Party Conventions Party Down: Saturday, April 21

The primaries may not be until May 29, but the political parties can't wait to hold their annual gatherings until then. The delayed primaries mean both Republicans and Democrats in Travis County are bypassing the normal precinct conventions and heading straight into modified county conventions on April 21. Since there will be no election results, they'll have less candidate-related business to handle than normal, but since no one will have voted in a primary, the job of verifying party allegiance becomes much more complicated.

Travis County Democratic Party

Austin Convention Center, 500 E. Cesar Chavez

Registration 8am, convention 10am-5pm

Delegates can enroll on the day of, but the party is asking people to sign up in advance online at www.traviscountydemocrats.org/delegate-registration. Enter your Senate district, precinct number, and District Voter Unique ID number. That information can be found on the new voter registration card, which should have been mailed after April 1. Delegates will also be asked to take an oath of affiliation, pledging to vote in the Democratic primary. Due to time concerns, committees will start meeting during the opening speeches. Delegates will be selected to go on to the state convention, June 7-9 in Houston.

Travis County Republican Party

Hyde Park Baptist Church, 3901 Speedway

Registration 7:30am, convention 9am

As with the Democratic convention, anyone attending as a delegate will be asked to sign an oath of affiliation certificate, complete with their Voter Unique ID. This can be done the day of or prior to the convention, either with your precinct chair or in person at the Travis County Republican Headquarters (7901 Cameron #3-202). Participants will be broken up into the four Senate districts drawn under the latest redistricting, but will be seated according to their 2010 precinct maps, not the new 2012 lines. Delegates will be selected to go on to the state convention, June 7-9 in Fort Worth.