Do you know what a caucus is?

Transcription

1 e your Do you now what a caucus is? e your The Nevada Democratic Caucus Begins January 19th, 2008 This year, let your voice be heard! S. Valley View Rd Suite 114 Las Vegas, NV The Nevada Democratic Party 1210 S. Valley View Rd Suite 114 Las Vegas, NV

2 e your Nevada 2008 Now, it s your turn What s inside -- e your As a democrat, you have strong opinions about how this country can rebound from eight years of republican government, conservative economics, and devastating war. You ve waited through two administrations, and now the time has come for change. So why not be heard? It does not tter who you are, where you wor, or what level of education you have all registered democrats 18 and older get an equal opportunity to spea out and vote for their favorite presidential candidate in Nevada s upcoming caucus. All you have to do is read this boolet to learn about getting involved. Then, get ready to Mae Your Mar! Nevada will have its first-ever publicized presidential caucus on January 19, But what is the caucus? Why is it important to voters in Nevada? This boolet will answer these questions and offer you a step-by-step guide about how you can become a participant in this dynamic process. Mae your r this January; vote for your favorite presidential candidate and help choose who will become the next Democrat in the White House! Page 3 Page 4 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 10 Page 11 What happens at a caucus? Why is the caucus important to Nevada voters? What are the benefits of my involvement? How can I get involved? Where is my caucus? How does the caucus wor? How is a caucus different than a priry? How can I become a delegate to the Democratic National Convention? Page 12 How do I submit a party resolution? Page 13 How are delegates apportioned?

3 e your The Democratic Presidential Caucus What happens at a caucus? e your The democratic presidential caucus is an event that reaches three ey states Nevada, Iowa, and New Hampshire. These states are the first in the nation to hold caucuses and consequently receive the most media attention. Because of this, the nation will be looing toward Nevada to see which democratic candidates are the frontrunners in the 2008 presidential election. Why not become a part of history? Let your voice be heard across the country by participating in the caucus this January. Words to now: * viability - a number achieved when at least 20% of caucusgoers vote for a candidate. Viable groups are awarded delagates. * delegate - person from a viable candidate group bound to vote for the same candidate in later caucuses and potentially the National Convention Do you ever wonder how the democratic field narrows from multiple contenders to the final nominee that we see on our ballots November 2nd? The delegates chosen during the caucus will travel to Denver to cast a vote for the candidate they voted for during the caucus. During the democratic caucus, registered democrat voters convene at local precincts to vote for the viability (or liely long-term support) of democratic presidential candidates. Then, the candidates with the most votes get apportioned delegates (voters who will continue to vote for their specific candidate) who will continue on to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado. Then, the presidential candidate with the most votes will become the next democratic nominee. The delegates also will (and perhaps more importantly) come together at the convention to write the new party platform that democrats will follow for the next four years. 2 3

4 e your Why is the caucus important to Nevada Voters? e your The more Nevada voters who participate in the caucus, the more Nevada voices will be heard at the National Democratic Convention. Because participants in a caucus can become delegates, they can bring the ideas, concerns, and needs that Nevada has to the platform writing session. We can caucus and choose delegates who will promote Yucca and Mead resolutions while they help create the party platform. The result? Energy and conservation plans that will benefit Nevada built right into the national plan. You can have a say in the party platform Secondly, by participating in the discussion session of the caucus process, you can create resolutions that can be carried upward by delegates and potentially integrated into the national party platform. Let s discuss ey issues lie the Yucca Mountain waste disposal plan and the Lae Mead water crisis, for example. Both are important to Nevada democrats, and they should be important to national democrats as well. A better Nevada for a better nation 4 5

5 e your What are the benefits of my involvement? How can I get involved? Where is my caucus? e your First and foremost, you will be helping to choose the next democratic presidential candidate! In addition, if you choose to spea up or write a resolution, your political opinions and ideas will be carried over toward the writing of the new Democratic Party platform at the Democratic Convention in Denver. Caucusing is the priry way to create party reform. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain! Just follow these steps to get involved! 1. Decide if you would rather be a caucus voter, resolution writer, delegate, or all three. 2. Write, eil, or call the Nevada Democratic Party to request your precinct number and caucus location. 3. Show up at your caucus location on Saturday, January 19th at 10AM. 4. Participate in the open discussion and then vote for your favorite democratic candidate. 5. Discuss your concerns as a Nevada voter, offer a resolution, or campaign for delegacy. 6. If you are voted in as a delegate, prepare to wor your way toward the national convention! 6 7

6 e your How does the caucus wor? e your Only registered democrats are allowed to caucus on January 19th. If a voter is not a registered democrat, they y register outside the caucus hall and participate the same day. What to expect At a caucus, every democratic candidate who has officially entered the presidential race is on the ballot. However, the ballot is not a piece of paper it is an open floor for discussion. Voters enter the caucus hall (usually a school, church, festival, or county building) and come together with other democrat neighbors to discuss the democratic presidential candidates. Then, at a preannounced time, the voters group themselves according to their number one choice candidate. More Words to Know * Democratic Party Platform - a written document that describes the goals, beliefs, and plans of the Democratic Party over a four-year term period If their group exceeds 20% of the number of voters at the caucus, their candidate reaches the viability threshold. In other words, the voters can debate among themselves and choose a delegate for their candidate who will be sent forward to the county caucus in February. 8 The delegates chosen are then bound to support these issues as they e their way to the Democratic Convention in Denver. During this time, caucusgoers also discuss the issues most important to them and y write or pass out resolutions they would lie to see become part of the party platform. 9

7 e your How is a caucus different than a priry? How do I become a delegate to the National Convention? e your priry is a popular vote near the Democratic National Convention that apportions a A number of votes toward a democratic presidential candidate. These votes, as well as delegate votes, are taen into consideration at the convention. A caucus, however, is the first step toward actively participating in the Democratic Party. In a caucus, you can either prepare resolutions or become an elected delegate for the presidential candidate of your choice. If you continue to be elected at the state and county levels, you will go to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado during the summer of Once there, you will vote for your candidate and help write the updated Democratic Party platform. To be elected as a county delegate, you only need to campaign within your viable group. If the voters believe you are a confident, competent, and trustworthy democrat, you y be chosen to represent the group at the county level. From there, you y move on to the state caucus followed by the national convention. At the county caucus, delegates present the resolutions submitted during the precinct caucus and then hold similar elections to narrow the pool of delegates who will go on to the state caucus. At the state caucus, resolutions are often integrated into the state party platform. Then, national delegates for each viable candidate are elected in the same nner as the precinct caucus. 10 The final set of delegates travel to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, where they will vote for the next democratic presidential candidate and help create the 2008 Democratic Party Platform. If you are considering becoming a delegate, you are just three steps away from ing history! 11

8 e your How do I submit a resolution? How are delegates apportioned? e your The last word to now * resolution - a citizen-written plan for positively reforming the Democratic Party. Many resolutions focus on local issues that have a national impact. If you believe you have a revolutionary idea or opinion about how the Democratic Party should improve or expand its platform, all you need to do is write a carefully planned paper about your position. Print off at least five copies and pass out your resolution during the initial caucus discussion period. Your resolution then y become a part of the Nevada platform, which in turn y become integrated into the national party plan. Get ready for some distribution thetics! Here is how voting and apportionment will wor during your precinct caucus. Delegates elected at the caucus will be divided according to each group s size. The following formula will be used: Number of voters Number of delegates in a candidate group X to be elected from that Precinct Divided by: Total number of caucus attendees = Equals: Number of delegates to be elected by that group 12 13