It’s precinct caucus time!
It is an exciting year and caucus is the first step to selecting a Republican presidential nominee. If you are a resident of Steele County and agree with Republican Party principles, be sure to attend the Precinct Caucus on Tuesday, February 27, at 6:30 p.m. at the new Owatonna High School at 1455 SE 18th Steet. You will enjoy meeting together with your neighbors and will be a part of the grassroots process. You will be able to vote in the Presidential Straw Ballot, possibly get elected as a delegate, vote on resolutions, and sign up to volunteer for numerous campaigns, if you choose!
Where does the word “caucus” come from? The word “caucus” is thought to come from an Algonquin Indian word meaning “one who advises, urges, encourages, to talk to … give counsel, advise, promote, incite to action.” It’s essentially a neighborhood meeting of sorts — for politically active, like-minded people. Steele County is made up of cities broken down into 10 precincts as well as a number of rural townships. Depending on your street address, you will meet with your neighbors who live in close proximity to you whether in the rural area or within city limits.
Who can attend a caucus?
Precinct caucuses are open to the public and we depend on your involvement!
In order to vote in the Presidential Straw Poll, offer resolutions, or become a delegate, you must:
- Be eligible to vote in the fall election – November 5, 2024.
- Live in the precinct you caucus in.
- To be voted a delegate, you must be in agreement with the principles of the Republican Party. You may not caucus with two different parties.
What do these words mean?
Straw Poll is a vote taken to obtain an indication of the general trend of opinion on a particular candidate.
Delegate is a person acting for another: as a representative to a convention or conference.
Alternate is a person who takes the place of an elected delegate in their absence.
Precinct is any one of the sections that a town or city is divided into when people vote in an election. (Rural areas have townships while cities are made up of precincts and wards).
Convention is the convening of elected delegates and alternates for the common purpose to conduct business including formulating a platform and selecting candidates for office.
Endorsement is a vote by elected delegates to declare their support for a candidate for elected office. There can only be an endorsement of one candidate for each political office.
Resolution is formal written expression of an opinion intended to influence the Party Platform.
Convener is the trained person who will conduct business on Caucus Night in a particular ward or township.
Here’s what happens on Caucus Night:
- Every attender will sign in and meet together as a large group. There’s a call to order at 6:30 p.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance is said. We hope to have our local legislators give a short summary of what the 2024 legislative session could look like. Announcements are made and then attendees will disperse to their individual rooms as with their neighbors according to your address.
- Each ward/township will elect a precinct chair and secretary just for tonight’s business, and the precinct chair is called the Convener.
- Prior to 8 pm, all eligible attenders may cast one vote in the Straw Poll for President of the United States on a paper ballot and those votes will be tallied by tellers in each ward, precinct and township.
- While votes are being tallied, each precinct/township will continue to do business of electing delegates and alternates to the upcoming county convention.
- The final business of the night is to discuss submitted resolutions and to vote on them if they should move forward to the Steele County Convention to be voted upon.
- Adjourn. The business of the night begins at 7:15 p.m. and may end anywhere between 8:15 and 9:00 p.m. depending on discussion time.
Want to get involved in the 2024 Political Campaigns or volunteer for the local Steele County Republican Party or be an Election Judge or Election Observer on November 5?
Visit the Volunteer Table and find out where you can find a spot that agrees with your interests and time commitments—a little or a lot!
We hope you enjoy participating in the precinct cacucus!
Questions? Call Co-Chairs Stephen Nelson at 456-5320 or Pam Seaser 455-1709
LIKE us on Facebook. Visit our website: SteeleCountyRepublicans.com
“Also on February 27 at the Precinct Caucus, you can vote in the U.S. Presidential Straw Poll. You will be voting for one Republican Presidential candidate running in 2024. It is a very exciting time to see the results of who Steele County Republican caucus attenders favor to be our next President of the United States. There is no absentee balloting allowed; you must attend Caucus to participate in the Straw Poll.”