You asked for a description of the selection process for district convention delegates.

Local party town committees or caucuses endorse convention delegate candidates between March 26 and April 2, 2002, and certify them by the next day. Whether the town committee or a local party caucus endorses the convention delegate candidates is determined by local party rules (CGS §§ 9-390 and 9-391). If there is no challenge, the party-endorsed slate goes to the convention.

During the same period, on the day after the party makes its endorsement, registrars of voters must make petition forms available for those who want to petition to challenge the endorsed slate of candidates in a primary (CGS § 9-409). Primary petitions for opposition candidates equal to the number of delegates the party is entitled to send to the convention must be filed by 4 p. m. on April 17. The petition must be signed by at least 5% of the enrolled party members in the district (CGS §§ 9-405 and 9-407).

If a primary is necessary, it is held on May 21, the third Tuesday in May (CGS § 9-424). Absentee ballots are available for the primary and the polls are open between 6 a. m. and 8 p. m. on primary day. The results of the primary determine the delegate selection.

The selected convention delegates meet between July 4 and July 22 to endorse candidates for district offices and to conduct other party business.

The following chart from the Office of the Secretary of the State's "November 5, 2002, State Election Calendar" shows the key dates in 2002 for delegates to state and district conventions.

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