Pursuant to IC3-13-11, and in accordance with the vacancy in the Fort Wayne 6th City Council District, the Allen County Democratic Central Committee will hold a Vacancy Caucus to fill the vacancy in the position of council for the 6th District of Fort Wayne on:
Saturday, May 18th, 2024
10:00 a.m. EDT
Bricklayers Local 4
7301 Decatur Road
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46816
Presiding Officer: Derek Camp, Allen County Democratic Party Chair
Parliamentarian: Andrew Downs
Registration of precinct chairs for the caucus shall begin at 9:30 a.m. and close at 10:00 a.m. All members are encouraged to arrive early. Proposed rules for the Caucus are attached and will be acted upon as the first order of business for the caucus prior to candidate interviews and balloting to fill the position.
Interested candidates must file a declaration of candidacy (State Form CEB-5) with the the Caucus Chair no later than 72 hours before the caucus at 10:30 a.m. on May 15, 2024. No candidacy forms will be accepted after the deadline. All forms are available on the Indiana Election Division’s website at https://www.in.gov/sos/elections/election-administrators-portal/election-forms. Forms may be mailed to: Attn: Derek Camp, Allen Co. Democratic Party, P.O. Box 11544, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46859 or delivered in person during normal business hours to Allen County Democratic Party Headquarters, 701 S Clinton St, Ste 104, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46802. In the event of a contested race, Precinct Committee members should expect a meeting lasting several hours.
Caucus Rules
***REGISTRATION FOR THE CAUCUSES WILL BEGIN AT 9:30 AM***
These Caucus Rules adopted under Indiana Code: 3-13-1 and the Rules of the Indiana Democratic Party: For an Office Vacancy.
CAUCUS RULES OF PROCEDURE
These rules are adopted under Indiana Code 3-13-11, and by the Rules of the Indiana Democratic Party, for the caucus to fill a vacancy in the position of Fort Wayne 6th City Council District and to establish the procedure necessary for this caucus to conduct its business. Any dispute over the eligibility of a precinct committee person or his/her eligible proxy participating in a caucus must be filed in written form with the Allen County Democratic Party Chair (Derek Camp) for resolution at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the convening of the caucus. The written eligibility question may be submitted by a candidate seeking nomination in the caucus or by a precinct committee person who is eligible under IC 3-13-11-5 to participate in the caucus. Any dispute that was presented to the caucus chair and not resolved prior to the caucus may be brought to a vote by the members of the caucus excluding those persons named in the dispute.
Rule 1: Candidate Declarations
Interested candidates must file a declaration of candidacy (State Form CEB-5) with the County Chairperson no later than 72 hours before the caucus at 10:00 a.m. on May 15, 2024. No candidacy forms will be accepted after the deadline. All forms are available upon request or on the Indiana Election Division’s website at https://www.in.gov/sos/elections/election-administrators-portal/election-forms. Forms may be mailed to:
Attn: Derek Camp
Allen Co. Democratic Party
P.O. Box 11544
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46859
or delivered in person during normal business hours to Allen County Democratic Party Headquarters, 701 S Clinton St, Ste 104, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 46802.
Rule 2: Voting Eligibility & Quorum
Under IC 3-13-11-5, all elected Precinct Committee persons as well as all Precinct Committee persons appointed no later than 30 days before the vacancy (3/22/24) and representing the 6th City Council District of Fort Wayne, are eligible to vote in the caucus. A majority of the eligible members of the full committee present and voting constitutes a quorum.
Rule 3: Proxies
Under IC 3-13-11-9, a Vice Committee person is eligible to vote as a proxy for their precinct committee person provided that 1) the precinct committee person is otherwise eligible to participate in the caucus, 2) is not present at the caucus, and 3) the Vice Committee person is eligible in accordance with IC 3-13-11-9. A Vice Committee person must file a written proxy from his/her Precinct Committee person at the convening of the caucus. A Proxy must be emailed to chair@allencountydemocrats.org by the Precinct Committee Person. All Vice Committee Persons are invited and encouraged to attend the caucus, regardless of voting status.
Rule 4: Remarks
A) In order to meet the highest standards of transparency and public accountability, the caucus shall use the following procedures for candidate interviews and remarks:
- Candidates will be called forward in alphabetical order by last name to present remarks not to last longer than five (5) minutes. A strict time limit will be enforced by the presiding officer of the caucus.
- If successive ballots are held, remaining candidates will be called forward in rotating order by last name to present remarks not to last longer than two (2) minutes. A strict time limit will be enforced by the presiding officer of the caucus.
Rule 5: Balloting Procedures
A) Prior to the beginning of voting, the chair shall designate at least one (1) person to serve as a TELLER to oversee the counting of ballots for the election. A person who serves as a teller SHALL NOT be a voting member of the caucus.
B) Prior to the beginning of voting, the chair shall recognize each candidate to designate one (1) person to serve as a WATCHER on behalf of the candidate. A watcher MAY be a member of the caucus.
C) All ballots are by secret ballot. The Secretary shall call forward Precinct Committee persons, or their Vice Committee persons voting by proxy, to cast their ballot. As each voter approaches the voting station, a caucus staff person or volunteer shall give one (1) paper ballot to each voter. After marking the ballot, the voter shall deposit the ballot in the ballot boxes provided. When all voters have deposited their ballots, the teller(s) shall count the ballots in a location designated by the chair, with the consent of the watchers. Candidate watchers are entitled to observe this count, but SHALL NOT handle any ballots.
D) In the event the election is uncontested, the Caucus may suspend these rules and approve the selection by acclamation.
Rule 6: Declaration of Majority
The teller(s) shall provide the chair with a written report specifying the number of votes cast for each candidate. The chair shall then announce the results of the ballot. If a candidate received a majority vote (50% plus one) of those casting a vote for a candidate, the chair shall declare that the candidate has been selected to fill the vacancy.
Rule 7: Successive Ballots
If no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast on the first ballot, any candidate receiving zero votes will be eliminated from the contest. Additionally, the candidate with the fewest number of votes shall be eliminated from the contest and another ballot held with the remaining candidates. This process shall continue on successive ballots until one candidate secures a majority (50% plus one) and is declared the winner under Rule 5. If there are more than three candidates and there is a tie for the fewest number of votes, both candidates will be eliminated from the contest and another ballot held with the remaining candidates. If there are three candidates and the two candidates with the fewest votes are tied, a runoff vote will be held to determine which of the two candidates will be removed from the ballot and then another ballot will be held with the remaining candidates.
Rule 8: Tie Votes
If any ballot results in a tie vote between the candidates receiving the highest number of votes, the chair may cast the deciding vote or call for additional ballots. If there are more than three candidates and there is a tie for the fewest number of votes, both candidates will be eliminated from the contest and another ballot held with the remaining candidates. If there are three candidates and the two candidates with the fewest votes are tied, a runoff vote will be held to determine which of the two candidates will be removed from the ballot and then another ballot will be held with the remaining candidates.
Rule 9: Other Considerations
The Rules of the Indiana Democratic Party and requirements of IC 3-13-11 shall govern all remaining questions of conduct regarding the caucus.