PC CORNER—THE PRIMARY ROLE OF
A PC
By Chris Hotchkin
At the recent meeting of the
Central Committee of the Democratic Party of DuPage County, in addition to
approving changes to the DPDC Bylaws, we were privileged to hear from Kristina
Zahorik, President of the Illinois Democratic County Chairs Association.
Kristina described the key roles of a precinct committeeperson.
Kristina acknowledged that
precinct committeepersons, being Democratic activists, are often called upon to
volunteer in various campaigns. This is fine and we can all choose to which
campaigns we might want to volunteer our time and experience. However, Kristina
emphasized that the primary role of a precinct committeeperson is to serve your
precinct, to develop relationships with the voters in your precinct, and most
importantly of all, to identify Democratic voters.
How do we identify Democratic
voters in our precincts? By having honest discussions with voters. You can
simply ask them if they identify themselves as a Democrat. Ask them what issues
are concerning to them. Ask them what they would like to see changed or
improved in our nation, state, and county. Ask them which candidates appeal to
them and why. Away from the door or during the phone call, jot down some notes
on what they say and record any voter identifications on Vote Builder or report
them to your township chair.
Another key role of a precinct
committeeperson is protecting election integrity. As a precinct
committeeperson, you are entitled to appoint Democratic election judges. Often,
we contact judges who have served previously, but it is always good to be on
the lookout for new Democratic election judges. Another role is to serve as a
poll watcher in your polling place and get trained as a poll watcher. We know
that Republicans love to suppress the vote. We need to make sure our voters
know their rights. You should encourage your voters to check their registration
status before they go to vote. They can do that at ova.elections.illinois.gov.
There are pamphlets in our office at 908 Curtiss in Downers Grove that explain the
voting process and voter rights. Please share these pamphlets with voters in
your precinct who may need this voter education.
While we are all enthusiastic
supporters of our Democratic candidates, we need to remember that as Precinct
Committeepersons, whether elected or appointed, our duty is to serve the
Democratic voters in our precinct, to identify voters who are likely to vote
for Democratic candidates, and to educate our Democratic voters about how to
vote and why voting is so critical in 2020.
