Precinct Committee Officer (PCO's)

Democratic Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) is the neighborhood representative of the Democratic Party in their precinct. A voting precinct consists of 300 to 400 registered voters, or about 180 to 250 households. PCOs are elected in the September Primary Election Ballot in even years.

Responsibilities
A PCO's specific responsibilities are few, but the possibilities are many.

PCOs elect officers of the Clallam County Democratic Central Committee and the 24th Legislative District Democratic Central Committee every two years in January following the November election. When precinct caucuses are held to nominate candidates, the PCO is expected to act as the Chairperson for their precinct.

In general, PCOs are responsible for helping promote Democratic Party candidates and issues in their neighborhoods. The ways you do this are only limited by your creativity. It's all about connecting to voters. Perhaps you will call, write, or doorbell. Maybe you will arrange or host coffees or teas. One thing is sure, you will meet candidates personally and develop new friendships along the way.

The tools PCO's have to work with are better now than they have ever been. We now have current voter lists available in printed and computerized forms. These lists have the latest information on identified Democrats and Republicans.

With these lists you can help your voters choose the forms of communication they find most convenient and meaningful. Now they have a choice of email, phone, personal, or all three forms of communication.

Why are Precinct Committee Officers Important, especially today?

PCOs are especially important today because the public is so apathetic and jaded about politics. A personal opinion about candidates you have personally seen and heard can go a long way to convince a voter that your candidates are worth supporting. In a the age of television and television news, it is easy for voters to forget that politics is about real people. When you meet candidates and are able to share your personal experiences with a neighbor, it means even more than it did in the past.

The other reason PCOs are so important is that they are the grassroots politics that everyone so fondly refers to. Yet in most districts, like ours, we have so few "roots" that we could scarcely be considered close to a "lawn" of grass. It takes a "village" to make a Party. And until we are able to create vibrant local parties, reform of politics at the national level will not take place.

Term of Office

Elected PCOs are elected in the August primary election. Their terms begin on December 1st and extend for two years. The newly elected PCOs elect the County Chair, County Vice-Chair, State Committeeman and State Committeewoman at the January reorganization meeting following the general election. Information will be soon be released regarding the filing deadlines and dates for running for an elected PCO position in 2012.

Appointed PCOs terms expire December 1st. The newly elected County Chair may, with Executive Committee approval, appoint PCOs to vacant precincts at, or after, the January reorganization meeting. To become an Appointed PCO, click here to fill out the Application for Appointed PCO.