Become a Precinct Committee Officer!

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WHAT IS A PRECINCT COMMITTEE OFFICER?

THE ROLE OF THE PRECINCT COMMITTEE OFFICER

HOW TO BECOME A PRECINCT COMMITTEE OFFICER

APPLY FOR APPOINTMENT

PRECINCT COMMITEE OFFICER RESOURCES

CONTACT: Co-Chairs Laurie Kadet and Cam Keeble: ld23pcodemocrats@gmail.com

WHAT IS PRECINCT COMMITTEE OFFICER?

Precinct Committee Officers (informally known as a 'PCO') are a building block of the Democratic Party in Kitsap County and Washington state. 

Precinct Committee Officers play an important role in electing Democrats. It’s their job to get to know their neighbors, educate undecided or swing voters, and make sure Democrats are registered to vote. Before Election Day, they work to turn out voters. They are the grassroots organizing base for all Democratic Party activities.

PCOs are elected for 2-year terms. New terms will begin December 1, 2025.

Click here for a brochure with more information about Precinct Committee Officers.

THE ROLE OF THE PRECINCT COMMITTEE OFFICER

Precinct Committee Officers have the following basic responsibilities:

• Know the voters in your precinct. Figure out which are Democrats and which are Republicans. Find out what issues motivate your neighbors and make sure all that information is available to local parties and campaigns. 
• Coordinate with campaigns in educating voters and generating interest in the election on behalf of candidates and ballot measures. 
• Attend legislative district and county organization meetings. Make sure the voices of voters in your precinct are heard in local party decisions. 
• Nominate candidates for office in partisan races. The State Party’s Rules for Nominations give local Precinct Committee Officers the power to choose the party’s nominees. 
• Participate in the appointment process when vacancies occur in partisan offices. When a vacancy occurs, Precinct Committee Officers choose which candidates are submitted to the county council for appointment. 
• Chair your precinct caucus during presidential election years under the direction of your local party chair. 

HOW TO BECOME A PRECINCT COMMITTEE OFFICER

There are two ways to become a Precinct Committee Officer - election by the voters in your precinct, or appointment by your local Democratic Party organization. 

Election

Democratic voters in each precinct will elect Precinct Committee Officers in their August Primary every two years. A candidate who runs unopposed will be automatically elected; contested elections will appear on the primary ballot.  Precinct Committee Officers elected in August will take office on December 1st of that year. Terms run from December 1st to November 30th two years later.

Appointment

Local Democratic Party organizations have the right to appoint Precinct Committee Officers to fill any seats left vacant - either because no one filed to run, or because the elected Precinct Committee Officer has stepped down. If your precinct is vacant, the Chair of your local Democratic Party organization can appoint you to serve as an "appointed" Precinct Committee Officer starting immediately!

If your precinct already has a Precinct Committee Officer, the Chair of your local Party organization can appoint you as an "acting" Precinct Committee Officer for a precinct that you do not live in. Note that Acting Precinct Committee Officers do not have Precinct Committee Officer voting rights.

Let your Chairperson know if you are interested in becoming a Precinct Committee Officer.

CONTACT: Val Torrens: chair@kitsap23rd.com

PRECINCT COMMITTEE OFFICER TRAINING RESOURCES

This Handbook was written to assist you in your role as a Precinct Committee Officer. It will answer many of your questions about the structure of the Party organization, the duties and responsibilities of being a Precinct Committee Officer, and the best way to utilize available resources in order to effectively mobilize your precinct. Taking the time to read this Handbook and using it as a reference during your time as a Precinct Committee Officer will help elect Democrats at the local, state, and national level.

Click below to read the Handbook:

Washington State Democrats PCO Handbook