Find your caucus location here (click): http://www.douglasgop.org/2011/12/douglas-county-republican-precinct.htm
1. What is a caucus?
A caucus is a gathering of neighbors and friends who get together to discuss politics, elect delegates and alternates to the county convention, submit issues to be discussed and voted on for the county platform, and cast their vote for the Presidential candidate of their choice. The Nevada Republican Caucus is scheduled for Saturday, February 4, 2012.
2. What is the difference between a caucus and a primary?
There are many differences between a caucus and a primary. To begin with, you will be voting for delegates and alternates to the county convention in addition to casting a vote for President. On caucus day, unlike in Nevada primaries, you can only vote at the caucus location in your area (precinct). The Nevada Republican Party will be mailing each registered Republican voter in the state a postcard specifying his or her caucus location. If you are not yet registered as a Republican, you must do so prior to January 20, 2012 in order to participate in the caucus. The location of each caucus site is also posted on the Douglas County Republican Central Committee website (http://www.douglasgop.org), the State Party's website
(http://www.nevadagop.org), and the local newspaper.
3. Why is the election of delegates and alternates at the caucus so important?
It is important because the delegates at the Republican National Convention choose the Republican Party's nominee for President. In Nevada, the results of the precinct caucuses will be binding. That means that the number of delegates chosen at the state convention will directly reflect the proportion of precinct caucus attendees and reflect the proportion of the votes cast for President by precinct caucus members.
All delegates and alternate delegates elected at the precinct will meet on March 31, 2012 at our county convention. The county convention will then elect delegates and alternates to represent them at the State Convention later in the spring. It is at the State Convention where the delegates and alternates are elected to the Republican National Convention in September.
4. Is this my only chance to vote for my favorite Republican Presidential candidate or can I wait and vote in the primary?
The February 4th Nevada Caucus will be the only chance you will have to vote for your favorite Republican Presidential candidate. Presidential candidates will not be on the ballot in Nevada's primary.
5. Who can participate in Nevada's Republican Caucuses?
If you are currently registered as a Republican in Nevada you are already eligible to participate. If you are a new resident to Nevada or if you are planning to change your party affiliation to Republican you will need to register not later than January 20, 2012 in order to participate.
Also, if you are seventeen years old and will be eighteen years old on or before November 6, 2012, you will be welcome to participate when you register as a Republican.
6. What happens at a Republican Caucus?
If you will be attending your first caucus and aren't sure how it works, don't worry - many of your fellow Republican caucus goers will be attending their first caucus as well. Outlined below are the elements of the caucus meeting.
Sign In: A local volunteer will verify that you are a registered Republican by way of a photo ID and check you in. I URGE ALL WHO WILL ATTEND TO ARRIVE WELL BEFORE NOON TO SIGN-IN SO THAT WE CAN FINISH BY 3 PM.
Elect a Caucus Chair and Secretary: Usually the local volunteer that checked you in is elected as the Caucus Chair. The Caucus Secretary will assist the chair.
Election of Delegates: Each precinct is allotted a specific number of delegates to the county convention based on the number of registered Republicans in the precinct. Anyone may run for a delegate position and the top vote-getters are automatically elected.
Election of Alternates: Alternates will vote at the county convention when a delegate is unable to attend or has to leave the county convention early.
Turn in Platform Issues: If you have an issue you want to have considered for inclusion into the county platform you must submit it at the caucus. These platform issues may be combined with others submitted from the 41 other precincts in Douglas County to form the platform.
Supporters of Each Candidate Speak: One supporter of each candidate running for President is given time to speak on behalf of their candidate, usually three minutes. It will be up to the chair to determine how much time to allocate to each speaker.
Vote: Caucus attendees will then vote in a Presidential Preference Poll immediately after all speeches have been given. The results will be binding and the national delegates sent to the Republican National Convention will reflect the results of the Poll. You will know the results of our precinct vote before you leave.
