State Party Chair shall be empowered to make any technical revisions to this document as required by the RBC to correct any omissions and/or deficiencies as found by the RBC to ensure its full compliance with Party Rules. Such corrections shall be made by the State Party Chair and the Plan resubmitted to the RBC within 30 days of receipt of notice of the RBC’s findings. (Regs. 2.5, 2.6 & 2.7) 4. Once this Plan has been found in Compliance by the RBC, any amendment to the Plan by the State Party will be submitted to and approved by the RBC before it becomes effective. (Reg. 2.9) B. Description of Delegate Selection Process 1. Montana will use a proportional representation system based on the results of the primary for apportioning delegates to the 2020 Democratic National Convention. The two Montana Democratic Party Executive Board districts described in the Rules of the Montana Democratic Party (Preamble, Section B5) will be recognized as the districts used for delegate selection, and delegates will be allocated accordingly. Western District: Beaverhead, Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Flathead, Glacier, Granite, Jefferson, Lake, Lewis & Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Mineral, Missoula, Pondera, Powell, Ravalli, Sanders and Silver Bow Counties Eastern District: Big Horn, Blaine, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Gallatin, Garfield, Golden Valley, Hill, Judith Basin, Liberty, McCone, Meagher, Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux and Yellowstone Counties 2. The “first determining step” of Montana’s delegate selection process will occur on June 2nd, 2020 with a primary election. This election coincides with the South Dakota, New Mexico and New Jersey primaries. C. Voter Participation Page 3 1. Participation in Montana delegate selection process is open to all voters who wish to participate as Democrats. a. Currently, Montana law allows that regular registration closes 30 days before any election. Late registration begins the next day, and ends at the close of polls on Election Day (except from noon until 5:00 P.M. on the day before Election Day). Late registration can only be done at the county election administrator’s office. b. At no stage of the Montana delegate selection process shall any person be required, directly or indirectly, to pay a cost or fee as a condition for participating. Voluntary contributions to the Party may be made, but under no circumstances shall a contribution be mandatory for participation. (Rule 2.D & Reg. 4.4) c. An individual participating in the Delegate selection process will publicly declare their party Preference by filing a Democratic Affirmation Statement with the county chairperson of the county in which they are registered to vote. d. No person shall participate or vote in the nominating process for the Democratic presidential candidate who also participates