Statement of Candidacy Qualifying Form:

To qualify to run as any type of delegate to the Democratic National Convention, you must complete the statement of candidacy qualifying form.

The qualifying period for the District Level elegate election ended April 22. The qualifying period for the PLEO and at At Large delegate election ends at 5:00 p.m. on May 15. You may email your completed form to info@lademo.org; mail to P.O. Box 4385, Baton Rouge, LA 70821; or fax to (225) 336-0046.

District Level Delegate Mail In Ballots:

District Level Delegates are elected through a vote by mail election. From March 13 to April 22,  any registered Louisiana Democrat was able to request a mail in ballot for the election. A team member then verified and approved the request.

The Louisiana Democratic Party mails these ballots to voters on Wednesday, April 29. When voters receive the ballot, it will include instructions, paid postage, and a return envelope. Voters must return their ballot to the Louisiana Democratic Party via mail. Ballots MUST be postmarked to the Louisiana Democratic Party by May 18. Ballots are sent to a special post office box where a rotating two person team will collect them. When we receive your ballot,  our team will record the return of your ballot and securely store it. On Tuesday, May 26, we will count all ballots.

Because this delegate election is happening as a “Pre-Primary,” prior to the presidential primary, delegate candidates will be ranked by their total votes. As delegates are awarded to presidential candidates from the results of the presidential primary, District Level Delegates will be selected based on their total votes.

Delegate Selection Documents: 

2020 Delegate Selection Plan

Delegate Selection Plan Brochure

Delegate Qualifying Form

District Level Delegate Election Results

Delegate Selection Information: 

The Louisiana Democratic Party is dedicated to encouraging the broadest participation possible by Democrats from all walks of life. Our goal is to have a delegation that fully reflects the rich diversity of our state and Democratic Party as we influence the party platform for the next four years and choose our Democratic nominee for president.

Below is a simple guide to Louisiana’s delegate selection process. This process is fully outlined in the 2020 Delegate Selection Plan. However, due to changing circumstances from COVID-19, some dates and processes have been updated. These dates are pending approval by the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee.

• Louisiana has a total of 61 delegates and 4 alternates.
• The Delegate Selection Plan for Louisiana provides for allocation of District Level, At Large, and Party Leader and Elected Official delegate positions to presidential candidates through a proportional representation primary system. The Secretary of State has postponed the primary to July 11, 2020.
• Candidates for thirty-five(35) district level delegates will be elected in a pre-primary Congressional District vote by mail election. Ballots will be counted on May 26, 2020. Seven (7) pledged party leader and elected official delegates will be selected by the Democratic State Central Committee of Louisiana through a vote by mail election. These ballots will be counted on June 8, 2020. Twelve (12) at-large delegates and four (4) alternates will be selected by the Democratic State Central Committee of Louisiana through a vote by mail election. These ballots will also be counted on June 8, 2020.
• Because this District Level Delegate election is happening as a “Pre-Primary,” prior to the presidential primary, delegate candidates will be ranked by their total votes. As delegates are awarded to presidential candidates from the results of the presidential primary, District Level Delegates will be selected based on their total votes.
• The Delegate Selection process is governed by the Delegate Selection Rules for the Democratic National Convention, the Regulations of the Rules and By-Laws Committee, the rules of the Louisiana Democratic Party, the Louisiana Election Code and this Delegate Selection Plan.
• If you have further questions, please feel free to call the Louisiana Democratic Party office at 225.336.4155, email us at info@lademo.org, or write us at P.O. Box 4385, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the purpose of the Presidential Preference Primary?

• The names of all persons qualified as Democratic presidential candidates will appear on the ballot on the July 11, 2020 primary in accordance with the state law. The results will be tallied on a congressional district basis as well as on a statewide basis.
  

• In order to qualify to receive any District Level delegates, a presidential candidate must reach a threshold of at least 15% of the votes cast at the primary in each congressional district. If no presidential candidate reaches the applicable threshold, the threshold shall be the percent of the vote received by the frontrunner minus 10%. The results of the July 11 presidential primary are then used to determine the number of delegates a presidential candidate receives. Because this delegate election is happening as a “Pre-Primary,” prior to the presidential primary, delegate candidates will be ranked by their total votes. As delegates are awarded to presidential candidates from the results of the July 11 presidential primary, District Level Delegates will be selected based on their total votes.
• There are twelve (12) pledged AtLarge delegates and four (4) At Large alternates along with seven (7) Pledged Party and Elected Officials delegates to be elected by the Democratic State Central Committee through a vote by mail election. In order to receive At-Large or Pledged Party and Elected Official delegates, a presidential candidate or must receive 15% of the votes cast statewide at the primary.
• In the selection of the At-Large delegation, priority considerations shall be given to African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asian-American Pacific Islander, Labor Households, and LGBTQ candidates. The election of At-Large delegates shall be used if necessary, to achieve the equal division of positions between men and women, and shall be used to achieve the representation goals established by the Affirmative Action Committee. Although no delegates or alternates are elected directly at the primary, the results are used in order to determine the number of delegates a presidential candidate receives.

