League of Women Voters Minnesota

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League of Women Voters Minnesota

• 2008 Precinct Caucus Training

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The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan
political organization that encourages informed
and active participation in government and
influences public policy through education and
advocacy.
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why is the precinct caucus important?

• 2008 is an exciting year for presidential
  politics.
• You cannot directly influence who the
  presidential nominee will be for your party if
  you do not attend the precinct caucus.
• You cannot directly influence the issues on the
  party platform if you do not include your issues
  in your resolutions adopted at the precinct
  level.

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what is a precinct caucus?

• Precinct caucuses are the beginning of a process
  that Minnesotas major political parties use for
  choosing candidates they will support in an
  upcoming election
• The seats up for election in 2008 are
• United States President
• United States Senate (1) seat
• United States Congress (all seats)
• Minnesota House of Representatives (all seats)
• Various local elections (check your area)

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who are the major political parties?

• Minnesotas major political parties are
• Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
• Independence Party
• Republican Party

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when are the precinct caucuses?
Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party www.dfl.org
Republican Party www.mngop.org Independence
Party www.mnip.org on Tuesday, February 5th at
700 pm
Check party websites for precinct caucus
locations.
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who can attend precinct caucuses?

• Anyone can attend to observe.
• To participate in a precinct caucus you must be
  eligible to vote in that district on
• November 4, 2008.

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do I have to be a member of a major political
party to go to a precinct caucus?

• No.
• The major political parties require you to sign
  an oath that you will support that party in the
  upcoming election.
• In other words ask yourself
• Do you believe in the basic principles of the
  party?
• If yes, then attend that precinct caucus and
  participate!!

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what about minor parties?

• The Green Party is a minor party in Minnesota
• The Constitution Party is a Political Action
  Committee
• Because they are not major parties they are not
  obligated under Minnesota law to follow the
  statutory caucus process described here to
  endorse their candidates.

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what happens at a precinct caucus?

• 1. Elect Caucus Chair (to run the meeting) and
  precinct party officers (to run the precinct
  until the next caucus).
• 2. Hold a presidential preference ballot.
• (To select the total number of delegates any
  presidential candidate may have to the national
  convention.)
• 3. Elect delegates and alternates to the Senate
  District convention.

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how does a precinct caucus work?

• All caucuses are convened at 700 pm by a
  temporary chair.
• Presidential preference ballots will be
  distributed before nominating process begins.
• Nominations for permanent officers and convention
  delegates may not close before 715 p.m.
• 700 730 p.m. begin election of permanent
  officers and convention delegates.

See Minn. Stat. 202A.18
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what is a presidential preference ballot?

• Caucus participants will vote on their
• preference for their partys presidential
• Candidate
• The results will be reported to
• the Minnesota Secretary of States Office.
• Official Results reported by the parties will be
• posted at www.sos.state.mn.us

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what is the entire delegate election process?

• There are potentially four types of delegates
  elected at the precinct caucuses depending upon
  the party you caucus with and the seats up for
  election in your jurisdiction.
• Senate District Delegate
• County Delegate
• City Delegate
• Judicial Delegate

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explain the entire delegate selection process.
Precinct Caucus - Presidential Preference Poll,
elect city/county/senate/judicial delegates
party officers
City and County Delegates are only elected if
the precinct caucus is within a jurisdiction
where there are local/municipal elections.
Senate District/County Unit Convention Endorse
state house candidates, elect state/congressional
delegates party officers
Congressional District Convention Endorse
congressional district candidate, elect national
delegates party officers
State Convention Endorse US Senate, elect
national delegates party officers
Only the GOP elects Judicial Delegates. It
holds a special judicial convention to endorse
judges running for office.
National Convention Endorse Presidential
candidate
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what happens to the delegates that are elected?

• The elected delegates and their alternates will
  proceed to the next level of participation based
  upon the delegation (city/county/state/judicial)
  to which they were elected.

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How many national delegates are elected at my
congressional district convention?

• The number of delegates is determined by a
  formula by each state major party office.
• Each congressional district is assigned a
  specific number of delegates that are elected at
  the Congressional District Convention

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what if I want to go to my partys National
Convention as a delegate?

• Running for National Delegate is a competitive
  process.
• National Delegates and their alternates are
  elected at the congressional and state
  conventions for all parties.
• There is a pre-determined number of National
  Delegates for each party.

