Houston Democrats

Applications for a place on the primary ballot can be obtained at the HCDP headquarters at any time (including Saturday, December 3) or downloaded from the Texas Secretary of State’s Elections Division’s web site (http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/forms/index.shtml) (Select “APPLICATION FOR A PLACE ON THE _________ PARTY GENERAL PRIMARY BALLOT”). This site can also be accessed from the Harris County Democratic Party website (www.hcdp.org) by navigating from the “Useful Links” link on the panel on the left side of the home page to the “Government Links” - State - Secretary of State Elections Division - Index of Forms link.

Applications must be notarized and accompanied by the applicable filing fee for petition in lieu of filing fee. Notaries will be available on Saturday, December 3, too. A schedule of applicable filing fees (or signatures needed in lieu of a filing fee) is attached to the application.

The Harris County Democratic Party is also accepting applications from individuals wishing to run for precinct chair in the March 7, 2006, primary election (including on Saturday, December 3). Application must be received at the party headquarters or the county chair personally by 5:00 o’clock p.m. on Monday, January 2, 2006 for an applicant to be listed on the March 7, 2006, primary election ballot for a person to be elected to serve in this position (precinct chair) for the period between May 1, 2006, and April 30, 2008.

Application forms for precinct chair are available at the HCDP headquarters or by following links from the HCDP website (www.hcdp.org) described above, but downloading the “APPLICATION FOR _____ CHAIR ON THE ___________ PARTY GENERAL PRIMARY BALLOT” document, or by being picked up at the headquarters from the Harris County Democratic Party (1445 N. Loop W., Suite 110). They can also be downloaded directly from the Texas Secretary of State’s Elections Division’s web site (http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/forms/index.shtml).

Harris County Commissioners Court has recently changed 179 precincts. They have either been split, combined with other precinct, deleted, redraws, or renumbered. It is important that an application designate the new precinct number, since that is the one which will be in effect on primary election day. Most changes are simple re-numbering and the party headquarters can tell you the new number. Some (about 50) actually have lines re-drawn. Neither maps nor new voter registration cards will be distributed by Harris County until after the City election runoffs in mid-December; however, the HCDP headquarters does have information about the new lines. Martha Cottingham can help you figure out what your new precinct number will be (if it has changed). You can contact her at 713-802-0085.