While it’s Super Tuesday, Colorado’s caucuses are unlikely to get as much national coverage as the primaries taking place in a dozen other states that day. However, the caucus system is a way for democracy to take place at the neighborhood level.
Q.: What are caucuses?
A.: Caucuses are a gathering by precinct – Montezuma County has 11 precincts.
Caucuses are the first step to put candidates on primary and general election ballots, help form party leadership for the next two years and are where resolutions that may eventually end up on state or national party platforms begin. Caucuses are organized and run by the political parties, and each has its own rules. Votes may be open or secret, depending on the precinct.
The state mandates by statute when caucuses must take place.
Q.: Who can attend caucuses?
A.: The caucuses are open, so anyone can observe. Only voters registered with a party can vote, and in their assigned precinct. Participants must be present to vote. If you’re not registered to vote or are registered as unaffiliated, you’re out of luck. The deadline to change affiliation was Jan. 4.
Q.: What happens at a caucus?
A.: Precinct captains organize the event but don’t run the meeting. So first, each precinct will elect a chairman and secretary pro-tem to run the meeting and new precinct captains for future years. During election years, precinct captains are usually involved in campaigning and encouraging their area’s party members to go to the polls, or in Colorado’s case, send in their mail-in ballots.
The art of persuasion will be on display at the caucuses as attendees promote their candidates of choice.
Voters then express their preferences for various offices. Precincts report their results for different races to the Montezuma County clerk, who reports them to the Colorado secretary of state. Official results come from the state.
The final part of the caucus is dedicated to resolutions, policy items the voters would like to see their elected leaders pursue. Any registered voter in attendance can submit a resolution, but it should be in writing.
Q.: What other races are important in Montezuma County caucuses?
A.: The Republicans have one candidate for the 22nd Judicial District, DA Will Furse.