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Essential To Do List for Candidate Events

CANDIDATE EVENTS ESSENTIALS

EACH AND EVERY CANDIDATE EVENT, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS NAMED, MUST ABIDE BY WRITTEN POLICY

  1. Develop a comprehensive written Candidate Event policy reviewed annually by the Board that includes:
  • Non-partisan statement.
  • Prohibition against empty chair debates (LWVNY adopted policy July 2017).
  • Recording policy.
  • Criteria for Candidate inclusion (LWVNY recommends only including candidates on ballot).
  • Policy on distribution of campaign literature

2. Send Candidate Event Policy to candidates with invitation to event.

  • Obtain acknowledgement of receipt of policy signed by candidate and campaign manager.

3. If sponsoring a primary candidate night, you MUST OFFER to sponsor candidate night for any other party                    holding primary for same race ( LWVNY adopted policy July 2017)

4. Careful planning and preparation is crucial with defined roles for board and committee.

  •  Entire Board of Directors decides if candidate events should be held, if so, which ones, and establishes
    parameters.
  •  Local is responsible for maintaining control of candidate events from inception.
  • Voter Service Chair assembles committee, designates roles, and oversees the entire event.
  • Voter Service Committee

Plans event including site selection, date and time (make sure not on religious holiday).
 Selects format including who and how questions will be asked, time to respond and whether rebuttals                        will be allowed
 Sends invitations and follow up correspondence (always including policy statement)

  • Use press and social media to pressure candidates who are not responding to invitation

Selects a trained moderator who can be fair and neutral, can maintain control night of event and does not                   live in Election District relevant to the event.

  • Moderator is in charge night of event

Moderator needs to know the format, ground rules, candidates, etc., and any “hot Issues”

Moderator (or league president) conveys rules to the audience.

  • Candidate Event Team roles include time keeper, vetters, floor manager, and greeter.

IMPORTANT THAT LEAGUE IS NOT ONLY NON-PARTISAN BUT PERCEIVED THAT WAY

Publicity should include non-partisan statement and policy on empty chair.
Display signage with non-partisan statement the evening of event.
If event is cancelled because of no empty chair, publicize reason.
Follow written policy carefully.

 

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