BLOG: What is the County Central Committee that appears on my ballot?

What Am I Voting For?

by Mayor Jeffrey Prang

Member, Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee 

Every two years on your Primary Election, registered Republican and Democratic party voters (other parties too) see an office on their ballot so obscure and so little understood, almost no one can remember ever having seen it on their ballot or having voted for it previously, despite the fact that it has always been there.  That office is called “County Central Committee.” 

Both Democrats and Republicans have a “County Central Committee,” and the Green Party has a County Council.  These Committees operate as the governing body for the party in the county.  They are responsible for making endorsements of candidates and ballot measures and for conducting voter education and registration. The political party committees also coordinate grassroots campaign efforts, including phone banking, precinct walking, and the operation of campaign headquarters. 

The position does not provide compensation, and the Central Committees generally meet monthly and discuss the important political issues of the day.  If you support the principals of a political party, the Central Committees are especially helpful in helping guide voters through the more obscure offices, as they conduct thorough interviews with candidates and apply their unique party standards to their endorsement choices. 

Unlike many of the “slate cards” you are undoubtedly now receiving in the mail that claim to represent Democrats, Republicans, law enforcement, etc., political parties do not sell their endorsements to the highest bidder, thus their recommendations are more thoughtful and considered and are a better source of information in evaluating your voting choices. 

It is virtually impossible for even the most experienced and conscientious voter to learn about the candidates for County Central Committee.  There is very little information available to the public.  Each state assembly district elects seven members, and because of the nature of the position, it is impossible to raise money to conduct a campaign to educate voters in an assembly district with 450,000 residents. 

One very limited source of information about County Central Committee and other candidates is www.smartvoter.org by the League of Women Voters. The net result is that voters come see this odd office that says “vote for no more than seven;” and because 99% of voters have no idea what the office is, they vote based on a variety of subjective factors such as gender, ballot designation, perceived demographic affiliation, etc.  In other words, election is almost totally random. 

As a member of the LA County Democratic Central Committee, I can attest that the Committee provides and excellent information resource to Democratic and progressive voters, and is an excellent entry level way of getting more involved in the political process. 

LA County Democratic Central Committee   http://www.lacdp.org/ 

LA County Republican Central Committee http://www.lagop.org/

P.S., One last unrelated note.  Many independent voters register as "American Independent," mistakenly thinking they are registering as an independent, or more accurately known as "decline to state."  The American Independent Party was created by segregationalist Alabama Governor Wallace when he ran for president.  While I am not familiar with the current platform of the American Independent Party, if you registered with this organization with the intention of registering as a true independent (decline to state), you may wish to re-confirm your registration.