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Participate in Democracy - Make your voice heard
Attend your Caucus!
February 5th, 2008 7pm
Colorado has the rare opportunity to help decide who our presidential candidates are this year. Don't miss your chance to make your voice heard.
To find the correct caucus:
- Determine your precinct. Look up your precinct here.
- Look up where local caucuses are held: Democrat and Republican. (unaffiliated voters cannot participate, but they can observe the caucus)
- Caucuses begin at 7pm. Voters should arrive early to sign in.
Outline of the caucus meeting agenda:
- Participants elect a precinct leader to run the meeting.
- Representatives of the presidential candidates may make short speeches.
- A straw poll is taken to determine how much support each candidates has. Candidates must reach a 15 percent threshold. For example, if 100 people show up, a candidate must receive 15 votes to stay in the next round of voting.
- The next round is the actual preference poll itself. Participants who picked candidates who did not make the cut are allowed to vote for someone still in the running.
- All votes are public. There is no secret ballot at any level in the process.
- The results from each precinct are relayed to a county party official and then to the state party, which announces the results.
- Participants also pick delegates and alternates to county assemblies and other assemblies.
To participate in the caucus you must have been:
- A registered voter no later than December 5, 2007
- A member of the Democratic or Republican party since that date. (unaffiliated voters cannot participate, but they can observe caucuses)
- A resident of the precinct for 30 days prior to February 5, 2008.
- Eighteen years of age or a naturalized citizens by December 5, 2007.
The Caucus Experience
By Joe Jenkins
Tuesday, March 21, 2006. A Republican friend and I walk through the doors of our local elementary school, both there to participate in the precinct caucus for the first time. Republicans are directed to the auditorium, democrats to the library.
In the library I meet John Morris, Chair of the El Paso County Democratic Party. It's only the two of us. He explains that he just stopped by to drop off caucus paperwork and needs to get over to his precinct. There were no volunteers for this area. He asks if I would lead the caucus, fill out paperwork, and return it to party headquarters later that night. He leaves and I'm on my own.
Additional Resources:
For questions or more information please contact ben@citizensproject.org. |
