The Nevada Sagebrush

Nevada holds the caucus to send delegates, or people from the state representing a candidate, to the respective party’s national conventions. The most supported candidate at the convention becomes that party’s presidential candidate. A presidential caucus groups registered voters of the same party by their geographic precinct.

The first step’s the same but the parties split soon after:

Step 1: Getting to the caucus

Call or visit the Web site for the Washoe County headquarters for the party you want to caucus for. Both caucuses are Jan. 19. Republicans start at 9 a.m. and Democrats start at 11 a.m.
Democratic process
Step 2: Sign in

You must be a registered Democrat to sign in. You will then check a box for a candidate you lean toward, or check uncommitted.
Step 3: Electing a chair

The caucus members elect a permanent chair to lead the caucus.
Step 4: Delegates

The chair announces the number of delegates, or people who go to the county convention representing their candidate. The number of delegates is determined before the caucus and is based on the number of registered Democrats in the county.
Step 5: Viability

The chair does a head count of the participants and tries to match the number with the number of caucus members signed in. The number of people who attend the caucus help determine the viability number, or the number of caucus members a presidential candidate needs for at least one delegate.

If the precinct has one delegate, then the candidate must be elected by the whole precinct.

If the precinct has two delegates, viable candidate groups must have 25 percent of the attendees.

If the precinct has three delegates, viable groups must have 20 percent of the attendees.

If the precinct has four or more delegates, viable groups must have 15 percent of the attendees.
Step 6: Alignment

The chair announces the number of participants needed for a candidate or group to be viable.

The chair gives the participants 15 minutes to get into groups based on noncommitment or presidential candidate.

The chair announces which groups have enough members and which do not.
Step 7: Realignment

Groups with not enough members are given time to try to recruit more members to make the group viable. Already viable groups are allowed to try to convince members of nonviable groups to join their viable group.
Step 8: Giving Out Delegates

After the groups have settled and nonviable groups have disbanded, the chair allots delegates to each remaining group based on size.

The group then elects a delegate for the county convention.
Step 9: Results

The chair calls the state party and reports the caucus results. The caucus repeats on county and state levels before delegates are sent the Democratic National Convention.
Republican Process
Step 2: Sign in

With the exception of 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the general election, those wanting to participate in the Republican caucus must register as Republicans by December.
Step 3: Announcing chairman

A chairman will be selected from the caucus.
Step 4: Announcing delegates

The chairman will announce the number of delegates who will go onto the county caucus. The number of registered Republicans in a precinct determines delegate numbers.

Each delegate represents a presidential candidate. Anybody attending the caucus is allowed to run for delegate positions.
Step 4: Discussion

The temporary chairman will allow the people running for a delegate position one minute to discuss why their presidential candidate should be president.
Step 5: Delegate Vote

After all delegate candidates have discussed their presidential candidate, the caucus will vote in a secret ballot.

No late or absentee voting for the delegates is allowed. However, the Washoe Republican Party is arranging to have absentee ballots for those in the military.
Step 6: Selecting Alternates.

The same process of selecting delegates is repeated for alternates. Alternates act as delegates when elected delegates are unable to attend the county caucus. The number of alternates equals that of the delegates, though they can represent different candidates.

Alternates are ranked according to number of votes. No. 1 alternate goes in place of the first delegate unable to attend and so on.

— Wheeler Cowperthwaite and Todd DeMeza, Staff Writers

Related Posts:

• No Related Posts