Good Morning Tongass Democrats and Friends,
We hope you are practicing good hygiene and social distancing during these confusing and unprecedented times. Lets continue to flatten the curve, check on friends and neighbors, and make sure our mental health doesn’t get forgotten. With these new challenges comes new processes – we’re still working our State convention but here are a couple of changes you should be aware of. Please read through and let us know if you have any questions!
We have a lot of new information this month:
- Changes in the Alaska Presidential Primary Process (mail-in ballots due April 10)
- Virtual Democratic Caucuses for House Districts 33, 34, 35, 36 (April 18, 4 to 6pm)
- National Convention (July 13-16) Delegate Nomination
- Sign-at-Home Recall Dunleavy Petition
Changes in the Presidential Primary Process
In light of the continued spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Alaska Democratic Party has recently made changes to the primary voting process. There will be no in-person voting and the vote-by-mail has been extended and expanded using a downloadable ballot. Here’s a link to the instructions. Just be sure to read them carefully, double-check your registration and follow the directions and you should be good to go!
If you have already received your ballot, you can still mail it, even though it says the deadline was March 24. All mail-in ballots will be counted as long as they arrive in the Anchorage post office box by April 10, it will count!
The ballots have already been printed, so names for candidates that have suspended their campaigns or have withdrawn from the election will still appear on our ballots. Ranked Choice Voting (link will open a PDF) provides us with an opportunity to address this issue without disenfranchising voters. Campaigns and candidates that have notified us in writing that they wish to have their names withdrawn will have their requests honored in the tabulation of votes. Votes cast on Alaskan ballots for candidates that have withdrawn or suspended their campaigns will be considered votes for nonviable candidates. In this case, the voter’s next preference will be counted, until a valid vote is cast or the ballot is exhausted.
Withdrawn from Alaska Primary Ballot: Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Tom Steyer, Michael Bloomberg
2020 House District Caucuses (April 18) Are Now Virtual!
Our four-year House District Caucuses are going virtual this year. At these caucuses we usually discuss district-specific issues, make suggestions for the state party plan and platform, and elect district officers and delegates to the Alaska Democratic State Convention (May 15-16). This year, due to the number of virtual District meetings, we will limit the caucuses to election of district officers and delegates to the state convention.
The times for the virtual meetings are:
District 33: 4 to 6pm
District 34: 4 to 6pm
District 35: 4 to 6pm
District 36: 4 to 6pm
Please sign up in advance to attend your virtual House District here! In the form, you will be asked what your House District is. If you don’t know your House District, you can look it up by entering your address on the webpage. Look for this in the lower right corner.
After you enter your address, your house district will be that listed under your House Representative.
After you click Who Represents Me, you’ll get a result like this.
You can also choose to run for district offices when registering for the caucus: Chair, Vice-Chair, State Central Committee Member, Young Democrat (35 or under), Secretary, Treasurer or Delegate to the State Convention (May 15-16). You must be a delegate to the State Convention to qualify to be a delegate to the National Convention.
You must be registered as a Democrat to vote in the caucuses or to be a district officer. You can change your voter registration here or fill out a hardcopy of the voter registration form at the caucus.
Apply to Be an Alaska Delegate to the 2020 Democratic National Convention (New Date: Begins August 17)!
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 28: Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and US Vice President nominee Tim Kaine stand with their families at the end of the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 28, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton received the number of votes needed to secure the party’s nomination. An estimated 50,000 people are expected in Philadelphia, including hundreds of protesters and members of the media. The four-day Democratic National Convention kicked off July 25. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
If you are interested in a particular Democratic presidential candidate, complete the form on the left side of the webpage to pledge your support to a Democratic candidate and attend the National Convention. You must be a delegate to the State Convention to qualify to be a delegate to the National Convention. (See above)
The Alaska Democratic Party must receive pledge forms no later than 5 PM on Monday, April 30th.
By filling out the form and submitting, you will certify that you are a registered voter in the Democratic Party residing at the address provided, and declare candidacy for Delegate/Alternate pledged to the presidential candidate selected.
Time to Recall Dunleavy
All registered Alaska voters may now request a personal household Recall petition booklet by mail.
Effective immediately, Recall Dunleavy will move to a SIGN AT HOME method of signature collection for safety and convenience! If you have already signed this winter, please share this link with family. Remember, everyone must sign again this winter even if they signed last fall in Phase 1.
Recall Dunleavy at Home Please help us organize progressives in the Southeast Alaska during these critical political times.
With the added expense of running a Presidential Primary and helping local progressive candidates, your financial help in needed.
Your contribution goes to communications, supplies, rentals, and local Democratic candidates.
We hope you can join us, and if you can’t, think about becoming a monthly donor! https://secure.actblue.com/donate/tongassdems
Thanks for all your support,
Edric Carrillo
Chair, Tongass Democrats
House Districts 33 & 34/Senate District Q
Tongassdemocrats@gmail.com
