COMMONLY USED ELECTION AND POLITICAL TERMS AND PHRASES:

 

Absentee — In Arizona, the CORRECT use refers to a Voter who requests that a single ballot be mailed to a location that is NOT their voting address. Often confused with PEVL.

 

ADLCC — Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee

 

ADP — Arizona Democratic Party

 

Base Universe — Group of registered voters that a political party knows will vote for their candidates.

 

CD — Congressional District: there are 9 in Arizona, each with 1 US Congressperson (elected in even-numbered years)

 

Compliance — Conducting campaign activities within legal parameters set out by federal or state statute.

 

Coordinated Campaign — Campaign in which candidates and the Democratic Party combine resources to increase voter turnout.

 

DNC— Democratic National Committee

 

DSCC— Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee

 

GOTV — Get Out The Vote: Action of contacting voters to vote.

 

LD— Legislative District: There are 30 in AZ, each with 2 State Representatives and 1 State Senator (elected in even-numbered years).

 

MCDP — Maricopa County Democratic Party

 

Neighborhood Team - Volunteers (PCs and non-PCs) working together to conduct voter contact activities. Teams may consist of a Leader, Data Captain, Canvass/Phone Bank Captain, Volunteer Recruiter and (many) Members.

 

Other — Party not registered. Usually synonymous with Registered Independent, though there is no official Independent Party in AZ.

 

PC — Precinct Committee Person: Party representative elected in primary of even-numbered years or appointed by county party chair, then approved by County Board of Supervisors.

 

PEVL — Permanent Early Voting List: Arizona program that allows voters to receive all ballots by mail.

 

Precinct — Smallest defined voting area.

 

State Committee — Body made up of 1 of every 3 Elected PCs. Members, elected in November/December of even numbered years, attend meetings 3 times a year to conduct business of the Arizona Democratic Party.

 

Turf Cutting — Taking a list of voters in a given geographic area and creating maps for canvasses to easily find them.

 

Turnout Universe — Group of registered Democrats and Dem-leaning independent voters who are less likely to vote -- unless we engage them and turn them out.

 

VAN — Voter Activation Network: A database of voters and volunteers the Democratic Party uses for campaigns.