Endorsement Rules Addendum to the Bylaws

    (Adopted Endorsement Addendum 2022.)

    As amended by the Executive Board on March 16, 2022, and adopted at the May 11, 2022 membership meeting of the 34th District Democrats.

    2022 Bylaws Addendum I: Endorsements

    Section 1. Endorsement Notice & Calendar

    Notice of endorsements must be distributed to all members of the 34th Legislative District Democrats (“Organization”) at least 10 days before a meeting at which an endorsement will be considered. If no endorsement is scheduled, or if the prior-notice requirement has not been met, a new endorsement may be presented and considered with the support of 80% of members present and voting. Endorsement meetings shall occur; prior to any special election, prior to the primary election, and prior to the general election.

    Section 2. Eligible Nominees

    The Organization may endorse candidates for public office where the office’s jurisdiction includes any part of the 34th Legislative District (“District”). The Organization may also endorse policy measures that would impact any part of the District. Drafts submitted must be presented as they will appear on the ballot as a ballot measure, referendum, levy, initiative, or signature campaign. Candidates seeking endorsement:

    1. Must declare as a Democrat; and
    2. Must complete the questionnaire assigned by the Organization and submit it to the chair of the Resolutions & Endorsements Committee. Judicial candidates need not answer questions that might breach the Canons of Judicial Conduct. The questionnaire shall be the same for all candidates seeking the same office. Authorized questionnaires include:
      1. Those published by the King County Democrats, for which the Chair or a person appointed by the Chair is responsible for obtaining; and/or
      2. Any questionnaire drafted by the Organization, which the Resolution & Endorsements Committee is responsible for drafting.
        1. The Resolutions & Endorsements Committee shall submit a draft questionnaire to the Board 60 days prior to the first endorsement meeting.
        2. The draft shall move to the membership with a majority vote of the Board.
        3. The draft shall be approved by the membership with a simple majority vote at the next membership meeting following the Board vote.

    Section 3. Eligible Speakers & Voters

    Only residents of the District who establish or renew their membership by the membership meeting prior to the endorsement meeting may speak or vote during an endorsement meeting. If a resident of the District was a member in the previous calendar year and renews their membership at the endorsement meeting in an in-person setting, they may also speak and vote during the endorsement meeting. If a meeting occurs in a virtual setting, residents of the District who were members in the previous calendar year must renew their membership the day before the endorsement meeting. All elected and appointed Precinct Committee Officers within the District are voting members and meet these requirements and may speak and vote, due to their position. Only votes of eligible members present at the endorsement meeting shall be counted. Speakers for or against motions to endorse must identify themselves prior to speaking. Registration for meetings occurring in a virtual setting must include a member’s first and last name, email, membership status (PCO, member, or guest), and any other information required for accessing or participating during the meeting.

    Section 4. Recommendations by the Board

    With a quorum and two-thirds vote by Board members present and voting, the Board may recommend the endorsement or rejection of any eligible nominee. The Board may also recommend the endorsement of a set of eligible nominees, who shall be collectively considered for endorsement as a “block”.

    1. Votes for a block shall be by show of credentials unless a motion to vote by other means is proposed, seconded, and passes with a simple majority vote.
    2. If a voting member objects to a candidate’s inclusion in a block, the candidate shall be removed from the block but shall remain eligible for endorsement.

    Section 5. Voting Method

    The method of voting shall be a signed ballot for all non-block endorsement considerations (see Section 4). Any ballot submitted, paper or electronic, which is unsigned, incomplete, lacking clear intent, or including invalid nominees will not be counted in determining the number of votes cast. The Chair may also, at their discretion, recommend voting by show of credentials for specific endorsements. If no voting member objects, voting on endorsements specified by the Chair shall be by show of credentials. If a voting member objects, a vote shall be called to vote by show of credentials; which must receive a simple majority vote of voting members voting to pass.

    Section 6. Motions & Speeches

    The Chair shall present and consider motions regarding any Board recommendations. Any seconded motion to endorse recommended nominees shall require a simple majority of voting members present and voting to pass. In the order determined by the Chair, the Chair shall call for motions to endorse candidates by office sought and any policy measure in the forms identified in Section 2.2. An endorsement vote for any office may only be called once all eligible nominees seeking that office have had an opportunity to be nominated. Motions for sole endorsement shall be out of order. Motions shall follow the following procedure:

