Calling Malden Democrats – join hybrid Caucus on Wed., May 31

All Malden Dems invited to elect delegates to the Sept. 23 Massachusetts Democratic Party Convention in Lowell

  Are you a Democrat and curious about what your party is doing locally, statewide and beyond? Here’s a great way to find out. All Malden residents who are registered or preregistered Democrats are cordially invited to join fellow Democrats from their ward at the annual caucus on Wednesday evening, May 31, at the Malden Moose Hall, where they will elect delegates to represent Malden at the Massachusetts Democratic Convention on September 23, 2023, at the Tsongas Center in Lowell. In an announcement to local chairs, Party Chair Steve Kerrigan explained, “Delegates to the Convention will discuss the critical issues facing the people of the Commonwealth, set an agenda for the party in the year ahead and begin planning and organizing for 2024.”

  “The caucus is democracy in action,” said Malden Democratic City Committee Chair Ariane Taylor. “Every Malden resident who is a registered or preregistered Democrat (over age 16 by May 23) can participate in the caucus and become delegates to the Convention. Attending the annual caucus and voting for delegates, whether or not you personally want to attend the convention, is a great way to get involved, build your network of Democrats, and make your voice heard.”

  Each year, Democratic Party caucuses are held in every city and town in Massachusetts to elect delegates to the state Convention in accordance with Massachusetts Democratic Party guidelines (www.massdems.org).

Hybrid caucus

  Malden’s caucus for all wards will take place on May 31 at 6:30 p.m. People can attend in person at the Malden Moose Hall (562 Broadway) or via Zoom. Doors will open at 5:30, and registration (in person or online) will close at 6:45. To streamline the process, attendees, whether they plan to attend virtually or in person, are strongly encouraged to preregister online for the caucus at https://tinyurl.com/MaldenDems23.

  The Zoom room will open no later than 6:00 p.m., and participants may preregister up to the time of the caucus. Online participants will be assigned to breakout rooms by ward. Those interested in participating should arrive promptly, as registration for the caucus will close at 6:45 p.m. People who are not registered Democrats may attend and observe, but they will not be able to vote.

  Due to tight scheduling, speaking will be limited to the business of the Caucus and an update from U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark’s office. Candidates who are Democrats may gather signatures.

Who can participate?

  To vote at a given ward’s caucus, you must be a registered or preregistered Democrat and live in that ward. To become a delegate or alternate from your ward, you must be elected during the caucus by other attendees from your ward. (You must attend, either in person or virtually, in order to be elected.) The Committee will have a list of registered Democrats; if you recently registered or changed your registration, you should be prepared to show proof of registration. Young people who have preregistered as Democrats and reached the age of 16 by May 23, 2023, may vote in the caucus, run as delegates and be elected as delegates to the convention.

  The Massachusetts Democratic Party is committed to representing the party’s diversity at its annual Convention. In electing delegates, the Party works to maximize gender balance and inclusion. Candidates who identify as gender nonbinary can run for delegate or alternate without needing to classify themselves as male or female.

  Members of potentially underrepresented groups who were not elected as delegates at their caucus – including youth (35 or under), members of racial and ethnic minorities, people who identify as LGBTQ+ and people with disabilities – may, after the caucus, apply to the Massachusetts Democratic Party as “add-on delegates” to the convention. The Party evaluates the diversity of elected delegates in relation to party registration and draws from the pool of add-on applicants to maximize fair representation.

Massachusetts Democratic Party Convention

  The 2023 Massachusetts Democratic Party Convention will take place in person at the Tsongas Center in Lowell, Mass., on September 23. In addition to the formal business of the convention, attendees will have opportunities to socialize, network and hear speeches by elected officials and candidates. Attending the Convention is a great way to learn more about the Democratic Party in Massachusetts and to meet elected officials, candidates, activists, organizers and other active Democrats from around the Commonwealth and beyond.

  While there is a cost to attend, which helps to defray the Party’s convention costs, it should not become a barrier. Delegates may request funding confidentially from the Massachusetts Democratic Party or the Malden Democratic City Committee (MDCC).

  Whether or not Malden Democrats participate in the Caucus, they are invited to attend the MDCC monthly meetings and periodic Ward Democratic Committee meetings. Meetings are open to the public, with Democrats and prospective Democrats especially welcome. Anyone interested in learning about upcoming events for Malden Democrats and ways to get involved should visit www.maldendemocrats.org, where they can join the email list. They can also follow the group on Twitter (@MaldenDems) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/MaldenDems/). Finally, everyone is invited to save the date for the traditional MDCC Barbecue: August 23 at Anthony’s of Malden.

  Democrats with questions about the Caucus or any aspect of MDCC should contact the officers at maldendemocrats@gmail.com. Find details on Caucus rules, the Convention and more at www.massdems.org.