Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State : Precinct Caucuses

Are there restrictions on meetings and events on caucus nights?
What is a precinct caucus?
Who can attend a caucus?
Are caucus meeting locations accessible to individuals with disabilities?
What do caucus attendees do?

Are there restrictions on meetings and events on caucus nights?

What is a precinct caucus?

Who can attend a caucus?

Are caucus meeting locations accessible to individuals with disabilities?

What do caucus attendees do?

Q: Are there restrictions on meetings and events on caucus nights? A: There are restrictions for some governmental and school events after 6 p.m. on caucus nights: No school board, county board, town board, or city council meetings No U of M or MnSCU events without permission of the Board of Regents or MnSCU trustees No public elementary or secondary school may hold a school-sponsored event No state agency, board, commission, department or committee may hold a meeting See M.S. 202A.19 for details.
Q: What is a precinct caucus? A: A caucus is a meeting organized by Minnesota's political parties where citizens can engage each other in a conversation about which candidates to support in the next general election and what public policy positions should be adopted as part of the party's platform.
Q: Who can attend a caucus? A: Precinct caucuses are open to the public and participation is encouraged by the political parties. In order to vote, offer resolutions or become a delegate at a precinct caucus, attendees must be eligible to vote in the next general election, live in the precinct, and be in general agreement with the principles of the political party.
Q: Are caucus meeting locations accessible to individuals with disabilities? A: Most caucuses are held in accessible buildings. Anyone needing interpretive services or caucus materials in alternate formats should write or e-mail their political party's state office in advance for further assistance.
Q: What do caucus attendees do? A: Discuss public policy issues and pass resolutions Caucuses provide a forum for citizens to engage their neighbors in a conversation on a wide range of public policy and political issues. Attendees may also offer and vote on resolutions to shape the party's platform. Vote in a straw poll Political parties may conduct a straw poll to gauge caucus attendees' candidate preferences for state or federal elected offices. Elect precinct officers Caucus attendees elect officers who will be responsible for organizing political activities within the precinct. Elect delegates Caucus attendees elect delegates and alternates to represent their precinct at the political party's county or district convention. District convention delegates in turn, elect delegates to the political party's congressional and state conventions. Delegates influence which candidates and policy positions their party ultimately endorses.

Q: Are there restrictions on meetings and events on caucus nights?

There are restrictions for some governmental and school events after 6 p.m. on caucus nights:

No school board, county board, town board, or city council meetings
No U of M or MnSCU events without permission of the Board of Regents or MnSCU trustees
No public elementary or secondary school may hold a school-sponsored event
No state agency, board, commission, department or committee may hold a meeting

See M.S. 202A.19 for details.

Q: What is a precinct caucus?

A caucus is a meeting organized by Minnesota's political parties where citizens can engage each other in a conversation about which candidates to support in the next general election and what public policy positions should be adopted as part of the party's platform.

Q: Who can attend a caucus?

Precinct caucuses are open to the public and participation is encouraged by the political parties. In order to vote, offer resolutions or become a delegate at a precinct caucus, attendees must be eligible to vote in the next general election, live in the precinct, and be in general agreement with the principles of the political party.

Q: Are caucus meeting locations accessible to individuals with disabilities?

Most caucuses are held in accessible buildings. Anyone needing interpretive services or caucus materials in alternate formats should write or e-mail their political party's state office in advance for further assistance.

Q: What do caucus attendees do?

Discuss public policy issues and pass resolutions
Caucuses provide a forum for citizens to engage their neighbors in a conversation on a wide range of public policy and political issues. Attendees may also offer and vote on resolutions to shape the party's platform.
Vote in a straw poll
Political parties may conduct a straw poll to gauge caucus attendees' candidate preferences for state or federal elected offices.
Elect precinct officers
Caucus attendees elect officers who will be responsible for organizing political activities within the precinct.
Elect delegates
Caucus attendees elect delegates and alternates to represent their precinct at the political party's county or district convention. District convention delegates in turn, elect delegates to the political party's congressional and state conventions. Delegates influence which candidates and policy positions their party ultimately endorses.

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