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PRECINCT CAUCUSES
February 25, 2020 @ 7:00 pm
Precinct caucuses will be held February 25, 2020, one week before the Presidential Nomination Primary. A Caucus Finder will be available in early February.
Never been to a caucus? Not sure how it works? Learn more about the process below!
We encourage Minnesotans to show support for their preferred candidates by participating in the candidate endorsement process that leads up to the state party conventions.
It all begins on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 with the precinct caucuses. Going to a caucus is a great way to show support for a candidate, raise an issue that’s important to you, influence who the party will endorse for many offices, and meet people in your community.
Caucus basics
WHEN AND WHERE WILL 2020 PRECINCT CAUCUSES BE HELD?
The 2020 precinct caucuses will be held on Tuesday, February 25 at 7:00 p.m. at locations set by the parties.
WHAT IS A PRECINCT CAUCUS?
Precinct caucuses are meetings run by Minnesota’s political parties. They are the first in a series of meetings where parties may endorse candidates, select delegates, and set goals and values (called party platforms).
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN A CAUCUS?
To participate, you must be eligible to vote in the November 2020 general election and live in the precinct. You also must generally agree with the principles of the political party hosting the caucus.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE CAUCUS?
Each political party runs their caucus meetings a little differently. Check with your political party if you have specific questions. Generally, there are three main activities at a caucus:
- Choose volunteers who will organize political activities in the precinct. This could include maintaining contact lists, holding political meetings, and helping with campaign efforts.
- Discuss issues and ideas for the party to support. You can present an issue or idea for the party to support, called a resolution. If you convince other attendees to support your resolution, it will be taken to the next political convention. Eventually, your resolution could become part of the official party platform.
- Choose delegates who will endorse candidates at future conventions. At future conventions, party delegates will endorse state and federal candidates, including for Governor. Political parties have different ways of choosing delegates at the precinct level caucus—contact your party for more information.
FEEDBACK ABOUT CAUCUSES
If you have questions, concerns or a complaint about your precinct caucus, please contact the political party holding the caucus meeting. Unlike elections, which are run by local and state government election officials, precinct caucuses are run by political parties. Everything from site location to how the caucus is conducted is the responsibility of the party.
Additional information on precinct caucuses
RIGHT TO TIME OFF WORK TO ATTEND CAUCUSES
You have the right to take time off work to be at a precinct caucus or political party convention (if you’re a delegate or alternate). You must give your employer ten days’ written notice (See 202A.19, subd.2 and 202A.135).
ACCESSIBILITY AT CAUCUSES
Major political parties must attempt to provide you an interpreter by request, if you are deaf, deafblind, or hard-of-hearing. If you are visually impaired, you also have the right to get written caucus materials ahead of time, by request (see 202A.155).
RESTRICTIONS ON PUBLIC MEETINGS DURING CAUCUSES
So that all voters can attend the caucus, some groups cannot hold meetings after 6 p.m. on caucus night:
- No special taxing district governing body, school board, county board of commissioners, township board, or city council can hold a meeting after 6:00 p.m.
- No public elementary or secondary school may hold a school sponsored event after 6:00 p.m.
- No state agency, board, commission, department, or committee can conduct a public meeting after 6:00 p.m.
- The University of Minnesota may not schedule an event which will take place after 6:00 p.m unless permission to do so has been received from the Board of Regents.
- No Minnesota state college or university may schedule an event which will take place after 6:00 p.m. unless permission to do so has been received from the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
For more details, see 202A.19.
Caucus Results
2018 GUBERNATORIAL PREFERENCE BALLOT RESULTS
The 2018 precinct caucuses were held on February 6, 2018. Caucus results for the gubernatorial preference ballot were provided to the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State by political parties. They are all contained in the following spreadsheet:
2016 PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE BALLOT RESULTS
The 2016 precinct caucuses were held on March 1, 2016. Caucus results for the presidential preference ballot were provided to the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State by political parties.