How To Become A Committee
Person
UPDATE:
Now that the May 19th Election is over, registered Republican voters can
contact their Republican Ward Leader and request to be "APPONTED" to
fill any vacancies for Republican Committee Persons, which we encourage
Republicans to do. SEE
"APPOINTMENTS" BELOW
Join the Battle for a Better Philadelphia!
The Foundation Of Political Parties
The Committee
Person is the foundation of any political party.
Think about the American Revolution's
"Minute Men". They constituted a vital network upon which our
Revolution's leaders depended for their eventual success. The same
fundamentals are at work today. A robust committee person network is
invaluable to the success of any party. And that's why Committee
Persons are extremely important.
Philadelphia is divided into 66
wards, each of which is divided into from 11 to 51 divisions – 1,703
in all. Each Division can have 2 committee-people for each party. Committee
Persons are elected every four years in the Primary Election only, there
is no General Election for Committee Persons because it is an in-party
election, not between the political parties. (See
Rotation Calendar of Elective Offices)
So, the Committee Person election in the Primary election IS also their
General Election. A fact that is part of the current legal
battle.
What is the role of a GOP
Committee Person?
- See:
The Committee Person Handbook. However, the role is what you make
of it...
- Committee
Persons vote for their Ward leader, who then votes for the Party
Chair, who represents the Party to the Public!
- Help collect
signatures on petitions for candidates running for office, which is
extremely important for candidates for higher office who may need
hundreds or thousands of signatures.
- Help get out
the vote for Election Day
- Work the polls
on Election Day
- Report any
errors on the Voters Street List to do with people who have moved,
died, changed parties, etc..
- Attend monthly
meetings, usually zoom. (Although many GOP Wards do not hold monthly
meetings... in violation of their bylaws). Or you can always join our
MEETUP
and attend our monthly zoom and in-person meetings!
- Keep your Division informed about local political issues
- Or get more politically engaged by working
with us > Philly's Republican Network!
How Do I
Become A
Committee Person?
-
Find your Ward
& Division
-
Find Your Ward
Leader or contact PhillyGOP.
You don't need
anyone's permission or the Ward Leader's endorsement to run for
Committee Person, but their support can be very helpful and make the difference in the election.
-
Obtain a petition
from the
City Commissioners'
Office (or
Download a
Petition)
-
Get a street list from your Ward Leader or
City Commissioners'
Office, so that you know which voters are Republicans in their
Division
-
Collect at
least 10 signatures of Republican voters in their Division to get
on the ballot for the primary election in the spring, but be aware that
signatures can be challenged by others, so be sure those Republicans
who sign your petition are on the Street List.
-
Abide by
the
Deadlines for Candidates.
-
Write-Ins:
You can skip the "petition process" and simply "write-in" your name
on Primary Election day (and ask your supporters
in their divisions do
the same). Again, try to get at least 10 write-ins. Those who get the
most votes over ten (under today's legal ruling) will win the
election. It's a riskier strategy, but it's an option.
-
Appointments: This in
another option, that for any time during the 4-year term, the Party
Chair or Ward Leaders can appoint Committee Persons to fill Division
vacancies. That said, they can also easily remove Committee Persons,
because they were not elected.
How
Do I Recruit More Republican Committee People or Volunteers In My Ward?
-
Get a street list from your
Ward
Leaders
or
City Commissioners'
Office, so that you know which voters are Republicans in your Ward.
-
Contact the
Republicans in your Ward by either by Letter
using USPS or dropping it off at their door, at which time you can
also speak with them.
-
In the
Letter offer to email a PDF street list to
any Republican in your Ward who wants to know who their Republican
neighbors are in their Division.
GOOD
LUCK! E-MAIL US IF YOU NEED HELP
OR WANT TO JOIN OUR EFFORTS!
HELPFUL LINKS:
