Caucusing 2010

LOCATIONS

• Find Your Caucus Location
  
• What you need to bring: An open mind.
  
• What you can expect: Expect a fun time with lively discussion; the precinct committee person will lead the caucus through several decisions.

AFFILIATION DETAILS

Voters wanting to confirm their current registration or affiliation details can use the Colorado Secretary of State's online look-up tool here.

CHANGE YOUR PARTY AFFILIATION
Voters needing to change their party affiliation must submit the appropriate form to their county clerk's office not later than close of business, January 19.  Mesa County clerk office contact information may be found here.

ABOUT CAUCUSING

What is a Precinct Caucus?

In an election year, political parties have to nominate candidates, write platforms, and organize their efforts to get out the vote on Election Day. Colorado's process starts with precinct caucuses based on state law, party rules, and a delegate selection plan. Only the Democratic party and the Republican party hold caucuses and each establishes their own rules.

PRECINCT CAUCUS

Precincts are the smallest political unit in the state. They are held in homes, schools, churches, or other locations in the neighborhood. All precinct caucus locations must be accessible to people with disabilities. There are close to 4000 precincts in Colorado.

In Senatorial Primary election years, the caucus will be held on the 3rd Tuesday of March. The caucuses will be held on March 16, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend the caucus, but must be a registered Democrat in their precinct The voter must be affiliated with the Democratic Party no later than December 5, 2010.

There are two exceptions:

1. If you tum 18 or
2. Become a U.S. citizen during the two-month period prior to the caucuses.

At every caucus, the general agenda is the same:

1. Elect a Chair and Secretary of the caucus
2. Elect two precinct committee people to represent the precinct on the Party's County Central Committee
3. Elect delegates to the County Assembly/County Convention
4. Introduce, debate and approve or reject resolutions and platform issues.

That is the basic agenda. In reality, it's a lot more fun. Your caucus reflects you and your neighbors. Some meet, do their business and adjourn. Others will debate for hours.

GETTING STARTED

First, the caucus elects a chairperson to run the meeting and a secretary to write the minutes of the meeting.

In 2010, we are asking that a Senatorial preference poll be conducted as the first order of business after the election off  Chair and Secretary, and immediately report those results to your County Party Chair, so that the County Chair can report the county results to the State Party to report to the press and media by 9:30 p.m. on caucus night.
 
The election of precinct committee people will represent the caucus on the County Parly Central Committee for the next two years. They are expected to do precinct work, get out the vote for all candidates in their party on Election Day, and assist in the planning of the next caucus.

People at your caucus can also introduce items to be included in the party platform; these can range from fascinating to truly bizarre. There will be debate on the proposals as a vote. If the item is approved, it will be passed on the county platform committee, which will discuss incorporating into the county platform. Not all items will end up in the County Platform or the State Platform.

THE COUNTY ASSEMBLY

At the County Assembly, the process starts all over again:
Only this time, candidates are nominated for countywide offices:

• The State Assembly, which nominates candidates for statewide offices and considers the State platform
• The Congressional District Assembly, which nominates candidates for Congress and the State Board of Education
• The State Senatorial and Representative District Assemblies, which nominate candidates for the Colorado General Assembly
• The Judicial District Assembly, which nominates candidates for District Attorney.

THE COUNTY CONVENTION

At the County Convention the process is to:

• Elect delegates to the Congressional Convention and the State Convention based on fair reflection of Presidential Candidates.

There are a number of assemblies/conventions but most are held on the same day at the same location. Usually, the Congressional District Assembly/Convention is held prior 10 the State Assembly/Convention or a location and time to be determined by the Congressional Central Committee.

PRIMARY ELECTION FOR NON-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

A candidate must receive 30% of the vote at the County Assembly in order to be placed on the August Primary Ballot. If more than one candidate gets 30% of the vote at an assembly, then both names will appear on the August primary ballot to be elected by the voters of their party.

THE GENERAL ELECTION

The winners of the primary get their party's nomination and go on to the General Election in November.

More Information

If you need additional information, please contact the Colorado Democratic Party at 303-623-4762 or check the state party website at www.coloradodems, for party rules and the Colorado National Delegate Selection Plan for 2010.

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Wikipedia states this about Caucusing (read more here)

"Caucusing is the practice where a portion of the membership of a voting body agrees to vote as a block, even though some members of the 'caucus' might be inclined to vote the other way.

The motivation for caucusing is that it allows members of the block disproportional influence in the outcome of the final vote...

The motivation for agreeing to vote contrary to ones own natural inclination on an issue is the knowledge that one will enjoy the support of the caucus on other issues."