Precinct Operations

Ever wonder what you can do to help the Democratic Party?
Become a Precinct Captain!

Contact Maureen Markham at PrecinctOps@arlingtondemocrats.org for more information.

Overview

What is a precinct captain?

Precinct Captains serve as the Arlington County Democratic Committee's (ACDC) public face in their respective precincts. Captains are people excited about turning grassroots efforts into victory for Democrats!

What exactly is a precinct?

It’s your neighborhood! Arlington communities are divided into precincts consisting of residences near your home. You can find your precinct by entering your address at:

http://www.sbe.state.va.us/VotReg/Polling_Place/Polling_Place_Lookup_request.htm

What do precinct captains do?

• Cultivate and expand a network of enthusiastic volunteers
• Find out what voters are thinking and let us know
• Notify current and prospective volunteers about upcoming political events
• Coordinate volunteers to distribute campaign materials, attend neighborhood visibility events, and work the polls on Election Day
• Facilitate candidate meet-and-greets
• Support Democratic candidates by encouraging neighbors to vote

What are the benefits of being a precinct captain?

• Meet new and interesting people in your neighborhood
• Gain political opportunities in Arlington and throughout the state
• Have close contact with Arlington leaders
• Be in the know about exciting Democratic speeches, dinners, events and programs in Arlington
• Enjoy the pure satisfaction of knowing you spent time making sure Arlington grows in healthy, smart, and Democratic-friendly ways!

What’s the next step?

Arlington currently has 49 precincts.  That’s a lot of ground to cover and we need your help.  The Arlington Democrats will train you, help you get started, and offer assistance along the way. 

Mission Of Precinct Operations

The mission of the Arlington County Democratic Committee Precinct Operations is to create a sense of community for democratic voters, to build and maintain a strong democratic organization within each precinct, and ultimately to maximize the Democratic turnout and performance in local, state, and federal elections. 

The Role of Precinct Operations

Precinct Operations builds the foundation within each community by identifying voters, recruiting volunteers, and communicating with voters about important issues affecting their lives.  Literally, Precinct Operations represents the “Feet on the Street” that create, develop, and sustain the Democratic Party’s relationship with its voters in the community.

Other Partners

Precinct Operations also partners with individual candidate campaigns and coordinated campaigns.  In addition to the strategies pursued through the Arlington Joint Campaign, candidates on our general election ballot still run their own campaigns and develop their own strategies. 

Similarly, when candidates on our general election ballot are also on the ballot in other parts of Virginia, they often work with one another by creating what the Democratic Party of Virginia refers to as a Coordinated Campaign.  The coordinated campaign has a geographic focus both inside and outside Arlington.

Precinct Operations cooperates fully and to the best extent possible with individual candidate and coordinated campaigns.

Precinct Captains

Democrats believe in the power of community.  The success of Precinct Operations activities depends on precinct captains who are the point of contact for their specific precincts.  A good precinct captain understands the character of her or his precinct, knows the terrain, the types of homes, and the kinds of people who live there.  She or he works year-round to get to know the neighbors, to listen to their concerns and issues, to communicate these issues to the Democratic leadership, and to promote the idea that “we are all in this together.” A precinct captain must recruit volunteers to help carry out the crucial activities of on-the-ground precinct work.

Campaign Activities

Area Divisions

Arlington County currently has 49 precincts.  These precincts are organized into seven different “areas.” 

Central 

Arlington Forest (25); Ashton Heights (2); Barcroft (5); Fillmore (26); Jefferson (27); Lyon Park (15); Buckingham (45)

The River

Cherrydale (7); Madison (35); Marshall (36); Rock Spring (33); Thrifton (20); Woodlawn (24); Yorktown (34)

Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor I (RB-I)

Rosslyn (19); Dawson Terrace (44); Park Lane (18); Wilson (10); Woodbury (41); Courtlands (48)

Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor II (RB-II)

Lyon Village (16); Clarendon (14); Virginia Square (40); Oakland (46); Ballston (4); Monroe (49)

Southeast

Arlington View (38); Aurora Hills (3); Columbia (9); Glebe (30); Crystal City (6); Hume (8); Oakridge (32); Virginia Highlands (21)

Southwest

Abingdon (22); Arlington (1); Claremont (28); Fairlington (12); Glen Carlyn (13); Shirlington (42); Arlington Mill (43); Four Mile Run (47)

West

Ashlawn (39); Dominion Hills (29); East Falls Church (11); Lexington (31); Nottingham (37); Overlee Knolls (17); Westover (23)

ACDC Precinct List (click links for pdf maps of precincts)