What is a PCO?
A Precinct Committee Officer (or PCO) is the official elected or appointed Democratic Party official for an electoral precinct under state law. Their primary responsibility is to contact voters in their precinct before each election to remind them to vote, but they also serve as leaders and organizers for voters in their precinct. All elected Democratic PCOs in the 41st are part of the King County Democratic Central Committee (KCDCC), and participate in electing the leadership of the 41st District Democrats, including the Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, and other officers. In short, PCOs are the backbone of our Party.
Becoming a PCO
To find your precinct number, use King County’s district look-up. Just enter your address and it will return information on your King County Council District, Congressional District, Legislative District and your home precinct.
Even if your precinct already has a Precinct Committee Officer, you can help the party by being appointed as the Precinct Coordinator for another precinct close to you.
The next step is to fill out an on line form through the King County Democrats website. Most of the process can be done on line, and final appointment will be at the next regularly scheduled general meeting (which are currently held via Zoom).
Two Types of PCOs vs. Precinct Coordinators:
Elected PCO: During the Primary Election of every even-numbered year, an individual may file with King County Elections to be elected as PCO for the precinct in which they are registered to vote. If more than one person files in a precinct, those names will be placed on the ballot and the Democratic voters in that precinct will choose whom to elect. If only one person files, they are automatically elected. They serve a two-year term beginning December 1st of the year they are elected.
Appointed PCO: An Appointed PCO is appointed by the other 41st LD PCOs to the precinct in which they are registered to vote (if there is no Elected PCO). They serve from the date of their appointment until the end of the two-year PCO term (November 30th of each even-numbered year.)
Precinct Coordinator: Someone whose precinct already has a PCO may be appointed as Precinct Coordinator to a precinct in which they are not registered to vote. They serve their adopted precinct until the end of the two-year PCO term, or until an Appointed PCO is found for their adopted precinct.
Special Voting Rights of Elected and Appointed PCOs:
Under state law and Party rules, Elected and Appointed PCOs have special voting rights in some areas:
Reorganization Meetings: Elected PCOs play a special role at the biennial Reorganization meetings of the King County Democrats and 41st District Democrats. Only Elected PCOs may vote for the Chair of these organizations, some other officers, and on bylaws amendments of each. The King County Democrats reorganization meeting occurs in December of an even-number year. The 41st District Democrats reorganization meeting occurs sometime after that.
Legislative Vacancies: In the event of a vacancy in one of the three legislative seats in the middle of a term, a special meeting will be called by the Chair of the King County Democrats where Elected and Appointed PCOs will nominate three individuals to fill the vacancy. The King County Council will then appoint one of these three individuals to complete the rest of the legislative term.
Please Note: Precinct Coordinators do not have the special voting privileges noted above. However, all PCOs of any type, precinct coordinators, and all members of the 41st District Democrats may vote on other important matters including endorsement of candidates and ballot measures, and resolutions.