Professional Documents
Culture Documents
And Be
A Committeeperson
A Guide to Getting Started
This information provided by Americans for Democratic Action,
Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter
Grassroots Leadership Starts with Committeepersons.
The committeeperson is a vital foundation of the democratic process, on the front lines of
voter participation. And while it takes time and energy to be an effective committeeperson,
the role provides great opportunity for you to meet your neighbors, engage them in the
political process, and learn how to bring government closer to the people.
We hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity and do your part to ensure that
people of high integrity and wide experience are elected to represent us in local office.
What is a Committeeperson?
The committeeperson is the base of the local party political pyramid. Committeepersons
elect the ward leader, who serves on the party City Committee, which in turn endorses
candidates for local office and distributes funds to endorsed candidates. If you want to get
into local politics on the ground floor, serving as a committeeperson is the ideal role and, in
many cases, a stepping stone to local elected or appointed office.
In each voting division in the City, the voters in their party elect two Democrats and two
Republicans every four years. Committeepersons are elected by their neighbors. They
serve without pay as the link between the voters and their party.
All the committeepersons in a ward meet three weeks after they are elected and elect a
ward leader and other ward officers.
The voting divisions in Philadelphia are grouped into 66 wards (several large wards have A
& B sections). The ward leaders form the governing body of the city's Democratic Party
and elect the Chairperson of the Democratic City Committee. The ward leaders have the
important role of endorsing candidates for city offices.
Committeepersons reflect the needs of their neighborhoods and take these concerns to the
ward leader. Through the ward leader, who sits on democratic City Committee, the
community and the committeepersons have an impact on their party, its candidates and
policies.
One of the committeeperson's most important roles is to recommend candidates to voters.
This is important for low profile offices where voters have very little information about the
candidates and in party primaries when there are many candidates running. The
committeeperson should not simply rely on the decision of ward leaders, but should make
independent and informed recommendations.
This task is a responsibility a committeeperson should take seriously. As a
committeeperson, you will be surprised how much of an influence your recommendations
can have once voters in your division know you.
In most ward, candidates attend ward meetings where committeepersons can meet them
and ask questions on issues of importance. Additionally, independent organization such as
Americans for Democratic Action interview candidates and make their own endorsements.
This information can be important in helping committeepersons make recommendations
and in informing voters about a candidate's qualifications.
The committeeperson is the voter's guide to the election process.
• The committeeperson makes sure everyone eligible in the division if properly
registered to vote.
• A committeeperson talks to voters before each election and gives them information
on the candidates who will be on the ballot. Many committeepersons give out
newsletters to their constituents with this information’s.
• The committeeperson may have to help voters get to the polls on Election Day and
explain the voting process.
The committeeperson is the citizen's guide to government services.
• Government services are available to citizens without any political help. Frequently,
however, people don't know where to go to get things done and turn to their
committeeperson for assistance. Sometimes the committeeperson will have the
ward leader help resolve a constituent's problem.
How to Become A Committeeperson
You can run for election as a committeeperson or fill vacancy in your division by being
appointed by the remaining committeeperson. Committeepersons are elected every fours
years (2006, 2010, 2014).
The Street List
This is a tool you must have! It lists all the voters in a division, by street, house number and
political party. Get one from the City Commissioners Office (215 686‐3460) or at the
Registration Division, 520 N. Delaware Ave., 5th Floor (Delaware & Spring Garden Street).
The Petition
To be elected, your name must appear on the ballot. To get your name on the ballot you
must file a petition 10 weeks before the election with the City Commissioners. (Write‐ins
are also permissible but not as easy to do.)
Petition are available in Room 142 City Hall. Once you get your petition, print your name,
address, occupation, etc. on the top in ink.
The petition for committeeperson must have the signatures of at least ten registered
Democrats in your division. To be safe, you should get 20 to 25 signatures. Voters may
sign petitions for only two committeepersons, as that is the number to be elected. Ask
whether they have signed any other petitions before having them sign yours.