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How many national delegates are elected at my DFL
congressional district convention?

• Congressional District
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• Total
• Delegates
• 2 men/3 women
• 2 men/3 women
• 3 men/ 3 women
• 4 men/ 3 women
• 4 men/4 women
• 3 men/2 women

The DFL elects 16 at-large delegates and 8
alternates at its State Convention.
Please note that the DFL has a requirement for
gender balance for its national delegates.
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How many national delegates are elected at my GOP
congressional district convention?
The GOP elects three (3) delegates and three (3)
alternates in all eight congressional districts.
The GOP elects 14 at-large delegates and 14
alternates at its State Convention.
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do I have to go through this to become a national
delegate?

• No.
• Any person who will be eligible to vote on
  November 4, 2008 can run for delegate at any
  congressional district or state convention,
  regardless of whether they were elected as a
  delegate to that convention at the previous
  caucus or convention.
• More simply If you are willing to sign a
  pledge, you can walk into any congressional
  convention and run for national delegate.
• As a practical matter, it is MUCH more difficult
  (although not impossible) to be elected to the
  national delegation this way.

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the catch

• For both the DFL and the GOP each presidential
  campaign has the right to approve its national
  delegates.
• It is a way for the campaigns to make sure that
  everyone that claims to be a supporter for a
  presidential candidate is a bona fide supporter.
  
• Each presidential campaign identifies its list of
  approved national delegates. That list is
  public at the time of the congressional and state
  conventions. Typically the list is made up of
  people who have been active volunteers and
  participants in the ongoing campaign activities.
• THEREFORE
• Make sure that the campaign for the candidate you
  support is aware of who you are and where you
  intend to run for national delegate BEFORE you
  attend your congressional and/or state
  convention.

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what do I do at my precinct caucus?

• sign in
• vote on the presidential preference ballot
• Vote for senate/city/county delegates.

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is there anything else I can do there?

• Yes. These are activities that you can, but are
  not required to do.
• If your precinct has subcaucuses, convene a
  subcaucus for a candidate and/or issue.
• Nominate yourself or others to serve as delegates
  to the senate district convention.
• nominate yourself or neighbors for party office
• run for party office
• Present a resolution on an issue that you care
  about.

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what is a subcaucus?

• A subcaucus is a mechanism by which precinct or
  convention attendees can organize themselves by
  issue and delegates can then be elected out of
  each subcaucus.
• Subcauses are unique to the Democratic-Farmer-Labo
  r Party. They are a way of assuring proportional
  representation to candidate, issue and interest
  groups.

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how do I join a subcaucus?

• You can call a subcaucus around support for
  your candidate and/or issue.
• -or-
• You can join a subcaucus that is already formed
  around your candidate and/or issue.

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I dont get it how does it work exactly?
Based upon the number of attendees the people
running the convention will determine based upon
the total number of delegates permitted, how many
people must be in a subcaucus to elect a single
delegate.
number of delegates
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I dont get it how does it work exactly?

• Pick your issue join a subcaucus.
• Determine whether that subcaucus is viable to
  elect a delegate.
• If not viable, or you are seeking to elect more
  delegates for your candidate/issue join another
  subcaucus or persuade another subcaucus to join
  yours.

Based upon the number of attendees the people
running the convention will determine based upon
the total number of delegates permitted, how many
people must be in a subcaucus to elect a single
delegate.
number of delegates
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heres an example..
For example The minimum number of people for a
subcaucus to elect a single delegate is 13
people. In other words, the viability number
is 13.
0 delegates
1 (one) delegate
0 delegates
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One more time different numbers
For example The minimum number of people for a
subcaucus to elect a single delegate is 19
people. Therefore, the viability number is 19.
1 delegate
3 (three) delegates
0 delegates
1 delegate
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will I necessarily have to subcaucus?

• No.
• You do not need to subcaucus if you are attending
  a Republican or Independence Party precinct
  caucus or a DFL precinct caucus that chooses not
  to subcaucus.

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what about party officers?

• At each precinct and convention level, party
  officers for that unit are also elected.
• You may be nominated or nominate yourself to
  run for a party office.
• Often times party units will have a nominating
  committee that screens nominees in advance or on
  the day of the convention. If you think you may
  want to run for party office contact the present
  officers and see if there is a screening process.

