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On Saturday, October 10, 2009, a public election was held for three delegates from each state and the District of Columbia to a national convention called the Continental Congress 2009 <http://cc2009.us/>. Walk-in and mail-in balloting was conducted in all but North Dakota. Voting was conducted in accordance with an Election Procedures Handbook <http://cc2009.us/resources/election-handbook>, using unpaid volunteers and public notices that anyone qualified to vote in any other public election could vote for delegates. Results are expected to be reported October 18, 2009. My question to the forum is, has there ever been a similar direct public election of delegates to a national convention in the United States? The delegates to the first two continental congresses were elected by colonial/state legislatures. Major party primaries don't elect delegates directly to the national conventions of the parties, but to state conventions where state delegations are elected, and some are not open to voting by any member of the public but only those who have previously affiliated with the parties. I would like to be able to conclude this election is unprecedented in the United States, but to get confirmation of that from historians of elections. -- Jon ------------------------------------------------------------------- Constitution Society 2900 W Anderson Ln C-200-322, Austin, TX 78757 512/299-5001 www.constitution.org jon.roland@constitution.org -------------------------------------------------------------------
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