The State of Colorado votes this year on Super Tuesday, February 5th in what is called a caucus or a ‘closed primary’. I’ve noticed that my previous posts on other state primaries have been extremely useful for readers, so I’d like to duplicate this for residents throughout the country. Each post is assembled on the Voter’s Guide page for your future reference. I have used liberally from Common Cause Colorado as well, who have a spectacular page of information in this as well.
Colorado residents are facing perhaps the most important presidential caucuses they have ever voted in. The nominations have never been so in flux in nearly a generation. Both parties do not have a clear winner, and each campaign is shifting their focus to a long term outlook. In fact, we might see both the Democrats and Republicans fighting this one out until the summer.
2008 therefore is no longer about Iowa and New Hampshire. It’s about Super Tuesday and the states that follow. And Colorado sits in a position of power to determine who the nominee may eventually be.
In light of this, I feel it is necessary to share a quick history and voter’s guide to the most salient questions I’ve been asked about Colorado and Super Tuesday. A political professional for nearly 10 years, I hope that this guide helps to answer all of your questions. If you have further ones, feel free to leave a comment.
Can I vote in the Colorado Caucus?
Only if you are a registered to vote prior to Monday, January 7th and are a declared member of either the Democratic or Republican party. At the time of this writing it looks like the deadline has passed for all of you who have not yet registered. Sorry kids.
Can Independents vote in the Colorado Caucus?
No.
Why can’t Independents vote in the Colorado Caucus?
The State of Colorado votes in what is known as a closed primary or caucus. This means that only those voters who have officially declared their membership in the Republican or Democratic parties may participate.
Closed primaries or caucuses are a unique example of a political party’s interest in keeping active participation in the party going strong.
Unfortunately, this type of primary traditionally has lower turnout since only those who are officially declared as a member of a party are permitted to vote. Furthermore, many Independents find this system to be a disincentive to pay attention to the primary elections and therefore pay little mind to the race until the General Election.
What is a caucus?
Caucuses are local meetings conducted by the Democratic and Republican parties held in precincts throughout the state. At the caucus, voters are divided into groups according to the candidate they support. The undecided voters congregate into their own group and prepare to be “counted” by supporters of other candidates. Voters in each group can then give speeches supporting their candidate and try to persuade others to join their group. At the end of the caucus, party organizers count the voters in each candidate’s group and calculate how many delegates to the county convention each candidate has won. This is the first step in a multi-step process to elect delegates to represent Colorado at the national convention.
The caucus has three main functions:
1. To elect Delegates/Alternates to the County Assembly and Convention
2. To elect two precinct committee people for 2-year terms and;
3. To vote on proposed platform issues
Do we also have a primary in Colorado? If so, what is the difference between the caucus and the primary?
Yes. In Colorado we use both the caucus and primary systems.
A caucus is where party members get together in their precincts to pledge their support for a favorite presidential candidate. Delegates are then awarded to the candidates based on the votes taken at the caucuses. The delegates then attend county assemblies and the state convention to vote on the party platform and “carry” the votes from their precinct. The state convention then awards delegates based on the results from the state as a whole.
The Colorado primary is for state-level and congressional offices only. A primary is simply an election that allows registered voters (with a specific party) to go to the polls and cast their ballot for a candidate. In Colorado, our primaries are closed, which means you must be a member of the party to vote for that party’s candidate.
The caucuses and the primaries finally culminate in a national convention in which the party’s nomination for president is formally announced. During the conventions, the elected delegates cast their vote for a party candidate and the candidate with the most delegates gets the party’s nomination. The end of the convention marks the beginning of the general election season.
Does the Colorado Caucus matter?
Despite Independent voters being barred from participating, the Colorado Caucus still matters a great deal to the overall 2008 Election. When a presidential primary comes to a state like Colorado and the voting can still determine the outcome, it is a rare opportunity for voters to have their voices heard nationally.
If you are a Democrat, your vote will contribute to your candidate’s delegate total when it comes to convention time. Even if your candidate doesn’t win Colorado, the better he or she does, the more delegates he or she will have to potentially be the nominee.
If you are a Republican, let’s face it, your vote is probably even more important in determining your party’s nominee. This race is still completely up for grabs. After February 5th is done and your vote is counted, we might see someone claim the mantle of frontrunner (see my other post on Why Super Tuesday Is So Important)
What resources are out there for me?
I’m afraid that not many will go this length in explaining the logic of our primary system to you, but I will point you in the right direction for better details on what to expect on Election Day.
Colorado Secretary of State’s Office
Where is my caucus held?
Typically caucuses are held in local public places. Contact the party you are affiliated with to find out where your caucus is being held. The Colorado caucus will be held on February 5, 2008.
www.coloradodems.org – Colorado Democratic Party
www.cologop.org – Colorado Republican Party
What’s Next?
Check back here for updates and bookmark the above pages. And be sure to leave a comment if you have any questions.
[...] Mary Kennon wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptFurthermore, many Independents find this system to be a disincentive to pay attention to the primary elections and therefore pay little mind to the race until the General Election. What is a caucus? Caucuses are local meetings conducted … [...]
I’m a registered voter but up until January 15th I was registered as an Independent. On the 15th I effectively changed my affiliation to the Republican party. Since I was registered on January 7th but wasn’t registered as a Republican until the 15th, can I still attend and vote in the Colorado caucus?