Seven Questions and Answers about the Caucus Process
Seven Questions and Answers about the Caucus Process
The Eagle County Republican Party will hold precinct caucus meetings on March 3rd in advance of the June 28th Primary Election. Voters interested in caucusing must be affiliated with one of the major political parties by February 9th.
Here are seven questions and answers to explain the caucus process and how voters can get involved.
1. What is a precinct caucus?
Precinct caucuses are neighborhood-level meetings hosted by the Republican Party during even-numbered years in advance of a Primary Election. A precinct is the smallest subdivision of a county. Precinct caucuses are the first step for each political party to engage voters, select candidates for the Primary Election, and decide on a party platform for the year. In 2022, the Eagle County Precinct Caucus will be located at the Eagle County Building in Eagle, CO. on March 3rd at 5 pm.
2. What happens at a precinct caucus?
Voters that are registered to vote as republicans who attend a precinct caucus for the Republican Party will make two important choices.
First, attendees will elect Precinct Committee Persons (PCP). These volunteers will represent the party in each precinct, serve on the County Party Central Committee, help get out the vote for party candidates, and assist with planning the next caucus.
The role of Precinct Committee Person (PCP) is at the core of political party activity; it’s our ground game. As a PCP, you are a representative of the Eagle County Republican Party in your precinct or neighborhood. Elections are truly won or lost in precincts, especially in Eagle County, and PCPs are vital to ensuring strong Republican support for Republican candidates and issues.
Attendees to the precinct caucus will also choose delegates to the Eagle County Republican Party’s County Assembly. Where the delegates will nominate candidates to the ballot and approve the local party’s platform.
3. Who can attend a precinct caucus?
Only voters who are affiliated with the Republican Party may actively participate in a precinct caucus for the political party. Feb. 9th is the deadline to affiliate or update your address if you have moved in order to participate in your precinct caucus. Anyone may attend the caucus but only registered Republicans may participate. Those registered as independent or unaffiliated may attend but may not participate in the precinct caucus unless they register as Republicans by Feb. 9th. If you are a registered Democrat, please change your affiliation by Feb. 9th.
Please visit www.GoVoteColorado.com to find your precinct number, update your voter registration, and/or affiliate with the Republican Party.
4. What happens after the precinct caucuses?
After the precinct caucuses, each major political party will hold County, District, and State Assemblies. At the County Assembly, delegates will nominate candidates for county elected offices and approve the county party platform. At various District Assemblies, delegates will nominate candidates for Congress, the Colorado General Assembly, State Board of Education, Board of Regents, and District Attorneys. At the State Assembly, delegates will nominate candidates for statewide offices, such as Governor, and approve a statewide party platform.
Eagle County Republicans Precinct Caucus will be held on March 3rd at 5:00 pm at the Eagle County Building in Eagle, CO.
5. How do candidates get on the ballot?
A candidate who receives 30 percent of the delegates’ vote at an assembly will appear on their political party’s Primary Election ballot. Candidates who receive between 10 and 29 percent of delegates’ vote may petition onto the ballot. Those with less than 10 percent are not permitted to petition.
Candidates who are unaffiliated or affiliated with minor parties must petition onto the November General Election ballot or become a write-in candidate.
6. How can unaffiliated voters participate in the process?
Unaffiliated voters may observe a precinct caucus but may not participate.
However, unaffiliated voters will be eligible to cast a Primary Election ballot for one participating political party. This is because Colorado voters approved Proposition 108 in 2016. Unaffiliated voters will receive both the Democratic and Republican Primary ballots in June, and may vote and return only one. If a voter returns both ballots, none will be counted.
As an alternative, unaffiliated voters may declare a “ballot preference” at www.govotecolorado.com and receive only one ballot for their preferred party. This will conserve taxpayer dollars because counties will not have to pay printing and postage costs to send two ballots.
7. Where is my precinct caucus?
Eagle County Republicans are holding the Precinct Caucus on March 3rd, at 5 pm at two locations. The Eagle County Building (Get Directions) and Basalt Elementary School (Get Directions). Pre-Register at caucus.cologop.org to find out which location you should attend.
Eagle County Republican Party 970-376-5100 or info@eaglegop.com
Colorado Republican Party, 303-758-3333 or www.cologop.org
