How to Run Delegate Elections for Political Conventions

The Backbone of Convention Democracy

Delegate elections determine who represents party members at state and national conventions — the gatherings where platforms are adopted, rules are set, and in presidential years, nominees are formally chosen. The integrity of delegate selection shapes the legitimacy of everything the convention produces.

Whether your party selects delegates through precinct caucuses, county conventions, state committee votes, or direct member elections, online voting can make the process more accessible, transparent, and well-documented.

Delegate Selection Methods

Phase 1: Preparation

1. Review your party’s delegate selection plan: This document specifies how delegates are chosen, eligibility requirements, filing deadlines, and allocation rules.
2. Determine the number of delegates to be elected: This may be set by national party rules, state party rules, or based on party registration numbers.
3. Open the filing period: Announce that candidates for delegate positions can file. Specify the filing deadline, eligibility requirements, and any pledging rules (whether delegates must pledge support for a specific candidate).
4. Verify candidate eligibility: Confirm that each delegate candidate meets the requirements (party membership, residency, etc.).

Phase 2: Ballot Setup

1. Create the election in ElectionChamp: “[Party] [State/District] Delegate Election — 2026 State Convention”
2. Build the ballot: List all eligible delegate candidates. Use Plurality voting with Total Winners matching the number of delegate positions to fill.
3. Selection: Set to “Up to [N]” where N equals the number of delegates to be elected. This allows members to vote for as many or as few candidates as they choose.
4. Include candidate information: Each delegate candidate’s statement, including any candidate pledge, should be visible on the ballot.
5. Enable Random Order: Ballot position effects are well-documented in elections — randomization ensures fairness.

Phase 3: The Vote

• Import the eligible voter list: All party members in the relevant district or jurisdiction
• Send notifications via email and SMS
• Set a 7-14 day voting window to maximize participation
• Monitor participation through the dashboard — send reminders at the midpoint and 48 hours before close

Phase 4: Results and Certification

• Download results immediately after the vote closes
• The top vote-getters (up to the number of positions) are elected as delegates
• Next-highest vote-getters are typically designated as alternates
• Submit results to the state party committee and credentials committee per party procedures
• Archive all election records for the retention period specified by party rules

Proportional Delegate Allocation

In presidential primary contexts, delegates are often allocated proportionally based on candidate support. The voting phase determines the proportions:

• Create a ballot listing the presidential candidates (or uncommitted option)
• Members vote for their preferred presidential candidate
• Results determine the percentage each candidate receives
• Delegates are then allocated according to those percentages per the party’s allocation formula
• The actual allocation calculation typically happens outside the voting platform, using the percentage results as input

Convention-Day Delegate Voting

For delegate elections that happen during a convention session:

• Set up the election in advance with the ballot and voter list ready
• At the convention, distribute Manual Keys to credentialed delegates at the registration desk
• Display a QR code on the convention screen linking to the voting page
• Open voting during the designated session, allow 15-30 minutes, then close
• Display results on the convention screen immediately after close

Credential Verification

Only properly credentialed delegates should vote in delegate elections:

• Verify voter eligibility against the official party membership roll before importing the voter list
• For convention elections, only credentialed delegates (those who have registered and been verified by the credentials committee) should receive voter keys
• If credentials are challenged during the convention, the credentials committee resolves disputes before voting begins
• ElectionChamp’s voter list is locked after launch, preventing unauthorized additions — any necessary additions require admin action that is logged in the audit trail

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