The State Central Committee directs legislative district organizations to begin meeting within their new geographic boundaries from the redistricting commission within 30 days of adoption of the redistricting plan by the legislature. This means that either your January or your February legislative district (LD) meeting will be the first to correspond to the new LD boundaries. This meeting will be convened by leadership the LD had prior to redistricting, and shall be conducted according to the by‐laws of the “Old Legislative District” (OLD). This “New Legislative District” (NLD) can decide to elect new leaders, under the provisions of its by‐laws; and it can choose to amend its by‐laws.
Washington State Democrats – Preparing for 2012 – The Caucus and Convention Cycle
Precinct caucuses will be held on Sunday, April 15th
Precincts present a unique challenge, since re‐districting will split many precincts as it creates equally populated LD’s. Because the Auditors will not be re‐establishing new precinct boundaries in many cases until after our caucuses, we will utilize old precinct boundaries, in existence as of November 8, 2011. The Auditors tell us they will know what LD a voter lives in right away; but not what (new) precinct they live in.
Many of these old precincts will straddle NLD boundaries. The chairs of adjoining LD’s shall meet to assign these split precincts to one LD or the other, for purposes of organizing the precinct caucuses.
Some of the delegates chosen from a split precinct could live in different LD’s. They will move on to caucus with the NLD in which they live, just as the delegates emerging from an LD caucus go on to caucus with the CD in which they live.
Congressional district caucuses will be held on Sunday, May 20th at times set by the State Chair. They will be organized using the new congressional district boundaries established by redistricting. Using the ten new congressional districts to elect delegates to the National Convention rather than the nine old districts still requires the final approval of the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC).
We expect to hear from the RBC regarding this decision in December. If the RBC does not agree with this change to the current DSAAP then congressional district caucuses will be organized using the nine old congressional districts.
Also, anyone who is, or will turn, 18 before the 2012 general election (November 6, 2012) is eligible to participate in the caucuses.
Caucus Dates:
Precinct Caucuses – Sunday, April 15 – 1 PM
LD Caucus – Saturday, April 28 – 10 AM
County Convention – Sunday, April 29 – 10 AM
CD Caucus – Sunday, May 20
State Convention – Saturday and Sunday, June 2 and 3 in Seattle