Who may qualify to run as a Delegate and how do I qualify?

• Any registered Democrat may qualify as a delegate candidate. District level delegates are elected from throughout a congressional district. At-Large delegates are elected from throughout the state with no requirement that a certain number come from any certain area of the state. Persons eligible to be elected as a party and elected official delegate must be an elected official in the state of Louisiana.
• To qualify, an individual should complete the qualifying form underneath “Delegate Selection Documents” and return it to the Louisiana Democratic Party by the appropriate deadline.

How Will Delegates and Alternates Actually Be Elected?

• District-level delegates and alternates will be elected by a vote by mail election.

What is the Vote by Mail Program?

• District Level candidate qualifying period begins March 13, 2020 and ends on April 20, 2020. Any registered Democrat in the state of Louisiana can request a ballot for this election.
• Once the request is received from the voter, we will data-match them to the voter file and ballots will only be mailed to registered Democrats to the mailing address provided to the Secretary of State.
• Ballots can be requested online through LouisianaDemocrats.org, by calling our office, faxing our office, emailing info@lademo.org or visiting our office in person.
• The Diversity Action Committee and State Party will advertise widely the process for requesting a ballot and empower candidates to outreach to their networks to vote by requesting a ballot
• One April 29, 2020,  all ballots will be mailed via our Mail House to every registered Democrat requesting a ballot.
• All ballots include instructions, paid postage, and a return envelope.
• Voters must complete the ballot and return it via mail to the Louisiana Democratic Party. Ballots must be postmarked by May 18 and must be received by the Louisiana Democratic Party by May 26.
• Ballots are sent to a special post office box where a rotating two person team will collect them. When we receive your ballot, our team will record the return of your ballot and securely store it.
• All ballots will be counted on May 26, 2020 and results will be published at that time.
• Louisiana has a total of 35 District Level Delegates, allocated by congressional district. In order to qualify to receive any District Level Delegates, a presidential candidate must reach a threshold of at least 15% of the votes cast at the primary in each congressional district. The results of the July 11 presidential primary are then used to determine the number of delegates a presidential candidate receives.
• Because this delegate election is happening as a “Pre-Primary,” prior to the presidential primary, delegate candidates will be ranked by their total votes. As delegates are awarded to presidential candidates from the results of the July 11 presidential primary, District Level Delegates will be selected based on their total votes.

If I am an unsuccessful District Level Candidate, will I be permitted to qualify as an At-Large or PLEO Delegate?

• Yes. You should complete another statement of candidacy qualifying form and submit to the Louisiana Democratic Party by 5:00 p.m. on May 15, 2020.

What is the Presidential Candidate Right of Approval?

• At the close of qualifying for each delegate level, the Chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party will submit to the presidential candidates the names of all delegate candidates pledged to them. The presidential candidate will then submit a list of approved delegates candidates to the state chair, provided that approval be given to two times the number of delegate men to be elected and two times the number of delegate women to be elected. If less than this number have qualified as delegate candidates, all candidates are automatically approved.

If Elected, Will I Pay My Own Expenses?

• Yes. All delegates are totally responsible for his/her travel expenses incurred to participate in the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

Important Dates

April 20 – Last day to qualify as a district level delegate
April 22 – Last day to request ballots for the delegate vote by mail election 
April 29 – Louisiana Democratic Party mails ballots for the district level delegate election
May 13 – Completed ballots for the district level delegate election must be received by LDP before 5:00 p.m.
May 14 – LDP counts all ballots and publishes results of district level delegate election
May 15 – Last day to submit statement of candidacy qualifying form for Party Leader and Elected Official or At Large Delegate positions
May 22 – LDP mails ballots to Democratic State Central Committee members for the PLEO and at large delegate elections
June 8 – PLEO and at large delegate ballots must be returned to LDP by 5 p.m.
June 9 – LDP counts ballots and publishes results of PLEO and at large delegate election
August 17-20 – Democratic National Convention