Hello Young Democrats!
Over the weekend, our Bylaws Committee reconvened in order to discuss how our bylaws' stance on endorsements and support for candidates might be clarified. After much discussion and deliberation, the committee is proposing the following changes in our bylaws.
- The new bylaws explicitly state that SVYD's purpose is to help elect Democratic candidates who reflect the values and interests of young Democrats in Silicon Valley.
- They further state that SVYD shall only endorse candidates who are registered Democrats.
- Lastly, the new bylaws establish guidelines for SVYD to support (but not endorse) non-Democratic candidates who embody our values as an organization in races where there is no registered Democrat to endorse.
These changes address an ambiguity that has been left open in our current bylaws (namely, that there is no explicit statement that SVYD may only endorse Democrats in accordance with the Central Committee's Democratic Clubs Enablement Act). They also provide guidelines for how SVYD can continue to be a force for progress in Silicon Valley in races where no Democratic candidate has qualified for the ballot.
You can review the language for the amended bylaws here; the sections that were added are highlighted in yellow. These changes will be presented for approval by membership at our upcoming meeting on June 15 at 7pm, via Zoom; the Facebook event will include info on how to access the meeting.
Thanks, and hope to see you all on June 15!
Alexander Gvatua
Vice President, Silicon Valley Young Democrats
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