Senate District 31 Vacancy Committee FAQs

1. When and where is the Vacancy Committee Meeting taking place? What about parking?
The Vacancy Committee Meeting will be held Wednesday, May 20, 2009 at Morey Middle School, 14th Avenue and Clarkson Street, Denver, Colorado.  Registration begins at 6:00 pm.  The meeting will be called to order at 7:00 pm. There is plenty of parking on the entire south side of the school; enter the main lot from 13th street.
 
2. Who may attend the meeting?
The Vacancy Committee Meeting is open to the public per state law [CRS 1-12-203 (3) (a)]. However, anyone who is neither a candidate at the meeting nor eligible to vote at the meeting will be asked to sit or stand in the back of the room to facilitate voting.
 
3. Who is eligible to vote at the Meeting?
The Senate District 31 Vacancy Committee consists of the members of the Central Committee of Senate District 31 plus members of the Adams County and Denver County Central Committees who live in the district. The Senate District 31 Vacancy Committee list has been provided to the State Democratic Party and has been filed with the Secretary of State in accordance with state law [CRS 1-3-103 (7)]. This list constitutes the eligible voting membership at the meeting on May 20, 2009.
 
4. Who is eligible to run for the seat at the meeting?
To be eligible to run for the seat at the Vacancy Committee Meeting, a candidate must: 
       a.  Be at least 25 years old [Colorado Constitution Article V, Section 4]
       b.  Be a United States citizen [Colorado Constitution Article V, Section 4]
       c.  Have resided in Senate District 31 for at least 12 months prior to the Vacancy Committee Meeting [Colorado Constitution Article V, Section 4]
       d.  Be a registered Democrat at the time of the Vacancy Committee Meeting [CRS 1-12-203 (3) (a)]
 
5. If I want to run for the seat, what should I do?
Anyone wanting to run for the seat at the Vacancy Committee Meeting should notify the Chair of Senate District 31 in writing at CoSD31chair@gmail.com no later than noon on May 15, 2009 if they want their names to be pre-printed on the ballots to be used at the Vacancy Committee Meeting.
 
6. If I haven't notified the secretary beforehand, can I still run for the seat?
Yes.  Nominations may be made from the floor at the Vacancy Committee Meeting. Names of candidates nominated from the floor will have their names handwritten onto lines provided at the bottom of the pre-printed ballots by any members of the Vacancy Committee voting for them.
 
7. Will the candidates be allowed to address the Vacancy Committee members.
Yes.  A total of 4 minutes in the aggregate will be permitted for each candidate's nominating speeches and/or any statement by the candidate. Speaking order will be alphabetical by surname. Candidates may self-nominate or be nominated by another member of the Vacancy Committee. Seconding of the nomination is not required.  However, either the nominator or the seconder must be a member of the SD31 Vacancy Committee, and both must be registered Democrats.  Following the nominations of announced candidates, nominations from the floor will be entertained. Candidates who are nominated from the floor will speak in the order in which they were nominated after those candidates who have notified the secretary in advance have spoken.
8. How will members of the Vacancy Committee be credentialed for voting?
A credentials committee will supervise registration of members of the Vacancy Committee.  Committee members will be given credential tags to hang around their neck that will identify their eligibility to vote.  No one without an appropriate credential tag will be permitted to vote.  Members are encouraged to obtain their credentials before 7:00 pm so we may start the meeting on time.
 
9. How is a quorum established at the meeting?
At least 50% of the members of the Vacancy Committee must be present to constitute a quorum. [CRS 1-12-203 (3) (a)]
 
10. How will the election be conducted?
There may be several rounds of voting. The names of candidates on all ballots will be alphabetical, by surname. The balloting procedure will be as follows.
  1. In the first round of voting, electors will vote for only one candidate.
    a.       If a candidate receives the majority of votes, that person will be recognized as the winning candidate.
    b.       If no candidate receives the majority of votes, those four candidates who received the highest number of votes will enter the second round of voting.  In the event of a tie for fourth place, all candidates tied for fourth place will proceed to the second round of voting.
  1. In the second round of voting, electors will vote for only one candidate.
    a.       If a candidate receives the majority of votes, that person will be recognized as the winning candidate.
    b.       If no candidate receives the majority of votes, those two candidates who received the highest number of votes will enter the third round of balloting. In the event of a tie for second place, all candidates tied for second place will proceed to the third round of voting.
  1. In the third and any subsequent round of balloting, electors will vote for only one candidate.
    a.       The candidate who receives the majority of votes will be declared the next Senator from State Senate District 31
    b.       If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, those two candidates who received the highest number of votes will proceed to subsequent rounds of balloting. In the event of a tie for second place, all candidates tied for second place will proceed to subsequent rounds of balloting. Balloting rounds will continue in this manner until one candidate receives a majority of the vote.
11. How will the order of candidates’ names on the ballot be determined?
The order of candidates who have notified the Chair of the SD31 Central Committee of their intent to run by noon on May 15, 2009 will be alphabetical by surname. Candidates who are nominated from the floor will not be able to have their names pre-printed on the ballot, but their names may be handwritten on the lines provided at the bottom of the ballot by any members of the Vacancy Committee wishing to vote for them.  For subsequent ballots, candidates’ names will be printed in alphabetical order.
 
12. Will the voting be by secret ballot?
Secret ballots are not permitted. Members of the Vacancy Committee will vote by paper ballot and need not be observed by any other person while voting.  However, pursuant to State Party Rules (Part Four. Article II.A.), all members of the Vacancy Committee must print and sign their names on their ballots.  A valid ballot must contain both the printed name and signature of the voter. Ballots which are turned in withoutboth a printed name and a signature WILL NOT BE COUNTED. There will be space available on the ballot for the voter’s printed name and signature.
 
13. If a member of the Vacancy Committee cannot attend, may s/he vote by proxy?
No.  Proxy voting in elections to fill a vacancy in the General Assembly is disallowed by state law [CRS 1-12-203 (3) (a)].  If a member of the Vacancy Committee is unable to attend the meeting in person, s/he may not vote in the vacancy election.  No "instructed ballots" will be permitted.
 
14. How will a winner be determined?
The winner of the Vacancy Committee election will be the candidate who wins a simple majority of the votes cast, that is, more than 50% of the votes.  If a candidate wins a majority of the vote in the Second round of voting, subsequent rounds of voting will not be conducted and that candidate will be declared the winner. [CRS 1-12-203 (3) (a)] 
 
15. How will the ballots be counted?
The Executive Director of the Democratic Senate Campaign Fund and four DSCF members have volunteered to assist the Senate District 31 Chair in tabulating the ballots.  Ballots will be counted within view of the members of the Vacancy Committee.  Candidates, or observers on their behalf, may observe the tabulation of the ballots, but may be asked to stand a reasonable distance back from the tabulators so the tabulators may conduct their work.  Tabulators will need to talk with each other continuously during counts so observers are asked to watch quietly, to facilitate quick and accurate tabulation.  Candidates or observers will not be permitted to make any written notes while observing the tabulation.
 
16. Will candidates be permitted to campaign at the meeting?
Yes, candidates will be permitted to have ONE banner in the auditorium and handouts and fliers may be distributed at the meeting, subject to available space and other reasonable conditions determined by the Senate District 31 Chair.  Candidates or their representatives will be permitted to arrive at the meeting location at 5:30 PM to set up their materials.  At the end of the meeting, candidates will be responsible for removing their materials.
 
17. What will happen to the ballots after the election is over?
Ballots will be sealed and kept in a secure location by the Chair of SD31 Central Committee for 30 days, at which time they will be destroyed.