Precinct committee people hold one of the least known, but most important, positions in the two major political parties. They serve at the most grassroots level of our political system. They’re the folks in neighborhoods, talking to their community and leading party meetings.
To know who they are and what they do, it’s necessary to understand how the precinct system works.
What is a precinct?
A precinct is a smaller area within a voting district.
A district is a specific area represented by an elected official — a city councilor, state representative, etc. Each district is made up of multiple precincts.
What is a precinct committee person?
A politically active person who is elected to help with voter turnout, voter education, and general voter engagement. There is one precinct committeeman and one committeewoman for every 250 registered voters in a major political party.
Mary Martin, a former Teton County party chairwoman, described them as “the eyes and ears of our party. We see them as the lifeblood of the political organization."
What do they do?
Precinct committeemen and women can perform a variety of tasks for candidates, including going door-to-door and talking to potential voters, providing information, and participating in phone banks.
They also help draft party platforms at the local level and try to get their planks adopted at the state convention. Their roles may include recruiting candidates, registering voters, leading get-out-the-vote efforts, and helping decide county party budgets and policies.
Do they help select candidates?
When a political office becomes vacant, precinct committee people play a key role in filling it. For example, state Sen. Darin Smith left the Legislature when he was appointed as Wyoming’s U.S. attorney. Precinct committee people chose three nominees, and county commissioners were required to pick a replacement from that list.
Because precinct committee people are active in their political parties, many go on to become candidates for local and state office. Others may seek higher positions within the party.
How do you become one?
Precinct committee people are selected in each party’s primary election. To run, there is an application at your local county clerk’s office to file with a major political party. You will list your address and name, and the party you are running for.
The only requirements are that you live within the precinct you are running for and that you are a registered member of the party. The application period in 2026 is May 14-29. You can find the application here.
Are these highly sought positions?
Sadly, no. While some precincts have multiple candidates, many go unfilled every election, likely because the average person is unfamiliar with the job and what it means for their party. Often, a party’s county chair appoints members to serve as precinct committee men and women because too few people ran to fill the positions.
Can precinct committee people contribute to a larger political strategy?
Yes. There are examples at the state and local level where precinct committee people have played key roles in a larger political strategy. For instance, far-right activists in Wyoming sought out precinct committee seats to move the Wyoming Republican Party to the extreme right under Frank Eathorne’s leadership.
Former presidential adviser Steve Bannon also adopted a precinct strategy to help Donald Trump win the White House in 2016, saying the campaign would be built “village by village, precinct by precinct.” It was instrumental in helping bring Trump back to power in 2024.
Should I become a precinct committee person?
Yes! Wyoming needs precinct committee people in both parties, in every county.
Many county-level parties in Wyoming have been taken over by ideological activists pushing their own agendas. Both Democrat and GOP county parties need more everyday Wyomingites who understand the concerns of hardworking families and can push the parties to address them.
Anyone can become a precinct committee person, and it is a great way to influence policy debates and shape the future of our communities.