Make Your Voice Heard: Tips for Caucus Participation
Most caucuses start Tuesday, March 23, at 7 p.m., but some may start earlier depending on district/precinct.
Caucuses are held by political parties and were traditionally held in an individual’s home. To encourage political participation and to avoid potential voter alienation, caucuses have been moved out of living rooms and into more public locations. Caucus locations are determined by either legislative district or by voting precinct number. District and precinct locations can be found below; if finding a caucus location is difficult, you can always call the Lt. Governor’s office (901-538-1041) or local county offices (Cache County is 435-755-1460).
- Legislative districts can be found online. Go to the site and enter your address.
Caucuses are held by political parties and were traditionally held in an individual’s home. To encourage political participation and to avoid potential voter alienation, caucuses have been moved out of living rooms and into more public locations. Caucus locations are determined by either legislative district or by voting precinct number. District and precinct locations can be found below; if finding a caucus location is difficult, you can always call the Lt. Governor’s office (901-538-1041) or local county offices (Cache County is 435-755-1460).
- Legislative districts can be found online. Go to the site and enter your address.
- To find your voter precinct, go to the Utah government site or the “Leave Your Print” site and enter your voter registration information.
Then go to the political party Web sites to find the caucus locations:
- For a list of Democratic Caucuses, go to the party’s Web site.
- For a list of Republican Caucuses, go to the party’s Web site.
- Additional resources for other political parties are available online.
The caucuses will elect both county delegates and state delegates, and one individual can serve as both a county and state delegate. County delegates select candidates for county office and single-county State House and Senate candidates at the county conventions. State delegates will select the statewide and federal candidates and multi-county State House and Senate candidates at the state convention.
If you are running to be delegate, it would be wise to have some prepared talking points on why you’d like to be elected. You may also want to avoid immediately endorsing a specific political candidate as delegates’ decisions may be swayed when meeting with candidates and hearing their views. It is also advisable to bring other registered voters with you for support. Often, voter participation at caucuses is minimal and delegates are chosen by a margin of one to two votes. If you do not wish to be a delegate, participate anyway and elect delegates who will best represent your views and political priorities.
The caucus process may seem like an “insider’s game,” but don’t be intimidated by the process and remember that you have as much a right to participate in this important step in Utah’s democratic process as any other registered voter.
Good luck and thanks for participating in this important process.
Then go to the political party Web sites to find the caucus locations:
- For a list of Democratic Caucuses, go to the party’s Web site.
- For a list of Republican Caucuses, go to the party’s Web site.
- Additional resources for other political parties are available online.
The caucuses will elect both county delegates and state delegates, and one individual can serve as both a county and state delegate. County delegates select candidates for county office and single-county State House and Senate candidates at the county conventions. State delegates will select the statewide and federal candidates and multi-county State House and Senate candidates at the state convention.
If you are running to be delegate, it would be wise to have some prepared talking points on why you’d like to be elected. You may also want to avoid immediately endorsing a specific political candidate as delegates’ decisions may be swayed when meeting with candidates and hearing their views. It is also advisable to bring other registered voters with you for support. Often, voter participation at caucuses is minimal and delegates are chosen by a margin of one to two votes. If you do not wish to be a delegate, participate anyway and elect delegates who will best represent your views and political priorities.
The caucus process may seem like an “insider’s game,” but don’t be intimidated by the process and remember that you have as much a right to participate in this important step in Utah’s democratic process as any other registered voter.
Good luck and thanks for participating in this important process.
Utah State University
Federal and State Relations
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