Get Involved in Your Local Precinct Caucus and Make a Difference
Minnesota major political parties are holding precinct caucuses on Tuesday February 2nd, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. A precinct caucus is a gathering of your neighbors to exercise your rights in the American political process. Caucuses are the very first step in a party's political process. This is your first opportunity during an election year to talk about issues, recommend changes to your party's platform, hear from local candidates, and choose delegates to represent you at subsequent party conventions. Precinct caucuses determine the makeup of a political party for the next two years. All caucus conveners and other party officials are volunteers. Like you, they care deeply about the direction and future of our state and our country. While some attendees may be experienced caucus veterans, others will be new to the process.
Who Can Participate?
Individuals who are eligible to vote at the time of the next general election may participate in caucus meetings. You must choose which party's caucus meeting you wish to attend (you cannot attend more than one). You must generally be in agreement with the principles of the party as stated in the party's constitution and affirm that you intend to vote for some candidates endorsed by that party.
Where Do I Go?
The caucus meetings in your local area may be held in homes, in schools, or in other public buildings. The locations of your party's local caucus meeting can be found by clicking on one of the links below (note that some minor parties may conduct caucuses entirely online or by other means - see websites for details):
Constitution Party: http://www.cpmn.org/
DFL: www.dflcaucuses.org/
Green Party: http://www.mngreens.org/
Independence Party: http://www.independenceminnesota.org/
Libertarian Party: http://www.lpmn.org/
Republican Party: http://pf.mngop.com/
How Can I Prepare?
Minnesota Majority has developed some resources that you can print out and take with you to your local caucus meetings. There's a Beginner's Caucus Worksheet that provides some basic information about the meeting and the process.
Fulfill Our Civic Duty
Our Founding Fathers had the wisdom of establishing a government "of the People, by the People and for the People". While we may, at times, become frustrated by politics, we have no right to complain unless we are involved in trying to improve the situation. Each of us has the right and the responsibility to be involved in the political process in an effort to preserve freedom and liberty for future generations of Americans. Please take the time to attend your local caucus meeting on Tuesday, February 2nd.