2/9/2012. What is a Precinct & District? Why Are Caucuses So Important. What Are Caucus Meetings? Register to Vote or Review Your Registration

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1 What is a Precinct & District? A precinct is a division within a city, town, or county for voting purposes Caucus Meetings and Political Party Conventions Making Your Opinion Matter A district is a portion of a country, state, or city serving as a unit for political representation. Examples are: 1 st US Congressional District Rep. Jay Inslee 23 rd State Congressional District Rep. Sherry Appleton & Rep. Drew Hansen What Are Caucus Meetings? Meeting of registered voters belonging to a certain political party Often held in schools, homes, or town halls Are organized by precinct, district, or county Locations for the meetings are announced in the newspaper and the local political party website Why Are Caucuses So Important Caucuses are a very powerful element of the American political process and identify the very essence of the ownership of government to be held by the individual citizens and not by those elected to represent them. Participation in a caucus is the most elementary way to have personal impact on the government we empower to act for us and to operate our city, county, and country. Caucus are Important Closed meeting of a political organization Determines policy and elects candidates Elect delegates to go to convention Register to Vote or Review Your Registration Sam Reed Washington Secretary of State Survey opinions on top issues Hear local candidate speeches You must be a registered voter to participate in caucus meetings and party conventions 1

2 Before the Caucus Locate or ask for a copy of your Voter Registration Card - County Elections Office Find the location of the caucus meeting on the county party s website or by contacting the party No Need to Register Prepare to arrive on time the day of the caucus Gather ideas to discuss during the meeting about your concerns and political issues Precinct Committee Officers Precinct Committeeman automatically are delegates to the convention They are active in supporting the campaigns of the candidates of the political party They encourage people in their precinct to register to vote and to vote They attend local political meetings and are active in the decision making of the local party Choose Which Party to Join Study the platforms What are your values What policies do you support? Democrats are more liberal and Republicans are more conservative When are Caucus Meetings Held? Every forth year during Presidential Election Year Every two years on even numbered years again 2 years after the Presidential Election Usually between February and April State platform revised every 2 years by party platform committee and voted on by the delegates, national platform only every fourth year During the Precinct Caucus Sign an affidavit to preclude participation in the caucus or convention of any other political party during 2012 Verify you are registered voter in the precinct Participate in a Presidential Straw Poll Elect Delegates for the County Convention Discuss issues and offer recommendations on the county party platform Introduce the WSAND Platform Our Platform covers priority issues important to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics It establishes the need, documents evidence of our values, and outlines our principles Is geared toward state and national issues Ask for it to given to the person who is voted in at the county convention to serve on the Washington State Platform Committee 2

3 Wear Something Patriotic Be Careful What You Wear Delegates Take It Up a Notch When Is the Caucus This Year? Depends on what political party Sunday-15 April 2012 for the Democrats Saturday-3 March 2012 for the Republicans Look on your county political party web site for details of location and time Democrat Precinct Caucus Meetings WA State Democratic Convention Washington State Convention Center 15 April :00 to 3:00 pm Contact: greg@wa-democrats.org Also check local paper and your county Democratic party web page for information Usually no registration required, but check 1st 800 Convention PL, Seattle, WA June to 3 June :00 am to 5:00 pm Delegates attend Contact:shawna@wa-democrats.org 3

4 Democrats Have Their Candidate What Happens at a Convention? Party holds a meet and greet for party members to meet candidates Delegates and candidates visit tables to learn about special interest groups Delegates vote on who will attend the next level convention as a delegate Party members hear campaign speeches Party members attend benefit dinners Candidates hold open house for to meet delegates and hear about their interests Delegates vote on the multiple-issue platform Republican Precinct Caucus Meetings March 3rd :00 AM to 1:00 PM. to chairman@kitsaprepublicans.com Include the words PRECINCT QUESTION in the subject line No Need to Register Washington State Republican Convention Tacoma Convention and Trade Center 1500 Broadway Tacoma, WA May to 2 June 2012 Elected delegates attend Look for updates on Republican Presidential Straw Poll If you are attending the Republican Caucus, you will be asked to declare which candidate you support Do Not Get Too Upset With The Political Rhetoric There will be no Primary Elections this year due to budget cuts in Washington State Politicians May Be on the Attack in Public 4

5 Sometimes They Like Each Other Bring Nutrition to the Table Get your registration card Attend the caucus Meet your lawmakers and candidates Introduce our nutrition platform Become a delegate and attend conventions Volunteer for your political party 5