Call to Caucus

The Surry County Democratic Committee, herein referred to as SCDC, will hold an assembled caucus on
Saturday, January 6, 2024, from10:00 AM – 11:00 AM at the Surry County Ruritan Club, 2144 Colonial
Trail W, Dendron, VA for the purpose of electing the new membership of SCDC pursuant to the Democratic Party of Virginia Party Plan.

I. Candidate Filing for Committee Membership:

Each person seeking to become a member of the SCDC shall:

  1. Complete and return the Membership Filing Form to the SCDC current chair, Earett Parson by the starting time of the caucus.
  2.  Membership Filing Forms can be mailed to the SCDC at P. O. Box 275. Surry, VA  23883, and should be directed to Tracey Howell, Secretary.  
  3. All mailed forms must be received by January 5, 2024.
  4. All hand delivered forms must be received by 9:55 on the day of the caucus at the location of the caucus as stated above.  
  5. Only those candidates who have timely and properly filed the Pre-Filing form will have their names placed in contention.
  6. Additionally, candidates may file through the online form at http://tinyurl.com/SCDCCandidateApplication.
  7. Electronic applications must be submitted 24 hours prior to the caucus.  

       Annual voluntary dues are $25.00.  Persons who wish to have dues waived should contact the SCDC        @ scdcforsurrycounty@gmail.com. 
  No person shall be denied the right to participate in the caucus for lack of dues payment.

II. Qualification of Candidates for SCDC Membership:

The Membership Pre-Filing Form, which all candidates for membership must sign, will include the following written declaration:

I declare myself to be a candidate for membership on the Surry County Democratic Committee. I also declare that I believe in the principles of the Democratic Party and that I will not support any candidate opposed to any Democratic nominee as long as I am a member of the Committee.

III. Notice:

The Surry County Democratic Committee shall provide notice of this caucus by placement of a general notice of the filing deadline and the caucus, including noticing the caucus date, time, and location, along with the Call to Caucus, on the Democratic Party of Virginia, the Surry County  Democratic Committee website and social media platforms; by email notification to Democrats who reside in Surry County; and through other reasonable means that will disseminate information about the caucus to registered voters in the County of Surry. In addition, reasonable actions shall be taken to promote participation in the caucus in accordance with the Affirmative Action provisions of the Party Plan of the DPVA.

V. Membership Allocation

Currently, the SCDC does not have a maximum membership threshold. All persons who desire to be a member the SCDC and complete the required form(s) are eligible to become members.  Members are classified as Voting or Associate. 

Voting Membership shall be limited to those persons signing that they are registered to vote in Surry County, that they are Democrats, that they believe in the principles of the Democratic Party, that they will attend monthly SCDC meetings, and that they will do all within their power to aid in the victory of Democratic Party nominees in all local, state and national elections.

Associate Membership is open to any individual pledging to support the principles of the Democratic Committee including voter registration, getting out the vote, and supporting Democratic candidates, campaigns, and processes. Residence in the locality or registration to vote in the locality is not required.

VI. Participation

Every Democrat who is a registered voter in Surry County is urged to attend and participate. If an individual does not appear on the Registered Voter List, they will not be allowed to participate. Participants will also be required to sign a Caucus Participation Form stating that they:

  1. Are a Democrat.
  2. Are a registered voter within the County (Voting Members Only)
  3. Believe in the principles of the Democratic Party; and
  4. Does not intend to support any candidates opposed to a Democratic nominee in the next ensuing election.

VII. Conduct of the Caucus

The doors to the caucus will open at 9:00 AM and close at 10:00 AM (one hour). Upon the closing of the doors, only those participants who have registered or are in line to register at 9:55 will be permitted to participate.

VIII. Determination of Winners

In the event that only one person files for a position, that person shall be declared the winner and the election for that specific position shall be canceled.

If more individuals file than there are positions available, the candidates will be listed alphabetically on the ballot and will be elected by a plurality of the votes at the assembled caucus.

Vacancies may be filled by the new committee at the first meeting following the election of Officers.

VIII. Affirmative Action

It shall be the duty and goal of all members of the Surry County Democratic Committee to seek out and encourage the broadest possible participation within the committee, and in its membership, of all duly qualified citizens without regard to race, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic identity, disability, or economic status.

IX. Officer Elections

Immediately following the adjournment of the assembled caucus, the newly formed SCDC will meet for the sole purpose of electing the officers of the committee. Please complete the Officer Filing Form is You Wish to Run for an Office.

Authorized by Surry County, Virginia Democratic Committee

P. O. Box 275
Surry, VA  23883

www.surrycountydemocrats.org

scdcforsurrycounty@gmail.com

Click on the link for a Membership Filing Form – http://tinyurl.com/SCDCMembershipFORM2
Click on this link for the Officer Candidate Form – http://tinyurl.com/SCDC-Officer-Candidate-Form