The Heart of the Matter: Passionate Delegates to Raise Their Voices and Votes at the Democratic National Convention

One of the best ways to understand what motivates a political convention delegate is to talk to one, or at least read about one.

Like all delegates to the national party conventions, Courtney Ward Jr. had to come up with the funds to get there. This flyer is from an August fundraiser in Atlanta. (Photo Courtesy C. Ward Jr.)

Here at TheVillageCelebration, at-large delegate Courtney Ward Jr. of Atlanta will be sharing his experiences and impressions from Charlotte throughout the Democratic National Convention. At age 25, this is Ward’s first time as a delegate.

• Connect with Courtney on Facebook

As Ward wrote, “In May 2012 I took my dream of becoming a public servant to the voters. I ran and was elected to be a delegate for the 2012 Democratic National Convention. Finally, this small town kid from East Saint Louis, Illinois was going to be a delegate like ‘those awe-inspiring people’ I had witnessed at the Convention in 2004.”

• Read more on TVC: Representing at the Democratic National Convention

So what does it actually mean to serve as a convention delegate? Ward to the time to break it down for us.

Edgell: American voters see delegates at the major political party conventions every four years on television, but many may wonder how these people got there. How does a person become a delegate to the Democratic National Convention? How did you get picked as a delegate?

Ward: My initial understanding of the delegate process is that most delegates were political and community leaders and those who were most active with the party. That reality is changing as you see the demographics of the electorate changing and new voters engaging in the process.

The delegate selection process does vary from state to state and you should contact your local party to see what process they follow.

The selection process generally uses one of three methods: caucus, selection during presidential primary election, or appointment by state party officials or office holders.

My process (in Georgia) was a combination of caucus and being elected by party officials and office holders.

Edgell: Is there a test, interview or training you had to undergo to prepare for the convention? How are you preparing?

Ward: There is not a formal training; however our state’s party has taken the time to make sure we are well prepared for Charlotte.

Edgell: You are fairly young, age 25. How do you feel about taking on a task that is so central to our system of government at this point in your life?

Ward: I’m humbled by this opportunity and I encourage more young people and young adults to get involved. In my view, there is a misconception that young people don’t care about the political process and what’s going on in our government. However, I think the true issue is that most young people don’t understand how they are affected by politics and what they can really do to make a difference.

If you can teach a kid to understand how taxes affect the type of book he gets in school, as my mother did for me, or how when certain laws are enacted they can effect a person’s everyday life, only then does one began to understand that politics impacts everyone and everything.

As you begin to understand how you are affected by politics, you understand how your neighborhood is affected, how your community and city is affected and so on.

I firmly believe that youth community involvement and civic engagement generates self-expression that will foster growth, development and maturity. Being a young adult myself, it wasn’t until I understood this that I realized the stake of not being involved is too great.

Edgell: What do you expect the highlight of the convention to be for delegates like yourself?

Ward: One highlight for me is the diversity I expect to see at the Democratic National Convention. Whether it’s age, sexual orientation, race, etc., it will be amazing to see how people from so many different backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life will all come together on our shared principles and ideas.

Edgell: Anything else you think African-American voters should know about the delegates at the convention?

Ward: It’s important for all voters to know there is more to the convention than what you see on TV. The delegates participate on different committees that really shape the policy, ideology and platform of their party affiliations. Even in light of the recent Todd Akin incident in which he referred to notion of “legitimate” rape, the GOP party platform committee voted to add a constitutional amendment protecting “human life,” which does not say whether exceptions should be allowed in cases of rape and incest. It’s important, particularly for African-Americans, to look at both conventions closely and see what policies or platforms identify best with their self-interests.

Did you know?

1. Delegates pay their own way to the convention
2. Each state’s delegation must send an equal number of men and women.
3. Each state party must reach out to diverse groups to encourage participation in the delegate selection process
4. Pledged delegates are allocated based on each state’s primary or caucus results and are elected at the state and local level. (They can change their minds)
5. Unpledged delegates, also known as super delegates, serve by virtue of an office that they hold and are not pledged to a particular candidate.

Source: demconvention.com

Learn More:

What drives delegates? Their stories:

• Lisa Daly, New York
• Alexis Lewis, California
• Jan Stevenson, Michigan
• Davante Lewis, Louisiana
• Juanita Houston Pruitt, Arkansas

• Visit The Democratic Delegate map (demconvention.com) to learn about the delegates from your state.

• Delegate Tracker for both parties (Politico.com)

• The Swing State Story:  What the Black Vote in the Convention Host State and other Battlegrounds Could Mean for President Obama