Caucuses held in Feb., Apr., and May

Want to have a say in which candidates run for Saint Paul City Council and School Board? Want to impact the values and goals that your political party has for the City of Saint Paul? Want to get involved in the grassroots leadership of your political party at the precinct or ward level? Your chance is coming up at the precinct caucuses and ward conventions.

Q: How do I find my caucus or ward convention?

A: Not every political party holds a precinct caucus during an odd-numbered year. The Republican Party of Minnesota (saintpaulgop.com), Independence Party (www.facebook.com/IPCD4), and Green Party (greensaintpaul.org) hold ward or city conventions in April and May. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (stpauldfl.org) has precinct caucuses on Feb. 3, with ward conventions that night or later in February. Go to the websites listed to identify the location, time, and date of your political party’s precinct or ward meeting.

Q: Who can participate in caucuses?

A: Precinct caucuses and ward or city conventions are open to the public. But in order to vote, offer resolutions, or become a delegate, you must: be eligible to vote by the November election, live in the precinct or ward and basically agree with the principles of the political party.

Q: What happens at a caucus?

A: The precinct caucus is a neighborhood event, so you can meet your neighbors there or encourage your neighbors to go with you! The first task of caucus-goers will be to select officials to convene and run the meeting. Caucus-goers will elect delegates to represent your precinct at upcoming ward and city conventions that are held during an election year. The first are the political party’s ward conventions which may be held the same night as the caucuses. At these conventions, delegates endorse candidates to represent the ward (on City Council) and city (on the School Board). Attendees will also introduce and vote on resolutions to the party’s platform. Those in attendance also have an opportunity to speak with candidates.