PCWG report ending 2016 election cycle

Final report of the Presidential Campaign Working Group (PCWG) 2016 election cycle. 

Jan 7, 2017

Background:  The PCWG was given the tasks of:

1)    investigating candidates for the Massachusetts primary ballot, and making a recommendation to the co-chairs in a manner timely with the deadlines set by the state for submitting ballot information.   In addition we made information available on the GRP website for GRP voters.  (http://www.green-rainbow.org/2016_presidential_ballot_order_)

2)    Recruiting and coordinating convention delegates for the GPUS Presidential Nominating Convention (PNC), and facilitating the necessary paperwork and financial aid for the GPUS PNC, meeting related deadlines for State committee approval when needed.

3)    Recruiting and coordinating electors, and facilitating the necessary paperwork with the state regarding electors, meeting related deadlines for State committee approval when needed.

More details about the assigned tasks are in these documents from the June 2015 State committee meeting.

Presidential Election Plan (PEP)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jm4BrPYkyiUa-11-Rlb9ZkKW25c476v4b0DWYsQnaCk/edit

Delegate Selection Plan (DSP)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xkDTrejDzh4IRyXCnHgyvHmGdqFj1i0UZVEkPLe3XBw/edit?usp=sharing

1) Challenges on accomplishing the ballot task

It was challenging for candidates to know who the authentic contacts were for the different states.  Each of state has different rules for assigning delegates, which change often when the state party’s status changes from official party to “political designation”.  We had to do the outreach to campaigns to be sure we were fairly considering all possible nominees.

It was also difficult for the PCWG to know who the candidates were.  We started with the broadest possible list based on FEC filings and internet searching, and endeavored to whittle that list down to include only serious candidates.  In the end we were a bit more generous than the GPUS[1] in allowing candidates on the ballot, one big reason was that our deadline was earlier than the GPUS’ deadline.  We opted to be more inclusive than the GPUS was at deadline time.  We included a total of 5 candidates for the Ma. primary ballot.  We kept a spreadsheet to organize the information on all the candidates (appendix A).

2) Recommendations:

We do not live in an ideal world, especially when it comes to our election system and the state of our infrastructure within the GPUS and GRP.  That said, we have a list of recommendations, the first set regarding candidates, the other set regarding supporting nominees after the PNC.

1) Ask the GP US to create a clearing house for State Party contacts for Presidential Campaigns.

2) Ask the GP US to create a clearing house for declared of candidates.

3) The Green-Rainbow Party should determine if possible contact information for people that frequently vote in the primary to communicate the choices.

4) The GRP and GP US should strive to create a pool of "interviewers" and video editors

5) The GRP and GP US should strive to create alternative communication venues for short video messages.

6) GRP candidates should be encouraged to declare conditions in which they would request recounts for example variance with polls or the popular vote.

7) Candidates, Steering Committee, and National Committee should be discouraged from questioning a candidate’s tactics and motives.

References:

United States, General Elections, 8 November: Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions [http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/usa/280331]

Appendix A:  Information collected (attempted) for all candidates

Candidate name

email

street address

date letter sent (mail or email)

date response received

campaign contact person (could be the candidate themselves)

email

telephone

campaign website and FB URLs

official name for ballot (if recommended)

Replied that they want to be on the MA ballot?

Returned completed GRP questionnaire?

Registered in their state Green Party or as independent?

HIGHLY INDICATIVE CRITERIA

Recognized candidate by GPUS?

Filed an FEC Form 2?

Filed an FEC Form 1?

Provided GPUS questionnaire or supplemental statement? 

MEANINGFUL INDICATORS

Have a website?

Have a Facebook page?

Raised >$5000 according to filed FEC report?

SUBJECTIVE CRITERIA (By majority vote of PCWG)

Seriously running?

Suitable Green Party candidate?

Additional comments



[1] Rules and Procedures of the Green Party of the United States, 10-1.8 RECOGNITION OF DECLARED CANDIDATES FOR THE GREEN PARTY NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT states, "Has made a good faith effort to participate in the presidential preference processes of state Green Parties, either by sending a declaration of candidacy to those state parties, by seeking to appear on the ballot where there is a party primary and/or by otherwise seeking to comply with the relevant procedures for inclusion in a state party's preference process. "

 

Showing 1 reaction

  • Charlene Dicalogero
    commented 2017-01-03 15:14:31 -0500
    Thanks PCWG folks, this info and suggestions are very helpful for next cycle.