04/06/10

(revised)

STANDING RULES FOR ENDORSEMENTS BY THE

STONEWALL DEMOCRATS OF AUSTIN

In accordance with Article VII of the Bylaws of theStonewall Democrats of Austin the Endorsement Committee shall draft aquestionnaire to be used in the endorsement process. The Endorsement Committeeshall send the questionnaire to all candidates, shall inform candidates of theopportunity to appear at a scheduled forum, and shall fully publicize thecandidate forum to the general membership and the public.

The Endorsement Committee Chair shall preside overthe candidate forum and the endorsement proceedings in accordance with rulesdetermined by the Chair and approved by the Board. Copies of the rules shall beavailable at the endorsement meeting. The rules shall state that a candidatemust provide a signed questionnaire and declare themselves to be a Democrat inorder to be eligible for endorsement, and multiple copies of the completedquestionnaire shall be made available to the membership at the endorsementmeeting. Other terms of the rules may not conflict with any provision of theBylaws.

In order to be eligible to vote in an endorsementmeeting, members must be in good standing as defined by Article IV, Section 1of the SDA Bylaws and have been a member for at least 30 days prior to theendorsement meeting or renewed their membership within 30 days of theendorsement meeting.

The following standing rules shall govern proceduresfor endorsements before partisan, non-partisan and special elections.

A.  Theprocedure for partisan elections shall be as follows:

1.   The entiremembership may participate in the candidate forum and the discussion of thecandidate's positions but only those members eligible to vote as defined abovemay cast ballots. A majority vote of eligible members present and voting shallbe required for the endorsement of any candidate. Should no candidate receive amajority of the votes cast in a particular race, a motion may be made toapprove a dual endorsement in that race. Such motion shall name the candidatesproposed for multiple endorsement and such motion shall require a majority voteof eligible members to be successful.

2.   The membershipmay vote whether to approve all prior endorsements or make additionalendorsements in a run-off election at the general membership meeting or specialmeeting immediately following any election resulting in a run-off. Anendorsement may be approved or made with a majority vote of the eligiblemembers present and voting.

3.   Endorsement madefor the primary elections extend to the general election. In the eventcandidates who received the Stonewall Endorsement are defeated in the primaryelection, prior to the general election, the full membership may meet toconsider endorsement of candidates for the general election. A majority vote ofeligible members present and voting shall be required for the endorsement ofany candidate.

4.   The EndorsementCommittee Chair shall determine whether additional questionnaires or anadditional candidate forum is necessary or appropriate prior to a run-offelection of the general election, subject to approval by the Board.

B.  Theprocedure for non-partisan and special elections shall be as follows:

1.   The entiremembership may participate in the candidate forum and the discussion of thecandidate's positions but only those members eligible to vote as defined abovemay cast ballots. A majority vote of eligible members present and voting shallbe required for the endorsement of any candidate. Should no candidate receive amajority of the votes cast in a particular race, a motion may be made toapprove a dual endorsement in that race. Such motion shall name the candidatesproposed for multiple endorsement and such motion shall require a majority voteof eligible to be successful.

2.   The membershipshall vote whether to approve all prior endorsements or make additionalendorsements in a run-off election at the general membership meeting or specialmeeting immediately following any election resulting in a run-off. Anendorsement may be approved or made with a majority vote of the members presentand voting.

3.   The EndorsementCommittee Chair shall determine whether additional questionnaires or anadditional candidate forum is necessary or appropriate prior to a run-offelection, subject to approval by the Board.

C.  If exceptional circumstances call intoquestion the appropriateness of an endorsement, a special meeting may be calledto consider whether the endorsement should be withdrawn.  The endorsement shall be withdrawn upona majority vote for withdrawal of the eligible members present and voting.

D.  The Endorsement Committee Chair shallpromptly inform each participating candidate whether the candidate received anendorsement.  The EndorsementCommittee Chair shall review the election results at the general membershipmeeting immediately following any election.