A Precinct Committee Person (PCP) is an elected or appointed official who represents their neighbors within the Democratic Party of Deschutes County. They are the neighborhood-level and foundational members of the party structure.

• A "precinct" is the smallest political unit and cannot be divided by larger political boundaries.

• PCPs are the voting members of the Deschutes County Democratic Party's Central Committee, which is the body authorized to make all decisions for the county party.

• PCPs serve a two-year term, until the next election, or until they move away from their precinct.

To be eligible for the office of PCP, you must meet the following criteria:

• Have a current, active voter registration in the State of Oregon.

• Be a registered Democrat.

• Have been a registered Democrat for at least 180 days in any state (with exceptions for voters who are applying within 180 days of their 18th birthday).

• Reside within the precinct you wish to represent.

The Deschutes County Elections Office will review and certify the eligibility of all PCP candidates.

PCPs are the driving force of the local party organization. Their primary role is to represent their precinct while debating and voting on issues before the Central Committee. Their responsibilities include:

• Voting on official Party business, such as candidate endorsements and Party resolutions.

• Voting on Party rule changes, platform planks, and legislative agenda priorities.

• Electing county Party leadership (Chairs, Vice-Chairs, etc.) at the biennial reorganizational meeting.*

• Electing members to represent the county on the State Central Committee.

• Note: Only elected PCPs may vote during the biennial reorganizational meeting to elect officers. Appointed PCPs do not have this voting right.

There is no formal time obligation specified beyond the residency and party affiliation requirements. The role is what you make of it. However, PCPs are expected to participate in the democratic process by attending the monthly Deschutes Democrats meetings where they debate and vote on party issues. The time commitment is generally focused around these scheduled meetings and any related preparation.

To Be Appointed a PCP (between elections):

• This process cannot be completed online in Deschutes County.

• You must submit a completed PCP application form directly to the Deschutes County Democratic Party Chair.

• The application must then be voted on by the existing PCPs at a scheduled Central Committee meeting for your appointment to be approved.

• Important: Do not submit the application directly to the County Clerk. It must go through the Party Chair.

• After a successful vote, the Deschutes County Elections Office will verify your eligibility and confirm your PCP status.

A key piece of information you will need for either process is your precinct number. You can find this by contacting the Deschutes County Elections Office or by using an online precinct lookup tool if one is provided by the county.