How to Run for Office

Change begins at the local level. If you have been distraught over the political climate in the United States since November 2016, there IS something you can do. Democrats must GET OUT THE VOTE. Replacement in Washington continues with the next election. Democrats must have control of the Senate, House and the White House in order to restore our Democracy and once again make government work for the people, not for corporations and the top 1%.

What is a Precinct Leader?

How do Democrats go about “getting out the vote?” They find the Democrats in their local precincts and remind them to vote, talk with them about the importance of voting, register them if need be, and offer them a ride to the polls if they can’t make it there by themselves. It isn’t hard. It takes a only few hours each week from now until election day in 2022. Become a precinct committeeman or woman and visit or call the registered Democrats in your precinct. Jefferson County has many vacant precinct committee positions that need filled. Soon you will be able to find the most current list of Democratic Precinct Men and Women for Jefferson County here. Volunteer to be the voice of change in your neighborhood.

As a precinct volunteer, your responsibility is to:

Make contact with Democrats in your precinct by going door-to-door, by postcard, by hosting a block party, or by doing whatever works for you.
Support the endorsed candidates of the Democratic Party.
Attend a short training session.
GET OUT THE VOTE!

Training

There are many training opportunities online. One can be found here!

Open Positions

Interested in running for office? Attend a monthly meeting to learn about opportunities!

Getting Help

When you run for office as a Democrat, you don't run alone! Get support from the Kansas Democratic Party here.

HOW TO RUN FOR PRECINCT COMMITTEE PERSON

Precinct Committeemen and Precinct Committeewomen are where it starts. They are the party's most powerful outreach tool. They go into their communities and tell the people what the Democrats are all about; how we are going to try and make life better for them. It is also a great place to talk to Democrats about running for office.

You will be representing your neighbors in the party and you will represent the party to your neighbors.

What qualifies you to become a Precinct Committee Person?

You must reside within the county.

You must be registered as a Democrat.

There are two ways you can become a PCP

You can be elected

Committee Persons may stand for election in primary elections held in their county in even-numbered years. The next primary election in Jefferson County will be held in May of 2024.

To have your name appear on the primary ballot you must file before the filing deadline. (a printable "Declaration of Intent" can be found HERE or can be obtained from the Jefferson County Democratic Party Committee Chairman or from the Jefferson County Clerk's office.) The Declaration of Intent must be filed at the County Clerk's office before the filing deadline. The filing deadline is June first of the election year. Your signature on the Declaration of Intend must be notarized by a registered notary public or the County Election Officer (County Clerk).

You can be appointed

To be appointed you need to contact the Chairman of the Jefferson County Central Committee; Donald Shaffer, dandjlizzie@yahoo.com or come to a meeting of the Central Committee. Click on Events to see the date and location of the next meeting.

Interested in Other Offices?

Run for City Office

"Kris Kobach began his political carsresr as a mamber of the Cty Council of the City of Overland Park, Kansas."

-Wikipedia

City offices are a good place to get your feet wet and to shake the jitters you might have about putting yourself out to the public as a candidate. It can lead to bigger things. And it is a very necessary and important place in the operation of a city.

General election for city officers and local school board members is held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of odd-numbered years. City elections are generally Non-partisan which means a party affiliation is not declared.

A primary election is held on the first Tuesday in August only if the number of candidates who filed for a given office is more than three times the number of positions to be filled.

[Jen, this sentence doesn't make sense to me but it is copied directly from the document, "Kansas Election Standards".]

Elections are held for the mayor and 2 council members in one year and for 3 council members in the next odd numbered year.

A candidate must file for election by completing a form supplied by the County Clerk and paying a 20.00 dollar filing fee.

The filing deadline is at noon on June 1st in odd-numbered years.

Run for Election to County Office

Elections for County and Township offices are partisan, meaning that each recognized political party is allowed to nominate one candidate for each office, and the candidates nominated by the parties run under party names.

The elections for county and township offices are divided according to which offices are elected in every other even numbered year as follows:

Even numbered year - County and Township election

Board of Education District

Township clerk -- 12

Commissioner -- first district

Retain Judges -- 16

Constitutional amendment

Next Ever Numbered Year -- County and Township election

County Attorney

County Clerk

County Treasurer

County Register of Deeds

County Sheriff

Township Treasurer -- 12

Township Trustee -- 12

Board of Education -- district

Judges -- 7

Special Questions

To be nominated to run for county or township office, candidates must file with the county clerk.