Caucuses FAQ
- What is a Precinct Caucus? Our Democratic National Convention Delegates are elected in a three “tier” process. Precinct Caucuses are the first tier in this process. A Precinct Caucus is a meeting of people who live in the same voting area or precinct. The Democratic Party uses Precinct Caucuses to nominate our presidential candidate, collect and forward resolutions to draft our County and State Platforms and assist with local party building efforts. There are 6600 precincts in Washington State and there will be a Precinct Caucus for each of them.
- When are the Precinct Caucuses? They are on Saturday, February 9th. Doors will open no later than 1:00 pm. Delegate selection will begin no later than 1:30 pm.
- Where are the Precinct Caucuses? The Caucuses take place in designated locations around the state. To find out where your Caucus is, go to http://www.wa-democrats.org/caucusfinder and enter your last name and address or your precinct and county. Your precinct is printed on your voter registration card. If you are a new registrant or have moved recently, your information may not be accurate. Call your county party to find the correct location. If you are in King, Pierce, or Spokane counties, call your legislative district party. Some precincts have been realigned. If you believe that your precinct has been realigned, contact your county auditor to confirm your precinct name.
- Does it cost anything to participate in my Caucus? The Caucuses are free. However, you will be asked for a donation during the Caucus to help with the cost of the event, because it costs the Democratic Party to put them on.
- Who can participate in their Caucus? All registered voters and those who will be 18 at the time of the presidential election can vote at their Caucus. You can register to vote at the Caucus and then participate, but you can only participate and vote in a precinct caucus in which you are a resident. Others who are not registered can participate but can not vote. To register online go to http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/register.aspx
- Do I need to bring ID to the Caucuses? No, but when you sign in you are asked to declare that you are a Democrat and a registered voter. This is by the honor system.
- Do I have to be a Registered Voter in Washington State to vote at my Caucus? Yes.
- Do I have to be a registered Democrat to vote in the Caucus? Washington State does not require a voter to register by Party.
- Do I have to be registered to vote in the precinct that I will caucus in? Yes, you must be registered in the precinct that you are caucusing in. If you have recently moved you can reregister at the Precinct Caucus on that day. Other options if you have recently moved: You can go back to your old precinct or you can petition to be a delegate for a candidate in your new precinct without voting by writing a statement stating that you will be willing to be the delegate for a particular candidate.
- Can I bring my kids to my Caucus? Yes.
- Can I vote absentee or by proxy in the Caucuses? No. There are only three reasons you can vote in the Caucuses without being there. If you serve in the military, have a medical condition that prevents your attendance, or for religious reasons cannot attend your Caucus, download our Caucus Surrogate Affidavit Form. You must return this form by 5:00 pm on February 1st. No one else can vote without being there. You can become a delegate without attending your Caucus by submitting a Declaration of Candidacy Form.
- Do I have to state my Presidential preference in writing at my Caucus? When you sign-in at your Caucus you are asked to write your presidential preference or that you are uncommitted on the sign-in sheet. This is your vote.
- Will I have a chance to change my vote during the Caucus? Yes, there is time to change your vote during the Caucus process.
- How are Precinct Caucuses run? If there is an elected or appointed Precinct Committee Officer (PCO) in the precinct he or she will chair the Caucus and act as a Precinct Caucus Chair (PCC). If not, then those who sign-in elect a PCC from among themselves. Caucuses begin at 1:00 pm sharp; however the election of delegates cannot begin until 1:30 pm to ensure that latecomers won’t be excluded. The PCC must read the complete Caucus rules, which are few in number and easy to understand. The PCC will follow the script, which will help guide the Caucus process.
- Who can run for Delegate or Alternate at the precinct caucuses? Any Democrat eligible to participate in the Precinct Caucuses can run for a position as a delegate supporting the candidate of his or her choice. Supporters of each candidate meet separately to vote for delegates and alternates, among themselves, allotted to that candidate. The number of delegates and alternates each candidate gets depends on the ratio of their supporters at the Caucuses. “Uncommitted” is treated as if it were a candidate and may also elect delegates. The number of delegates and alternates each candidate gets will be announced before any vote is taken.
- What other business occurs at the Precinct Caucuses? Resolutions brought to the Precinct Caucuses will be forwarded for consideration at the appropriate County Convention.
- Where do the Delegates and Alternates elected at the Precinct Caucuses go next? Delegates and alternates go to two “second tier” meetings. The first is their Legislative District Caucus, which will convene on Saturday, April 5th, 2008 at 10 am. The second is their County Convention. County Conventions will convene on Saturday, April 19th, 2008 at 9 am, except for the King County Convention, which convenes on Saturday, April 12th. Thurston, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties may also move the date of their Caucuses. Stay tuned for details. In certain locations, County Conventions and Legislative District Caucuses are held simultaneously.
- Can I become a delegate without attending my Caucus? Yes. You can become a delegate in absentia by submitting a Declaration of Candidacy Form and stating that you want to be a delegate for a particular candidate. The candidate's supporters then can elect you as a delegate.
- What if I have to leave my Caucus early? When you sign in at your Caucus, your vote will be counted toward the allocation of delegates. You will not be able to leave a proxy or voting instructions once you leave.
- Who decides how many delegates my precinct has? The Washington State Democratic Party decides by looking at how many people are registered to vote in your precinct and how many voted in your precinct in the previous presidential election in 2004 for the Democratic candidate.
- How can I get to be a delegate to the National Convention and does the Party pay to send me to Denver if I am elected? Fifty-one (51) delegates to the National Covnention are elected at the Congressional District Caucuses held on May 15th. Additional delegates will be selected at the State Convention on June 13th and 14th in Spokane. Washington will send a total of 97 delegates to the National Convention.
- Why is Washington State having Caucuses and a Primary? The Washington State Legislature was the body who voted to hold a primary. The means that the Washington State Democratic Party, which chooses how delegates are decided, had no participation in the decision to hold the primary, which will cost $9 to $10 million. The Washington State Democratic Party decided to choose their delegates through the Caucuses, as it always has. As a result, your vote for a Democratic candidate in the State Primary will not count toward delegate selection.
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