YYIn Your State State News from AAM Groups The Presidential Primary/Caucus Information January 2012 Primaries will be held in: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina, Florida. Thanks goes to Jenn Jones, Stacy Finch and Dr.Diaz-Yoserev, and to Wiki and especially to Greenpapers.com at http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P12/events.phtml?s=a
and Jim Bohlander for background information. All information listed here is subject to change due to redistricting and pending court cases. The 2012 GOP nomination campaign may be a test of endurance. It will probably not be won quickly. When researching primary and caucus rules, words to look for include: binding (delegates must vote for a certain candidate) and non-binding, proportional (delegates must vote in proportion to the percentages received) and non-proportional or “winner take all” and look at the number of delegates from each state when looking at possible outcomes. Over thirty states hold their GOP primaries and caucuses before April. New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina, Florida, Arizona, and Michigan may be penalized with a loss of half of their delegates due to Republican Party rules about early primary and caucus dates. The Iowa Republican caucus is a non-binding caucus so that is not included. The race might not be won until deep into April, or even as late as June - and thus will be won by the best funded, best organized, and most determined campaign. Some have wondered if this will be a “brokered convention,” meaning that there will be no clear winner when heading to the party convention. This scenario releases the delegates from their commitments after a first round of voting and they will be allowed to vote for whomever they want. Further 26 MinuteMom Magazine
controversy for both parties involves the discussion about primary vs. caucuses. Most people have at least a basic understanding of primaries. Some are concerned about the concept of Open Primaries, especially this year where it appears the incumbent will be running unopposed. A caucus for Presidential candidates is run differently from a primary. Official business of the precinct caucus includes looking for candidates that are “viable” meaning they would receive at least 15% of the vote, electing members to the county central committee, electing delegates, alternates and junior delegates to the county convention, electing precinct people to any committees for the County Convention and discussing and submitting platform issues to the County Convention. One shouldn’t confuse the caucus with the three conventions that follow. After the precinct caucus, each county Party convenes the County Convention. At the County Convention, County Parties discuss the County Platform and elect delegates to the District and State Conventions. At the District Convention, delegates elect members to different committees
to the State Convention. Delegates also elect State Central Committee Members. Finally, delegates debate the platform again. At State Convention, delegates debate the platform and elect the National Committeeman and National Committeewoman, who will represent the state at the National Committee. The party platform is debated and voted upon at State Convention also. You will often hear the term “Caucus to Convention.” Caucus to convention is merely the period of activity between the beginning of the caucus in the early spring to the state convention. Proponents of the caucus system say since there is personal interaction and much knowledge sharing and campaigning, the voters are better informed. Detractors of the caucus system say that the caucus system is not inclusive “because absentee, military and often the elderly and others cannot attend.” Third party candidates are generally elected at Conventions only. Please look at your own state’s Secretary of State’s or voter information website to find links to viable Third Parties for your state. www.AsAMom.org