The South Carolina Democratic Party’s 2012 Delegate Selection and Affirmative Action  Plan has been adopted by the South Carolina Executive Committee and approved by the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee. 

 “With the Democratic National Convention being in Charlotte in 2012, we expect there to be fierce competition for Delegate positions. Becoming a Delegate is an exciting process that is open to all Democrats,” said Dick Harpootlian, the Chairman of the SC Democratic Party.    “I hope it will be a reward for party activists who work non-stop for the Democratic Party and for our Democratic candidates.”   

Harpootlian encouraged all Democrats who would like to attend the National Convention as a delegate to review the plan, which is available on the SCDP website at this link or by calling 803.799.7798.

The Delegate Selection Plan describes how the South Carolina Democratic Party will select its Delegates to the 2012 Democratic National Convention which will be held Sept. 3 – 6, 2012 in Charlotte, N.C. The Plan was adopted by the South Carolina Democratic Party Executive Committee following a 30-day comment period on the plan.

The SC Democratic Party will begin implementing the plan this fall, starting with outreach and education efforts. The major components of the 2012 plan are:

• South Carolina will be allotted 67 delegates and alternates to the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
• The first step in South Carolina’s delegate selection process will be the February 28, 2012 Presidential Primary. South Carolina will use a proportional representation system based on the results of the primary to apportion its delegates among presidential candidates. If President Obama is the only candidate who files for the primary, the Democratic primary will be cancelled and the President will be awarded all of the delegates. 
• Congressional District-level delegates and alternates will be elected at the South Carolina Democratic Party State Convention on May 12, 2012. The At-Large delegates will be chosen later on the same day.
• The Delegate Selection Plan outlines the requirements for individuals wishing to run for delegate to the Democratic National Convention and the DNC  guidelines which the South Carolina Democratic Party must follow throughout the delegate selection process.
• The Plan includes Affirmative Action provisions designed to make the delegate-selection process accessible to all South Carolina Democrats. The Plan also includes provisions for selecting Standing Committee members, the delegation chair, convention pages. It includes details on implementation requirements and how challenges to the plan or specific delegates must be made.

2012 Changes:  The 2012 Plan is not significantly different from the 2004 and 2008 Plans, but reflects changes that the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee has adopted since 2008.  The most important changes include:

• More delegates:  the DNC has increased the number of National Convention delegates to increase participation for Democrats at every level (and reduce the effect of the super delegates).  The “base number” increased from 3,000 to 3,700 delegates.  Including all types, the total number of National Convention Delegates will exceed 5,000, including  South Carolina’s 67 delegates and alternates.
• Fewer alternates: the number of alternates has been reduced proportionately to the increase in the delegate number, to approximately 400.  In 2012, South Carolina will have four alternates chosen at the Congressional Delegate level and one at large alternate.
• Unpledged delegates:  the new rules require unpledged automatic delegates (super delegates), which include members of Congress, Governors, former DNC Chairs, and current DNC members, to declare support for a presidential candidate or an “uncommitted” status within 10 days of the SC state Convention with the pledged delegates are elected. 
• Persons running for delegate must participate in all levels of the 2012 reorganization and presidential nominating process, including precinct re-organization meetings.
• Affirmative Action Plan/Inclusion Programs: South Carolina will add a specific goal to elect at least one Hispanic Delegate for the first time in 2012, in recognition of the significant increase in the Hispanic population in SC and to encourage and reward Hispanic participation in the Democratic Party. There is also a specific goal to elect at least one person with disabilities.  These affirmative action steps are in additional to continuing the specific goals delegates for young people (under age 30) and GLBT Democrats established by the SCDP prior to the 2008 Convention. Additionally, the SC Democratic Party will continue an inclusion and outreach program in 2012 for all underrepresented communities in its Affirmative Action Plan.  

The SC Democratic Party will conduct training sessions on the Delegate Selection Plan in November and December of this year. Information will be posted on the website for these sessions in October.

The SC Democratic Party Plan follows the processes set forth by the Charter of the Democratic Party of the United States, the Charter and By-laws of the South Carolina Democratic Party, the Democratic National Committee’s 2012 Convention Rules, the Democratic National Committee’s 2012 Convention Regulations, and the SC Code of Laws.

For further information, please contact Amanda Loveday at 803-799-7798.