When you ask your neighbor to sign your petition, be sure the person signs exactly as
his/her name appears on the street list ‐ otherwise the signature may not count. If "Maria
Williams" is the name on the street list, she may not write "Mrs. Charles Williams" or "M.
Williams."
All signatures must be in ink. No ditto marks are permitted. The person signing should fill
in all the information asked. If unemployed or retired this should be written where it says
occupation. No one may sign for someone else ‐ husbands may not sign for wives or
mothers for children. No Exceptions!
If you are running with a partner, you may each take petitions around and get signatures
for each other. You should sign your own petition.
After getting the signatures and in the presence of a notary public, you must sign the
petition on the rear of the form. The notary must then notarize your signature.
Once your petition is complete, you should make at least one copy for your personal
records and file the original in Room 142 in City Hall. Be sure to get a written receipt
acknowledging delivery and acceptance of your petition.
Getting Started
Look over the street list and see if any of your friends or relatives are registered Democrats
who reside in your division. If so, contact them and ask them to sign your petition. If
possible, determine whether they know other registered Democrats in your division and
have them introduce you to those persons.
The best time to canvass voters is early evening or on weekends. If you are running with a
partner, you may find it easier to go together, but if you do it separately, you can cover
more of the division. Always try to get signatures on petitions for each other or at least tell
the voters about your partner.
If you cannot get into apartment buildings, check the street list for Democratic voters and
try to phone them or drop them a note.
No one is going to vote for you if they don't know who you are!
Always take voter registration forms along when you canvass and ask if anyone needs to
register to vote. Try to register them right then and there.
Talking to Voters
When canvassing, relax. Be direct. Most of all, smile.
"Hello, Mrs. Smith? I'm Jay Jones. I live around the corner and I'm running for
committeeperson in our voting division. Do you have a minutes?"
If the voter says no, don't force the issue. Leave her your name and number (specially
made business cards are good to have). Tell her you would be glad to help with any
neighborhood problems and politely say goodbye.
If the voter will talk to you, tell her briefly why you are running. Give her a chance to ask
questions. Ask her to sign your petition, explaining that by signing she is only helping to
get your name on the ballot ‐ signing does not commit her to anything, including voting for
you.
If the voter seems interested, see if she will talk to her neighbors about you. Show the
street list and see if she knows others who may sign your petition.
Make sure to keep notes about those you have spoken to. If they want help with a problem,
write down the information and get back to them. If they are willing to help you, get their
phone and email. You should note everyone you see on your street list and keep a list of all
those who sign your petition as they are probable supporters.
Campaigning for Yourself and Other Candidates
To be an effective committee person you need to go door to door and talk to and listen to
voters. Many current committee people never take the time to do this. By meeting people,
you will improve voter turnout and ensure your election.
Always try to get some helpers, especially for Election Day. These people can help at the
polls and assist in getting out voters. Make sure to tell people how to contact you by phone
and email in case they have questions or concerns.
Six or seven weeks before each election you should walk around your division and register
new voters. If voters will be out of town, ask them to apply for an absentee ballot. Voter
registration and absentee ballot forms are available from the City Commissioners' Office in
City Hall.
Remember that registration closes four weeks before the election.
During the two weeks before the election, you should walk around your division and give
voters literature on the candidates you are supporting. A newsletter of one to two pages
from you explaining your recommendations and reminding people when and where to vote
is very helpful to voters. Again, your one‐on‐one contact will increase voter turnout and
trust between you and the voters.
If you are running for committeeperson, you must use the weekends and week before the
election to talk to the voters. Introduce yourself, leave them information with your name
and number and tell them why it is important to vote for you on Election Day.
If you are running for committee person in a contested race, the last weekend is crucial.
You should see everyone you think will vote for you ‐ you should mark them on your street
list so that on election day you can make sure they come to vote. If you can't reach people
in person, try to make phone or email contact or leave literature in their mailbox.
Election Day
The polls open at 7:00 AM and close at 8:00 PM. Anyone in line at 8:00 PM is legally
entitled to vote.
