Call to County Convention for Committee Elections This May

The Yellowstone County Democrats Central Committee (YCDCC) will elect new board officers and precinct committee leaders at our next monthly meeting on May 21 at 6:00pm. These positions are all voting members of our County Committee. The convention also includes voting on updates to the bylaws.

You don’t have to be a voting member to run for any elected positions, but you do need to be a registered voter in Yellowstone County to run for a board position, and a registered voter within your precinct if running for a precinct committeeman or committeewoman position.

Click here to review the complete bylaws, including instructions on how the convention is conducted.

Board positions

Please see the primary duties of each DCDC Officer position below:

Duties of the Chairperson

1. serve as spokesperson for the Yellowstone County Democrats,
2. issue a call for the meetings and conventions, set the agendas, and preside at meetings and conventions of the YCDCC,
3. carry out duties and directions prescribed by the Montana Democratic Party,
4. carry out directions prescribed by the YCDCC, and
5. share custody of all records and documents of the YCDCC.

Duties of the Vice-Chairperson

1. carry out the duties of the chairperson in the temporary absence, fewer than one hundred twenty (120) days in succession, of the chairperson,
2. become the acting chairperson of the YCDCC in the absence, more than one hundred twenty (120) days in succession, of the chairperson,
3. carry out duties and directions prescribed by the Montana Democratic Party, (4) carry out directions prescribed by the YCDCC, and
4. share custody of all records and documents of the YCDCC.

Duties of the Secretary

1. keep minutes, including attendance, of the meetings of the executive board and the meetings and conventions of the YCDCC,
2. retain copies of the minutes of all meetings and conventions and make them available as necessary,
3. carry out directions prescribed by the YCDCC, and
4. share custody of all records and documents of the YCDCC.

Duties of the Treasurer

1. collect and have custody of the monies belonging to the YCDCC,
2. pay all charges billed to the YCDCC,
3. keep all appropriate financial records,
4. present a financial report at each scheduled meeting of the YCDCC,
5. provide a written two-year financial summary report at the county convention,
6. submit the financial records, on the first day of January each year, for financial review by an ad hoc committee appointed by the chairperson of the YCDCC,
7. assist the executive board in preparing a two-year budget for approval at the county convention,
8. furnish all reports on the appropriate dates to the Montana Commissioner of Political Practices,
9. carry out directions prescribed by the YCDCC, and
10. share custody of all records and documents of the YCDCC.

Duties of State Committeeman and Committeewoman and Alternates

1. serve on the executive board of the YCDCC,
2. attend meetings and conventions of the YCDCC,
3. assist in setting policy and determining programs and activities of the YCDCC,
4. carry out duties and directions of the Montana Democratic Party, and
5. carry out directions prescribed by the YCDCC.

Precinct Committeemen and Committeewomen

There are 51 voter precincts in Yellowstone County. Each one is allowed one man and one women who are registered to vote within that district to act as coordinators and leaders for their neighborhood. The central committee is dedicated to precinct community building success and these positions come with training, networking support, as well as a dedicated full time paid coordinator.

Click here to find out your precinct and find contact information for your current precinct leaders.

Duties of Precinct committeemen and committeewomen

1. represent Democrats in the precinct for which they were elected or appointed,
2. attend meetings and conventions of the YCDCC,
3. assist in setting policy and determining programs and activities of the YCDCC,
4. act to fill vacancies in official candidacies for elected office or vacancies in elected positions in the county, according to the laws of the state of Montana and the rules of the Montana Democratic Party, and
5. carry out directions prescribed by the YCDCC.

How it Works

Nominations for precinct committeemen and committeewomen as well as executive board members must be made and seconded by a current voting member (that is, current executive board members and precinct committee representatives).

• To qualify as a nominee, it is not necessary to be a voting member. Nominees will be listed on a visible board in the order in which they are nominated.
• Nominators for executive board positions will have one minute to speak and candidates will have two minutes. There will be no nominating speeches for Committeemen and Committeewomen, but candidates in contested precinct races will have one minute to speak to their candidacy.
• Candidates do not need to be present, but must have a designee to accept the nomination and speak on the candidate’s behalf. The presiding chairperson shall conduct the voting and appoint ballot counters as needed. A nominee may have an observer of the counting.
• All newly elected executive board members and precinct committeemen and committeewomen shall assume office at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the YCDCC.