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you mentioned resolutions earlier, whats that
about?

• Party platforms are made up of party positions on
  a wide range of issues.
• Resolutions are position statements that can be
  adopted at the precinct level and advanced to
  become party positions at the state and national
  level.
• Resolutions need to be presented in writing.

Thanks to Minnesota Council of NonProfits
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what does a resolution look like?

• State the problem or opportunity.
• Provide a rationale for a position.
• Present the position as a policy statement.

Thanks to Minnesota Council of NonProfits
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for example..

• Whereas, MNs publicly owned forests are a
  priceless resourceand,
• Whereas less than 1 of MNs old growth forests
  remain
• Therefore be it resolved that remaining portions
  of old growth forests be protected from logging.

Thanks to Minnesota Council of NonProfits
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how do I present (and pass) a resolution?

• There is a set time for introduction of
  resolutions on the agenda.
• Present your proposal and the reasons for it.
• Be persuasive! (It helps to lobby early and have
  copies).
• If there is disagreement, the caucus chair will
  facilitate debate/discussion.
• Vote!

Thanks to Minnesota Council of NonProfits
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what if I have to work on caucus day?

• If you give your employer ten (10) days written
  notice of your intent to participate in your
  precinct caucus by law you must be given that
  time off without penalty.
• Public universities, community colleges, and
  public schools cannot hold classes or events
  after 600 p.m. on the evening of precinct
  caucuses.

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where are the precinct caucuses?

• The location of your precinct caucus is dependent
  upon where you live.
• Precinct caucus locations are published by the
  Party holding the caucus at least 21 days before
  the caucus date.
• Your county auditor and the Party sponsoring the
  precinct caucus will have the location of the
  precinct caucus for your area.

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why should I care about my precinct caucus?

• It gives you an opportunity to encourage the
  Party to give voice and to support an issue that
  matters to you.
• Allows you to directly support the candidates of
  your choice.
• You can build your involvement in the political
  process.
• You will be participating in Minnesotas unique
  grassroots dialogue about policies and politics.

Thanks to Minnesota Council of NonProfits
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Get Ready for the next level!!

• If you are elected to be a delegate to the
  district convention, plan to attend and
  participate fully.
• Nominate yourself to be a delegate to the next
  level keep going.
• Promote your resolution and others that you
  support.

Thanks to Minnesota Council of NonProfits
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frequently asked questions..

• Can I attend a precinct caucus if I am not old
  enough to vote?
• You can attend to observe/volunteer at any age.
  If you will turn 18 on or before November 4, 2008
  you may attend and participate.
• Can I attend a precinct caucus if I have been
  convicted of a felony?
• You can attend to observe/volunteer if you are
  still under court-ordered supervision. If you
  are no longer under court-ordered supervision
  (off-paper) then you may participate in the
  precinct convention, vote, run for delegate, and
  present resolutions.

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frequently asked questions..

• Do I have to have picked a presidential candidate
  to attend the caucus?
• No. If you feel strongly about a particular
  issue, you may subcaucus on that issue instead of
  in support of a candidate. A presidential
  preference poll will be taken at the precinct
  caucus, you can choose not to participate.
• What happens if precinct caucuses are cancelled
  for bad weather?
• Precinct caucuses are rarely cancelled. Contact
  the Party Office for whom you intend to caucus if
  you have a question regarding cancellation.

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contact information for major and minor parties
in Minnesota

• Major Parties
•  
• Democratic - Farmer Labor Party
• 255 E. Plato Blvd
• St. Paul, MN 55107
• [phone]
• www.dfl.org
•  
• Independence Party
• 3338 University Ave. S.E., Suite 350
• Minneapolis, MN 55414
• [phone]
• www.mnip.org
•  
• Republican Party
• 525 Park St., Suite 250
• St. Paul, MN 55103
• [phone]
• www.gop-mn.org

• Minor Parties
•  
• Green Party
• 2395 University Ave. W., Suite 224
• St. Paul, MN 55114
• Phone [phone]
• www.mngreens.org

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contact information for League of Women Voters
Minnesota

• League of Women Voters Minnesota
• Minnesota Womens Building
• 550 Rice Street
• St. Paul, MN 55103
• Phone [phone]
• E-mail info_at_lwvmn.org
• Website www.lwvmn.org