Committeepersons should be at the polls at 6:30 AM to make sure that nothing goes wrong
as the machines are set up.
Your main job on Election Day is to hand out sample ballots at the polls and to get people
out to vote.
Committeepersons are vital to the smooth operation of polling places. They find election
officers to serve on the election board (see below).
Candidates are each allowed two poll‐watcher certificates, which allow them and a helper
to be inside the polls before they open and after they close to watch the counting of votes.
Only one watcher at a time per candidate or party may be inside once the polls are open.
Poll watcher certificates are a poll watcher's ticket to get inside the polling place. You can
get a certificate through the office of a candidate you are supporting and each candidate for
committeeperson is entitled to two certificates. If you have a partner, your partner is also
entitled to two. Once elected, committeepersons are usually given certificates by the ward
leader.
Committeepersons and helpers should be outside the polls all day. Be sure approach each
voter in a friendly way. Give them your sample ballot and offer to show them how to vote
for you or your candidates using the large pink sample ballot posted outside the polling
place.
New voters may want to know how to use the voting machine and you can explain that also
using the pink ballot. All first time voters in a division must show identification such as a
current driver's license, student or work ID, voter ID, utility bill, pay check, etc.
Be Careful ‐ it is illegal for anyone to campaign within 10 feet of the entrance to the polling
place, or inside the poll itself. Voters may take sample ballots into the polls and may wear
campaign buttons or t‐shirts inside. Poll workers may not.
Using the street list, try to keep track of those who have voted. You or your partner may go
inside to check names off your street list as people vote. At 5:30 PM, you and your helpers
can start going around the division and bring out your supporters who have not yet voted.
These are the voters you must get to vote before 8:00 PM.
If you know someone who needs help (a ride, babysitter, etc.) getting to the polling place,
try to arrange this between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM when the polls are least busy.
The prime voting times are 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM. You should
always have someone outside the poll with sample ballots at those times.
Inside the Polling Place
The Election Board consists of three elected official inside each polling place plus one or
two who are appointed. All are employees of the government for the day. The three
elected officials are elected from the division to serve a four‐year term.
The Election Board includes:
Judge of Elections ‐ Supervises the polling place and is responsible for insuring an honest
election.
Majority Inspector ‐ A member of the majority party who helps check in voters as they
sign in.
Minority Inspector ‐ A member of the minority party who helps check in voters as they
sign in.
Clerk ‐ Appointed by the Minority Inspector and also helps sign in voters.
Machine Inspector ‐ Appointed by the City Commissioners who helps with the machines.
Poll watchers are not officials of the polling place. Poll watchers are usually supporters of
one candidate or another or are from each party. They are allowed inside the poll to make
sure that there is no illegal voting.
Voter Registration
Anyone can register who:
• Is a US citizen;
• Will be 18 years old on or before the next election; and
• Will have lived at their current address for 30 days by the next election.
Who should register?
• Anyone who has moved from one address to another.
• Anyone who has changed their name.
• Anyone whose name is not on the street list.
• Anyone who wishes to change their party affiliation.
Remember that in Pennsylvania voters cannot vote for candidates in a Primary Election
unless they are registered in the corresponding party. Voters can vote for candidates in
any party in a General Election. Since Democratic candidates usually win in Philadelphia,
being able to vote in the Democratic Primary helps maximize a voter's ability to choose her
elected officials.
Registration closes 30 days before each election. This allows registration officials the time
to prepare the binders for the election and produce new street lists. Registration begins
again two weeks after the election.
Registration forms must be received by the County Board of Election (In Philadelphia, the
City Commissioners) on or before the last day to register. If the time for registration is
coming to a close, do not mail in the forms. Take them to the Commissioners' Office in City
Hall.
Any Philadelphian can register in person on the first floor of City Hall or they may mail in a
registration form.
All boxes must be filled in with a pen. Voters must give either their driver's license or the
last four digits of their Social Security number.