Party Resources
Precinct Chair FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Precinct Chairs can be the most influential leaders in their communities. They are the basic
building blocks of any successful political party. Organizing and campaigning are primary
responsibilities of a precinct chair. Build a team to win! You and your volunteers will talk to voters in your area by knocking on doors, telephoning, hosting events, and other ways to get to know your voting neighbors. Precinct chairs are essential for building the Republican Party. Besides organizing and campaigning, Republican Precinct Chairs also represent their home precincts on the Republican Party of Brazos County Executive Committee.
Texas law gives precinct chairs limited official powers, primarily the ability in certain
circumstances to fill Party nominations for office that become vacant between primary and
general elections (such as the event of death). Otherwise, a Precinct Chair is the primary political
representative of the Republican Party in that precinct.
Qualifications are set by the Texas Election Code. To be a precinct chair, a person must be a voter residing in that precinct and vote in the Republican Primary or sign an oath of affiliation with the Republican Party. A Precinct Chair cannot be a candidate for, or holder of, elected office of the federal, state, or county government
Precinct chairs are elected to a two-year term by primary election voters in their precinct in even-numbered years. Between Republican Primary elections (application HERE), vacant precinct chair positions are filled by appointment (see below).
A Precinct Chair should work with Republicans in the precinct, promote Republican candidates and events, and maximize the precinct’s vote for Republican candidates.
Besides being a member of the Republican Party of Brazos County Executive Committee, the Precinct Chair is the main contact for the Republican Party in his/her neighborhood. This includes recruiting volunteers, organizing block walks (door to door) to canvass and distribute campaign materials, phone banking, phoning from home, and encouraging neighbors to vote.
A precinct chair is expected to serve as an election judge, or to recruit someone who can serve. The precinct chair also convenes the Republican precinct convention after the Primary Election.
While the County Chair is the senior elected party official in Brazos County, the Executive
Committee of precinct chairs is the governing body of the Republican Party of Brazos County, and conducts all official party business. The Executive Committee meets at least four times per year.
Precinct Chairs are political positions. They are volunteer positions, which are not paid.
A precinct that has no Chair is considered vacant. Between Primary elections, a qualified person may apply on the Republican Party of Brazos County’s website online application form to fill the vacancy. The Republican Party of Brazos County Executive Committee’s Vacancy Committee will review the application, usually interview the applicant, and make a recommendation. If approved by a majority of the Executive Committee with a quorum present, the applicant will be the new Precinct Chair for the remainder of the term.
Brazos GOP gives each Precinct Chair access to our database of Republicans and other voters in their precinct and full access to add information about voters. Brazos GOP also makes available programs and applications for organizing, communicating, and phone banking, from an office or from the comfort of your home, as well as for door-to-door campaigning. The County Party also assists Precinct Chairs in planning and organizing events.