Become a Precinct Delegate

Become a Precinct Delegate

There are over 200 precincts in Kent County and Kent Dems wants at least one Democrat Precinct Delegate on the ballot in every one of them.  Every election begins at the precinct. If you want to win the election, you’ve got to win the precincts.

What’s the difference between a Precinct Delegate and a Precinct Captain?

  • Precinct Delegate is an elected office created by state law.
  • Precinct Captains are a type of volunteer within the Kent Dems.

Kent Dems encourages Precinct Delegates and Precinct Captains to do many of the same things:

  • Get to know the voters, community leaders, and community organizations (eg. neighborhood association) in your precinct. Convey their issues and concerns to the party.
  • Promote KCDP activities that may be of interest to voters in your precinct.
  • Help to organize and get out the vote in your precinct.

Precinct Delegates are also allowed same-day MDP registration at conventions and play an important role in raising the visibility of the party by appearing on the ballot.

Captains and delegates combined make up the heart of KCDP’s grass roots.

Depending on population, some precincts can elect two or three Democratic precinct delegates. We need to register more than 500 precinct delegates by the May 5 deadline so we can have the maximum number of Democratic delegates – and maximum presence – on the ballot in every precinct in Kent County.

Signing up to run as a delegate is easy. There’s a one page form to fill out, have notarized, and turn into the county clerk’s office. There are at least three ways to sign up:

 1. Download the form from the county clerk here. Complete it and have it notarized (make sure the notary witnesses your signature) and send it to the county clerk’s office via mail at:

Kent County Clerk
Elections
300 Monroe Ave NW
County Administration Building
Grand Rapids MI 49503-2288

You can also scan the completed and notarized form and email it to clerk-register@kentcountymi.gov

The county clerk’s office can be a stickler for detail so please follow the completion instructions.

 2. Every Tuesday and Friday afternoons from 1-3 PM until the filing deadline, Joel Ombry or Scott Stensaas will be at the Kent Dems HQ to assist in completing and notarizing the form. We’ll even get to the clerk’s office for you.

 3. You can also sign up to be a precinct delegate at any monthly Kent Dems meeting until the filing deadline.

Wondering Exactly What is a Precinct?

A precinct is the basic unit of voters. Your precinct determines your polling place. Everyone who votes at your polling place lives in your precinct. You can find your precinct number and polling place on your voter registration card or online here.

Delegate or captain—your precinct needs you.