On November 3rd, 2004, local Democratic Party volunteers, electeds and activists got together and decided that we needed a year-round, neighbor-to-neighbor plan to ensure that Democrats win back the Governor's Mansion in '06 and the White House in '08!

We have since launched our Permanent Precinct Operation with great success, but we can't do it alone. Apply to be a Precinct Captain and join this historic Democratic effort!

Precinct Captains have 4 main goals and responsibilities:
1. Recruiting Volunteers -- As a Captain, you're going to put together your precinct team by recruiting through your own personal network and neighborhood clubs and organizations.

2. Contacting Your Neighbors -- Your job will be registering neighbors to vote, as well as encouraging voters to get involved with community activities and to support Democratic Party issues and candidates. You will be given a map of your precinct and a list of voters.

3. Communication & Tracking of Efforts -- You will be in charge of reporting all voter contact in your precinct (and will of course be provided with all the tools you need to track these efforts).

4. Building a Democratic Community in your Precinct -- In addition to going door-to-door and making phone calls, you'll plan local events like backyard BBQs, neighborhood garage sales or house parties to recruit new volunteers and precinct captains, and help raise funds.

What is a precinct?
You can think of your precinct as your immediate neighborhood, commonly about 8-10 square blocks. It usually consists of around 300-500 Democratic voters and is established by the County Registrar.

Who can be a Precinct Captain?
Anybody can be a Precinct Captain! As long as you commit the time and agree with the Democratic Party platform, you can become a grassroots, Democratic Party leader.

What is the minimum time commitment?
There is no minimum time commitment. As long as you are able to contact your neighbors on a regular basis and build a community in your neighborhood, you are free to delegate your responsibilities to your Precinct Volunteers and allocate your time as you like.

How do I get the materials I need (precinct maps, lists, etc.)?
The San Francisco Democratic Party will provide you with all of the materials you need.

What do I do if I have a question or need help with something?
Each Precinct Captain will be assigned an Area Coordinator in their District. Your Area Coordinator will stay in touch with you on a regular basis to discuss any challenges you are facing and advise you on your efforts. The area coordinator will be the core of your support team. If you can't reach your area coordinator for any reason, you can always call the Democratic Party HQ and we will get back to you within 24-48 hours.

What if I've never been a precinct captain before?
That's not a problem. We hold regular trainings for our captains, co-captains and volunteers on basic and more advanced grassroots organizing skills.