    1. Candidates
      1. A voting member makes a motion to endorse a candidate.
      2. A voting member may second the motion. If seconded, the motion is considered. If not seconded, the motion is not considered.
      3. The person making the motion may speak for up to two minutes or cede all or part of their time to the candidate or a voting member.
      4. A person opposing the motion may speak for up to two minutes.
      5. If someone speaks against the motion, the person seconding the motion may speak for up to two minutes or cede all or part of their time to a voting member.
      6. If a second person speaks in favor of the motion, a second person opposing the motion may speak for up to two minutes.
      7. Speeches are heard for each candidate being considered for endorsement.
      8. When speeches are complete, the Chair shall call for a vote.
    2. Policy Measure — Ballot Measures, Referenda, Levies, Initiatives, & Signature Campaigns
      1.  A voting member makes a motion to endorse a policy measure.
      2. A voting member may second the motion. If seconded, the motion is discussed. If not seconded, the motion is not considered.
      3. The person making the motion may speak for up to two minutes or cede all or part of their time to a voting member or a person representing a campaign supporting a policy measure.
      4. A person opposing the motion may speak for up to two minutes.
      5. If someone speaks against the motion, the person seconding the motion may speak for up to two minutes or cede all or part of their time to a voting member or a person representing a campaign supporting a policy measure.
      6. If a second person speaks in favor of the motion, a second person opposing the motion may speak for up to two minutes.
      7. When speeches are complete, the Chair shall call for a vote.

    Section 7. Voting Procedure

    For endorsements where the Board has made no recommendation, nominees require the approval of 60% of voting members present and voting to receive an endorsement. The Chair shall appoint an ad-hoc Tally Committee of at least two to three persons to certify and count votes, dependent upon the type of tally required. Each candidate included on a ballot may appoint up to two observers to oversee the certification and counting of votes.

    The organization will hold endorsements in either in-person or online meetings. Voting may be done by paper ballot, hand count, or electronic means, at the discretion of the Chair. 

    1. First Ballot 
      1. All candidates seeking the same office nominated in accordance with the Organization’s process (Section 6.1) and “no endorsement” shall be on the ballot.
      2. If a nominee receives 60% of the vote, that nominee is endorsed. If “no endorsement” receives 60% of the vote, no nominee is endorsed.
      3. If no choice receives 60% and there are:
        1. One nominee, no candidate is endorsed.
        2. Two nominees, a dual endorsement may be considered.
        3. Three or more nominees, the two with the most votes advance to a second ballot.
    2. Second Ballot
      1. The second ballot follows the same process as the first ballot.
      2. “No endorsement” is no longer a valid vote.
      3. If either nominee receives 60% of the vote, that nominee is endorsed.
      4. If no nominee receives 60% of the vote, a third ballot is considered.
    3. Dual Endorsement
      1. If no candidate is endorsed in accordance with Sections 7.1 and 7.2, a voting member may move to endorse both second-ballot candidates. If seconded, both candidates shall be endorsed with a 60% vote of voting members voting and present. If the motion does not meet the 60% threshold, neither candidate is endorsed.
      2. For the purpose of expedience, a voting member may move to vote by show of credentials. If seconded, the motion shall be approved with a simple majority vote.
    4. Policy Measure — Ballot Measures, Referenda, Levies, Initiatives, & Signature Campaigns
      1. First Ballot
        1. Only the choices of “support,” “reject,” and “no position” are valid votes.
        2. If any choice receives 60% of the vote, that choice is endorsed. If no choice receives 60% of the vote, the two with the most votes shall advance to a second ballot.
      2. Second Ballot
        1. If either choice receives 60% of the vote, that choice is endorsed.
        2. If neither choice receives 60% of the vote, the Organization shall take no position.

    Section 8. Reconsideration of Endorsement

    The Organization may reconsider endorsements using the methods and procedures outlined in these rules if no candidate endorsed by the Organization advances to the Primary or General Election, or any candidate receiving the Organization’s endorsement violates the Organization’s Code of Conduct or is found guilty of illegal activity.

    Section 9. Publication & Support

    The Organization shall publish its endorsements in an email to members and newsletter, and on its website and social media accounts. It shall also commit to only supporting its endorsees. “Support” includes, but is not limited to; financial and in-kind contributions, doorbelling, and promotion activities.

    Section 10. Review & Amendment

    These rules shall be reviewed prior to the first endorsement meeting in odd-numbered years by the Resolution & Endorsements Committee or other designated committee as assigned by the Chair. After committee review, the rules shall be considered by the Board and sent to the membership with a simple majority vote. They shall then be considered during the first membership meeting following the Board’s consideration and adopted with a simple majority vote.

    Addendum I: Endorsements was amended by the Executive Board on March 16, 2022, and adopted at the May 11, 2022 membership meeting of the 34th District Democrats.