2018 Political Party Caucus Information
The Democratic Party and the Republican Party will be
holding their precinct caucuses on March 6 to begin the process of electing
candidates to nominate in the upcoming election. If you would like to
participate in either party’s caucus, you must be affiliated with that party no
later than Monday, January 8.
This means if you are an unaffiliated voter or if you are
registered with another party, you have until Monday, January 8 to change your party
affiliation on your voter registration
record. (FAQ: I thought there was a law change regarding caucuses and
primary elections. What has changed? – see below).
If you do not wish
to participate in either the Democratic Party or Republican Party caucus, you
do not need to do anything. This email is simply a courtesy to inform you of
the deadline to affiliate if you are interested.
Thank you for reviewing this information. Democracy takes all of us!
Boulder County Clerk & Recorder’s Office
Questions:
What is a precinct
caucus?
In even-numbered years, the major political parties in
Colorado (Democratic Party and Republican Party) hold their precinct caucuses
on the first Tuesday in March. A precinct caucus is a neighborhood meeting
conducted by the political parties, where affiliated voters may get involved in
selecting delegates for their party’s County and State Assemblies. This is an
important step in the democratic process, because the delegates will eventually
elect county, state, and congressional candidates to appear on the party’s June
26 Primary Election ballot, and also approve a party platform for 2018.
I thought there was a
law change regarding caucuses and primary elections. What has changed?
There is still a primary election in June. Unaffiliated
voters can now vote in a primary election without changing their affiliation
status. If you are an unaffiliated voter, you can either declare a ballot
preference on your voter registration record or you will be sent ballots for
all parties conducting a primary election. However, you can only vote and
return one party’s ballot. If you vote and return multiple ballots, none of your
votes will be counted.
Caucus is a completely separate activity and process and voters
still need to be affiliated with the party to participate. In 2020, there will
also still be a regular caucus process, but the presidential candidate will be
voted on in a primary election (also open to unaffiliated voters).
When and where do the
2018 caucuses take place?
This year’s party caucuses are being held on Tuesday, March
6, 2018. Caucuses are run by the parties. Visit their websites closer to the
caucus date for locations.
More Information:
For additional information on caucus, including other
deadlines and related information, please see our 2018 Caucus Information page,
visit Boulder County’s Democratic Party
or Republican Party pages, and see the Secretary
of State Caucuses, Assemblies and Conventions FAQs page.
If
you have moved outside of Colorado:
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