Caucuses and primaries

What is the difference between a caucus and a primary?

Since the state of Washington has both this year, an explanation is needed.

From Washington state Secretary of State Kim Wyman, the following information should help:

1. The caucuses are run entirely by the political parties. The Republicans had their caucus on Feb. 20, and the Democrats will have theirs on March 26. At each caucus, voters declare themselves a member of the party and work with their fellow caucus-goers on party platform planks and elect delegates to later conventions.

2. At the Democrats’ caucus, a tally is taken of each voter’s support for a presidential candidate, and delegates are awarded roughly proportionately, leading to legislative district caucuses and county conventions, the state convention and, finally, the national party nominating conventions. For Democrats, the caucus is absolutely important for delegate selection.

3. The Republicans will also allocate their delegates in a similar manner, but will base the delegate selection only on the primary results. For Republicans, the primary is absolutely important.

4. The statewide presidential primary election on May 24 will operate much like a general election – with one big exception. Voters will have to sign a party declaration and vote only on one party’s list of candidates. Voter’s pamphlets and ballots will go out the first week of May, and voters will have 18 days to mail back or use a ballot drop box.

The major difference is that the caucuses are run by the political parties and the primary is operated by the state of Washington. Voters’ preference for a presidential candidate will determine the delegates representing the voice of the voters in each county.

Secretary Wyman urges voters to participate in the political process and cast their presidential primary ballots.

Democracy works best when the people vote.

Duane Pitts

Moses Lake