In order to help Nevada Republicans better understand and prepare for the upcoming Presidential Caucus, we’ve included a list of frequently asked questions voters have. Should you have additional questions, please contact our office at (702) 258-9182.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Caucus
- What is a caucus and why is it so important in the election of the Republican Presidential nominee?
A caucus is a gathering of neighbors and friends who get together to discuss politics, elect delegates to the county convention, and cast their vote for the Presidential candidate of their choice.
This year Nevadans have a special opportunity to make a big impact on the eventual Republican nominee. With Nevada holding the first in the West caucus, we will be in position to shape national opinion and help propel one candidate to the Republican nomination for President. - What’s the difference between a caucus and a primary?
There are many differences between a caucus and a primary. To begin with, you must physically attend your precinct caucus on February 4th, 2012. Contact your county party for official start time. Absentee voting is only available to members of the military, and the dependents, stationed outside the county they are registered to vote in, on the day of the caucus. Early voting is not allowed. And unlike our primaries, you can only vote at the caucus location in your neighborhood. Precinct caucus locations will be published in the newspaper and will be available on the Republican Caucus website at www.NVGOPCaucus.com.
In addition, not only will you be voting for the Presidential candidate of your choice in the Presidential Preference Poll, you will also be electing delegates and alternate delegates to the county convention in March. And if you want to, you can also help the Party shape its platform. - Who can participate in Nevada’s Republican caucuses?
If you are currently registered as a Republican in Nevada you are already eligible to participate. If you are a new resident to Nevada or if you are planning to change your party affiliation to Republican you will need to register on or before January 20th, 2012 to participate in the precinct caucuses.
Also, in some counties, if you are seventeen years old and will be eighteen years old on or before November 6th, 2012, you will be welcome to participate when you register as a Republican. You will need to contact your county clerk to check eligibility.
You can register to vote at the Post Office, DMV, or by calling your County Clerk’s office. - What happens at a Republican caucus?
If you will be attending your first caucus and aren’t sure how it works, don’t worry, the vast majority of your fellow Republican caucus goers will be attending their first caucus too. Fortunately, Republican caucuses are simple and easy to understand.
To participate you must show one of the following; A Nevada issued driver license or a Nevada issued ID card, or a federal issued passport or military photo ID. After everyone has signed in, the caucus will start.
The caucus will begin by electing a caucus chair and secretary. These two people will be in charge of running the precinct caucus. Generally the local county volunteers that called the meeting to order are elected by voice vote. After that, there will be an election of delegates and alternate delegates from your precinct caucus to the County Convention in March. Delegates have the right to vote at the County Convention. And each delegate has an alternate delegate who will vote in their place in case they are unable to attend the County Convention.
Each precinct caucus will be allocated a certain number of delegates and alternates. Anyone may run as a delegate or as an alternate delegate, and the individuals that receive the most votes are elected to represent the caucus at the county convention. Most people vote for delegates and alternate delegates that support the same candidate that they do. It’s the most important part of the caucus and we’ll explain why a little later.
After that, the caucus chair will ask if anyone wants to submit, in writing, an issue to be considered in the county platform. The platform is a document that expresses the beliefs and values of the county party. Issues submitted at the precinct caucus are debated and voted on at the county convention in March, and those that pass become part of the official county platform.
Once all platform issues have been submitted, the presidential candidate’s speeches will be given. The speeches are a way for the candidates to tell everyone attending why they should have their support.
After each of the short speeches, we will all cast our vote in the Presidential Preference Poll using paper ballots. Once all of the ballots have been turned in, the Caucus Chair will read aloud the result to everyone. The whole process takes about 30 minutes. - Why is the election of delegates and alternates at the caucus so important?
The reason the election of delegates and alternates is so important is because the Republican nominee for President is chosen by the delegates at the Republican National Convention. In Nevada, the process to become a national delegate begins with getting elected as a delegate at the precinct caucuses.
All Delegates and alternate delegates elected at the precinct caucus will meet in March at their county conventions. The county convention will then elect delegates to represent them at the State Convention on May 5-6th. And it’s at the State Convention where the delegates and alternates get elected to the Republican National Convention on August 27-30th.
Since delegates generally vote for other delegates who support the same candidate as they do, it’s advantageous for a candidate to elect as many people as possible as delegates at the precinct caucuses. The more delegates a candidate has after the precinct caucuses in February, the greater the chance they will have the most delegates from Nevada to the National Convention on August 27-30th.
It is an exciting process and we encourage everyone, especially first time caucus goers to run as delegates or alternate delegates at their precinct caucuses in February. It iss a great way to have your voice heard and to have a say in how our Party operates. - Is this my only chance to vote for my favorite Republican Presidential candidate?
Yes. The February 4th “First in the West” Nevada Republican Caucus will be your only opportunity to vote for the Republican Presidential candidate of your choice.
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