Become A

Precinct Delegate

What is a Precinct Delegate?

The role of a Precinct Delegate is one of the most important, yet, least understood of any elected office. It is the active Precinct Delegate who wins elections for the Republican Party. Precinct Delegates are elected directly by the voters of each precinct to serve as a bridge between voters and the Republican Party in your neighborhood and you represent your neighborhood at Republican conventions.

Become A Delegate in 3 Steps

Step 1: Find Your Precinct

Check your voter registration card to identify which municipality (city or township) and precinct (#) you reside in.

You can also search the Secretary of State (SOS) website for this information at the link below.

Step 2: Complete the Affidavit of Identity

Click on the affidavit at the link below.
Complete all fields on the affidavit except the signature.
Print the affidavit.
Find a notary (local bank, clerks office and we have a notary at our meeings) and sign the affidavit in the presence of the notary.
Make a copy of the affidavit.
File the original copy with the Tuscola County Clerk at the Courthouse in Caro.
Verify with receipt.

Filing Deadline for Next Election: Tuesday May 7, 2024

Step 3: Get Elected

When there are more precinct delegate contestants than allotted seats in your precinct, put together a simple letter asking your neighbors for their vote in the primary election.

Next Primary Election:
Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Distribute campaign literature approximately one week prior to the election, so your name is fresh in the voters’ minds. Remember – many people vote absentee and need to be contacted just prior to when absentee ballots are mailed to voters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Precinct Delegate do?

Help people get registered to vote.
Take information on issues and candidates to the voters in your precinct.
Identify others interested in your party and recruit new party members.
Help turn out your parties vote in your neighborhood on Election Day.
Keep your party leaders informed about the issues that concern voters.

How do Precinct Delegates get elected?

Precinct Delegates are elected in the August Primary. Only Democratic voters choose Democratic precinct delegates and Republican voters choose Republican precinct delegates. Each precinct is allotted a number of precinct delegates based on past party voting strengths. We can tell you how many delegate positions have been allocated to your precinct in Tuscola County. Precinct delegate candidates file an Affidavit of Identity for ballot access. There is no longer a petition requirement for precinct delegate candidates. A precinct delegate candidate can file with the clerk of their county, city or township of residence. Your Affidavit of Identity must be notarized.

Candidates for precinct delegate must file their Affidavit of Identity form with their clerk. The filing deadline for precinct delegate candidates falls on the twelfth Tuesday prior to the August primary.

What are the responsibilities of Precinct Delegates?

They are the campaign leaders for their party in their precincts. After the primary, those elected will be officially notified by the county clerk by mail. The notification will include the time and place of the district or county party convention, which will be held in August or September. Precinct delegates should take their official notification to the district or county convention to register with the convention credentials committee. District or county conventions will elect delegates to the state convention, scheduled usually for sometime in September. These conventions may also debate or adopt resolutions for recommendations to the state convention’s platform committee. The state convention in September will debate and adopt a state platform, nominate candidates for Supreme Court Justices, State Board of Education and university boards, and presidential electors.

What other functions do Delegates have?

After Election Day, precinct delegates have another responsibility. Late in the year and early the following year precinct delegates will convene in the district or county conventions to elect executive committees and officers to serve through the following election. There they will also elect delegates to the February state convention where new state party officers and a new state central committee will be chosen to serve through the next two years.

Checklist to become a Precinct Delegate:

Obtain a precinct map from the local clerk’s office.
Find out the number of Republican precinct delegate vacancies in your precinct.
File your Affidavit of Identity with your county, city or township clerk no later than 4:00 p.m, on the twelfth Tuesday prior to the August Primary.
Find out how many delegates have filed in your precinct for precinct delegate.
Your Affidavit of Identity must be notarized.
If you have opposition, contact your neighbors, friends and family that reside in your precinct and ask for their support. Primary election day is the second Tuesday in August. Remember to vote!
Get involved in the Tuscola County Republican Party. Our meetings are the 4th Thursday of each month at the Brentwood in Caro. Keep the party informed about what your neighbors are talking about and keep your neighbors informed about what elected party members are doing for them.

Fill out the Affidavit of Identity to get started.

Elevation to Vacant Seats

County political parties may hold a vote at county conventions to elevate precinct delegates to fill vacant seats.

If your precinct is vacant, notify us that you are interested in being elevated at the next county convention. A majority vote is required to approve elevation.

"Write-In" Candidates

Complete the Write-In Declaration of Intent, but hold signature. Sign the form in the presence of a notary. Make a copy and file the original with the county clerk by 4pm on the Friday prior to election day: Friday, August 2, 2024

Ask a few of your neighbors to fill in the oval next to one of the blank spaces for precinct delegate on their ballot and write in your name, spelled exactly as you wrote it on your Declaration of Intent.

NOTE: Even if you miss the deadline for filing the Declaration of Intent with the county clerk, you still have one more chance! Election inspectors can act as your notary on election day and accept submission of your form at the polling booth.