The precinct caucus is held in even-numbered years. It is a meeting of neighbors living in a certain area, or precinct, that support a particular party and get together to decide the direction of that party.

All caucus precinct meetings for HD53A Republicans will be Tuesday, February 7th, starting at 7 p.m.  They will be held at the Centennial Middle School, 399 Elm Street in Lino Lakes. See map.  Know your precinct to help find the meeting room at the school.

Click Here to Find your Precinct

The caucus is the very start of the political process and you will be helping to select the candidates that our party selects to run for office in the next election.

Okay great....but what do I do when I get there?

COME EARLY.  When you show up you'll be asked to register..  By registering, you state your general intent to support the Republican party in the upcoming election and that you agree with the principles set forth by the party.  From this point you can be as active a participant as you want.

You will also have the opportunity to present issues important to you that you would like to see the party address in its platform. You may first want to read the platform to see if your issue or proposal is already incorporated in it.

Read Party Platform

After going through the platform if there are important issues that you'd like to present as resolutions to be included, consider drafting them now.  Doing this in advance of the caucus will give you plenty of time to research and write your resolution and to ensure it is not already covered in the platform.

There will be a temporary convener present who will get the meeting started. Next you will elect a caucus chair and secretary to serve during the meeting. The precinct will then elect a permanent precinct chair and will nominate and elect delegates and alternates to represent them at higher party levels.  If you want to represent your precinct, then by all means nominate yourself to be a delegate and your fellow precinct members may select you as such.  You will then become their voice at higher levels of the party..

If you want to introduce an issue, bring that up when your precinct meets.  If you are not elected as delegate, the delegates can then advance your issue later on in the political process.

You will be electing a precinct chair and officers who will represent your precinct in the BPOU committee and vote on the day-to-day activities of the BPOU.

Sounds exciting, but am I eligible to participate?

Likely, yes.  If you are eligible to vote in your precinct in the coming election, you are not active within any other political party and you agree with the principles of the Republican party, then yes, you're eligible.  Even if you don't meet the above qualifications, you can attend as an observer.

OK so I'm eligible, but why should I attend?

Have you heard the saying  "You can't complain about your government if you didn't vote?"  Well same principle here.  The caucus is an easy way to begin to be active in the party and to make sure it is run the way you want.  You will have a voice about what issues are raised and also in selecting the people that run the party.

There will also be a Preference Ballot or straw poll for president during the caucus.  Some of the candidate campaigns may address your meeting or have statements read in their behalf. The state-wide results of these straw polls form a basis of support for the candidates.   Although non-binding, the Preference Ballot gives Minnesotans the opportunity to voice their opinion on who should be the Republican nominee.

Precinct caucuses are only the first step in the political process; and they are your doorway to becoming more active in your party.  It is your chance to have a say in the platform and the candidates. Caucuses give you a voice and you should take advantage of this.