Your guide to the 2012 precinct caucuses
Support public schools and stand up for your profession. Participate in your precinct caucus Feb. 7!
At a precinct caucus, you can:
- Vote your preference for president of the United States.
- Become a delegate to endorsing conventions.
- Elect local party leadership.
- Influence party platforms and speak against anti-education and anti-labor legislation.
Minnesota’s major political parties — Democratic-Farmer-Labor, Independence and Republican — will hold precinct caucuses at 7 p.m. Feb. 7.
What happens at the caucuses?
- Presidential preference ballot. Each party conducts a preference ballot on its candidates. The DFL preference ballot is binding, while the Republican Party conducts a non-binding straw poll.
- Election of delegates to endorsing conventions. Each precinct elects delegates and alternates to party endorsing conventions. As a delegate, you vote on which candidate gets the party’s endorsement. This year there will be an endorsement for U.S. Senate at the state convention, congressional candidate endorsements at the congressional district conventions and state Senate and House candidate endorsements at the county/Senate district (DFL) and BPOU (GOP) conventions.
- Election of local party leadership. Local leaders, including caucus chairs, are also elected at the precinct caucuses.
- Party platform resolutions. You can submit and vote on resolutions that will become part of the party platform. Education Minnesota has drafted resolutions you may present to your caucus for a vote.
Who can attend the caucuses?
Anyone can attend the precinct caucus as an observer. You can participate in a party's caucus if you are likely to support that party's candidates and will be eligible to vote Nov. 6.
Where will my caucus be held?
Caucus locations are available by calling 1-877-600-VOTE or at http://www.sos.state.mn.us/index.aspx?page=1704.
You can also contact individual parties:
January 23, 2012