WILLMAR 鈥� The 2024 election in Minnesota is ramping up, with precinct caucuses taking place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Voters can learn more about precinct caucuses and where their caucus is located by visiting the Minnesota Secretary of State website at
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Precinct caucuses are meetings run by . They are the first in a series of meetings where parties may endorse candidates, select delegates and set goals and values (called party platforms), according to the Secretary of State website.
Minnesota鈥檚 major political parties are the the and the Minor political parties in Minnesota are the the and the
Participating in caucuses is a way to show support for a candidate, raise issues that are important, influence who the party will endorse for office and meet people in the community.
Although each political party runs its caucus meetings a little differently, there are generally three main activities that take place during the caucus meeting, according to the Secretary of State.
One of the activities is to choose volunteers that will organize political activities in the precinct, which may include maintaining contact lists, holding political meetings and helping with campaign efforts.
Another activity is to discuss issues and ideas for the party to support. Individuals can present an issue or an idea for the party to support, called a resolution, which will be taken to the next political convention if other attendees can be convinced to support the resolution. This may lead to the resolution becoming part of the party platform.
Finally, caucus attendees choose delegates who will endorse candidates at future conventions, such as state and federal congressional representatives and senators and the governor. Each political party has a different way of choosing delegates.
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Citizens have the right to take time off of work to attend a precinct caucus, according to the Secretary of State. Delegates and their alternatives have the right to take time off of work to attend political party conventions. Employers must be given 10 days鈥� written notice for those attending political party conventions.
Major political parties must attempt to provide an interpreter by request for attendees who are deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing. Those who are visually impaired have the right to get written caucus materials ahead of time by request.
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