Platform Token Deletion Vote

As per Convention Rule 5, platform planks can come up for an up/down vote on deletion as follows:

1. After the adoption of the convention agenda, the convention will vote whether to delete planks from the existing platform. This will be accomplished as follows:

a. The Credentials Committee shall issue five signature tokens to each delegate.

b. Tokens shall only be issued to delegates. Delegates are responsible for transferring possession of unused tokens to their alternates if necessary.

c. Each delegate may cast each token as a recommendation for deletion of one plank by noting on the token the plank to be deleted and signing the token.

d. A delegate may cumulate recommendations by casting any number of tokens for deletion of the same plank.

e. Delegates will be given until one hour prior to the scheduled start of the platform report to mark their tokens and deliver them to the Secretary.

f. Prior to the scheduled start of the platform report, the Secretary shall review the tokens received and tabulate and report the tokens submitted for deletion of each plank.

g. As its first item of platform business, the convention shall vote whether to delete each of those planks that received a number of tokens for deletion equal to 20% or more of the number of credentialed delegates. Such votes shall be cast without amendment or debate.

Convention Rule 5 and Abortion

One of the most contentious planks in the Party deals with abortion and is frequently the subject of activism to delete through the above convention rule.

The current language for that plank has existed since 2008. It did exist in the 2004 and 2006 platforms but those were in an entirely different format that is not useful for this modern analysis.

Here are the numbers for the token cast for deletion of the abortion plank since 2008:

• National Convention 2008: The plank in its current wording was adopted at this convention and thus not eligible for deletion.
• National Convention 2010: A plank needed 108 tokens (from 536 delegates). The abortion plank received 77, so it didn't have enough to get a vote.
• National Convention 2012: A plank needed 106 tokens (from 517 delegates). The abortion plank received 74, so it didn't have enough to get a vote.
• National Convention 2014: A plank needed 84 tokens (from 419 delegates). The abortion plank received 100, and thus came up for a vote. It was retained.
• National Convention 2016: A plank needed 150 tokens (from 748 delegates). The abortion plank received 439, and thus came up for a vote. It was retained.
• National Convention 2018: A plank needed 160 tokens (from 799 delegates). The abortion plank received 608, and thus came up for a vote. It was retained.
• National Convention 2020: A plank needed 210 tokens (from 1,056 delegates). The abortion plank received 1,041, and thus came up for a vote. It was retained.
• National Convention 2022: A plank needed 201 tokens (from 1,005 delegates). The abortion plank received 2,252, and thus came up for a vote. The plank was deleted upon a standing vote with a vote count of 512 to 268.