Missouri Presidential Primary Contest: Round Two
Posted on March 14, 2012 by Amanda Beals
Voter’s in Missouri might be a little confused this week as they see campaign ads and notice a sudden increase in candidate attention to our state. You might be asking yourself, didn’t we already have our Presidential Primary Election in February? Well, kind of…
Because of internal workings of the national GOP, this year, results from the Missouri Republican Primary Election in February were non-binding. Instead, Republicans will choose who to support through a caucus, which will be held this month.
You may have seen news coverage about caucuses held in other states, such as Iowa, where voters either wrote their candidate choice on a slip of paper or participated in a straw poll to mark their choice for President. This will not be the case in Missouri. So just how will this caucus work then?
What Happens in a Caucus?
Missouri’s Caucus is much like an organizational meeting which follows Robert’s Rules. During the meeting, participants will decide as a group how to allocate Missouri’s delegates for the Presidential nominee. Generally, the more participants a particular candidate has at the caucus, the more likely that candidate is to win Missouri’s nomination.
How Long is the Caucus?
The caucus will not be a typical in-and-out voting experience. Participants could need to dedicate several hours out of their day that their local caucus is being held.
Who Can Participate?
Any eligible voter who says he or she is a Republican can attend the caucus
When Are the Caucuses?
It depends on local GOP leaders. Most will start at 10am Saturday, March 17th. St. Louis City and Jackson County caucuses are March 24th.
Where are the Caucuses?
To find dates, times, and locations of your local caucus, check with the MO Republican Party or 573-636-3146.
Many people believe that this system of election is the cornerstone of our representative American democracy. Others believe that the lower turnout rate and increased barriers to participation undermine our representative government. Regardless of your beliefs on this matter, the truth is that if you would like to have a say in who the Republican Primary winner from Missouri will be this year, you need to be at your local caucus and let your voice be heard.