We no longer need the caucus, but we will still meet! The Prince Edward Democratic Committee will meet Monday, January 8 at 6pm in the Extension Office (100 Dominion Drive, Farmville) for our biennial reorganization meeting and election of officers, followed by a work session. We will start with a potluck! Please join us.

The Prince Edward Democratic Committee, herein referred to as PEDC, will hold an assembled caucus on January 8, 2024, from 6pm-6:30pm at the Prince Edward Extension Service Conference Room, 100 Dominion Drive, for the purpose of electing the new membership of PEDC pursuant to the Democratic Party of Virginia Party Plan. 

I. Candidate Filing 

Each person seeking to become an officer of PEDC shall submit a statement of interest to Carol Stiff by 5pm on December 7, 2023, at stiffnet@yahoo.com. Only those candidates who have timely and properly filed the pre-filing form will have their names placed in contention. 

There shall be no filing fee for any membership candidates.

II. Qualification of Candidates

The Membership Pre-Filing Form, which all candidates for membership must sign, will include the following written declaration: I declare myself to be a candidate for membership on the Prince Edward Democratic Committee. I also declare that I believe in the principles of the Democratic Party and that I will not support any candidate opposed to any Democratic nominee as long as I am a member of the Committee.

III. Notice 

PEDC shall provide notice of this caucus by placement of a general notice of the filing deadline and the caucus, including noticing the caucus date, time, and location, along with the Call to Caucus, on the Democratic Party of Virginia, the Prince Edward Democratic Committee website and social media platforms; by email notification to Democrats who reside in Prince Edward; and through other reasonable means that will disseminate information about the caucus to registered voters in the County. In addition, reasonable actions shall be taken to promote participation in the caucus in accordance with the Affirmative Action provisions of the Party Plan of the DPVA.

IV. Membership Allocation

The full membership will vote for the following officers: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer. Following the end of the election of the above officers and the end of the caucus, the members of the PEDC will then elect their Precinct Chairs with voting allowed for a precinct chair by the voters duly registered in that precinct until all 10 districts have a chance to elect their chairs. The full PEDC membership will then vote on the Committee Chairs that have volunteered to head up the individual committees.

V. Participation

Every Democrat who is a registered voter in Prince Edward County is urged to attend and participate. If an individual does not appear on the Registered Voter List, they will not be allowed to participate. Participants will also be required to sign a Caucus Participation Form stating that they:

1. Are a Democrat;
2. Are a registered voter within the County of Prince Edward;
3. Believe in the principles of the Democratic Party; and
4. Do not intend to support any candidates opposed to a Democratic nominee in the next ensuing election.

VI. Conduct of the Caucus

The doors to the caucus will open at 5:00pm and close at 6:00pm. Upon the closing of the doors, only those participants who have registered or are in line to register at 6:00pm will be permitted to participate. 

VII. Determination of Winners

In the event that only one person files for a position, that person shall be declared the winner and the election for that specific position shall be cancelled. 

If more individuals file than there are positions available, the candidates will be listed alphabetically on the ballot and will be elected by a plurality of the votes at the assembled caucus.

Vacancies may be filled by the new committee at the first meeting following the election of officers. 

VIII. Affirmative Action

It shall be the duty and goal of all members of the PEDC Democratic Committee to seek out and encourage the broadest possible participation within the committee, and in its membership, of all duly qualified citizens without regard to race, sex, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic identity, disability, or economic status.

IX. Officer Elections

Immediately following the adjournment of the assembled caucus, the newly formed PEDC will meet for the sole purpose of electing the Precinct Chairs of each district and the Chairs of the committees.