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Arapahoe County precinct caucuses Feb. 5
Contributed by: Araphoe County LWV on 1/18/2008

FACT SHEET
COLORADO PRECINCT CAUCUSES
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
7 p.m.

WHAT IS A PRECINCT CAUCUS?

A precinct caucus is a meeting of members of a political party to nominate candidates, write platforms and elect delegates to county-wide party conventions. Caucuses are held in homes, schools, churches or other gathering places convenient to a voter's home or residence. Today, however, most are held in larger facilities to ensure the meeting place to accessible to all.

While some states conduct presidential primary elections, other states, like Colorado, conduct precinct caucuses to voice their choice for a presidential candidate. The precinct caucuses are held by the Colorado Democrat and Republican political parties.

PRECINCT CAUCUSES WILL BE HELD TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2008 AT 7 P.M.

WHO CAN ATTEND A CAUCUS?

Anyone who is a registered voter in the Democrat or Republican Party can attend and participate. Colorado does not allow unaffiliated (Independent) voters to participate in the caucus system. To participate, you must have registered to vote as a party member by December 5, 2007. There are two exceptions: if you turn 18 or become a US citizen during the two-months prior to the caucuses.

If you are not registered to vote, or if you registered as an independent, you will not be eligible to participate in a party caucus.

HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF I AM REGISTERED TO VOTE?

Arapahoe County residents: go to the Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder's web site, www.arapahoevotes.com . Click on the "Check My Voter Registration Status" link and follow directions. Phone: 303-795-4511.

Douglas County residents: go to the Douglas County Clerk and Recorder's web site, www.douglas.co.us/clerk/index.html. Scroll down to mid page and click on the green "Am I Registered?" link and follow directions. Phone: 303-660-7469.

WHAT IS MY PRECINCT NUMBER? WHY DO I NEED ONE?

You need your precinct number to find the location of your precinct caucus. Basically, a precinct is a district or area designated by a city or county in which a voter lives and votes. There are over 3,500 precincts in Colorado. When you register to vote, you are sent a voter registration card. That card has a 10 digit number that lists your elected officials, your polling place and your precinct number. The precinct number is the last three numbers.

Call your county clerk or look it up at www.sos.state.co.us/Voter/voterHome.do. Arapahoe County Clerk: 303-795-4511. Douglas County Clerk: 303-660-7469.

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE IN A CAUCUS?

Just show up and check in. The first order of business is to elect a caucus chair and secretary. Agendas vary, but the main activities will be voting on a presidential candidate, electing delegates to the county-wide party meetings and considering resolutions. Other business usually includes the recruitment of volunteers for various party committees.

This year, most caucuses will conduct their presidential preference poll immediately after electing the chair and secretary. This will be done to meet press and media deadlines. Often, people are invited to speak on behalf of their favorite candidate before the vote is recorded. The final vote will be used to calculate how many delegates supporting a given candidate go on to the next level of meetings - the county-wide party convention. For the Democrats, in order to have delegates go to the county meeting, a candidate must have a viable group of supporters, which is defined as 15% of those voting. That is, a candidate must get 15% of the vote in order to be represented by delegates.

CAUCUS LOCATIONS

Arapahoe County Democrats: www.arapahoedems.org. Phone: 303-338-1202.
The Arapahoe Democrats also plan to call every registered democrat in Arapahoe County by "robo" phone prior to February 5 to let voters know where their precinct caucus is.

Arapahoe County Republicans will soon list their caucuses on www.arapahoerepublicans.org. Phone: 303-779-1115.

Douglas County Democrats: http://www.douglasdemocrats.org/index.php?option=com_frontpage&ltemid=1
Click on the word "caucus" on the left side of the page. When a different page comes up, go to step 2 and click on "Caucus Locator Page." Phone: 303-539-9048.

Douglas County Republicans: http://www.dcgop.org/caucus.htm. Phone: 303-730-0100.

Questions: Call the political parties listed above or the League of Women Voters of Arapahoe County, 303-730-2356

Material for this article was obtained from the League of Women Voters of Larimer County; Jeff Borg, Political Science Faculty, Front Range Community College; the Arapahoe County Democratic Party, and the Arapahoe County Republican Party.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF ARAPAHOE COUNTY
5776 S. Crocker Street
Littleton, Colorado 80120


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