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emulatorloo

(45,521 posts)
Wed Jan 13, 2016, 08:04 PM Jan 2016

Colorado Presidential Caucus Newbie here.

I live part time in IA and part time in CO, but vote in Co for the past few years. This will be my first time to caucus.

My liberal dem friends and relatives in Denver metro say they have never caucused because it is "only for the party big-wigs."

That doesn't sound right to me . . . but I've not had much luck finding info online. Have searched Democratic sites in my county, but I may be too dumb to know where to find the info.

Anybody willing to educate me or help me out with an online source?

Thanks in advance!

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SheilaT

(23,156 posts)
2. Colorado caucuses are NOT "only for the party big-wigs"
Wed Jan 13, 2016, 08:27 PM
Jan 2016

Your friends and relatives are incredibly misinformed.

I used to live in Colorado and have caucused there. I believe they do it at the precinct level. Someone in your precinct on the appointed day will host whoever whats to show up and caucus. Call your nearest Democratic Party whatever, maybe even starting with the state chair, and you'll be able to find out.

Failing that, call the local newspaper. I bet they'll know.

The one time I did it was in 1988, and we had a five year old and a one year old, so my husband set off down the street where the caucus was, as we didn't think we should inflict our children on them. A bit later hubby called me and said, come, the kids are welcome.

We wound up being delegates to the county caucus, where free babysitting was provided by the party. Shows that the Democrats really understand family values.

Hope you can find out what you need and where to go.

Cassidy

(207 posts)
3. Here's a link -
Wed Jan 13, 2016, 11:12 PM
Jan 2016

Mark your calendar! - March 1st 7:00 pm. Expect it to last a couple of hours. You won't just be voting for Presidential candidates, but for candidates in other competitive races and working to develop a party platform.

http://www.coloradodems.org/action/caucus-2016

I grew up in a conservative, rural county in Colorado. Now, I live in a different, conservative, rural county in Colorado.

My mom took me to my first caucus when I was 18. It was great to discuss politics and politicians with knowledgeable people. It was even cooler that those people were our neighbors!

I worked with my County Dem party during the 2008 caucuses. We had an overflow crowd, but everyone was energized and stayed until they had discussed things properly and voted.

Your friends are misinformed. The Precinct Caucuses (March 1st) are for you and your neighbors. If you want to go to the subsequent Convention/Assemblies (County, District, State) you will have an opportunity to do so by attending the Precinct. It is really only at the larger Convention/Assemblies that you will start to rub elbows with the "big-wigs."

Please attend your Precinct Caucus and try to convince your friends to do likewise. You will find yourself in the company of like-minded, interested and interesting neighbors, discussing topics that are important to you. It is democracy at its best!

emulatorloo

(45,521 posts)
7. THANKS!!!! for the link and info about the precinct caucuses.
Sat Jan 16, 2016, 11:57 AM
Jan 2016

Loved hearing about your mom taking you to your first caucus, and how yours was in 2008. From your description, the Colorado caucus sounds very similar to the Iowa Caucus so sounds like I will feel at home. I definitely will go!

I live in a bluish county in CO. The friends I asked live in an extremely red suburb of Denver. I pretty much think they are the only liberal Democrats in the neighborhood. Will definitely pass your link along and encourage them to go!

beveeheart

(1,396 posts)
4. I'm 72 and I went to my very first caucus in 2012.
Thu Jan 14, 2016, 01:04 AM
Jan 2016

There were only 3 people besides my daughter and myself representing our precinct. I was selected to be the precinct delegate and ended up by helping at the State Convention. And I was ecstatic when I was called to help at President Obama's Denver appearance closer to his re-election. I had no prior political experience. Emulatorloo, just contact your county Democratic group and go to their meeting and all will be explained. Have fun!

emulatorloo

(45,521 posts)
8. Wow! Thanks for the reply and encouragement.
Sat Jan 16, 2016, 12:07 PM
Jan 2016

I had an unpaid internship on the Obama 2012 campaign, was basically a go-fer for my county's campaign co-ordinator, along with the usual door-knocking and data entry. We got to help out on a couple appearances by Obama and one by Biden. It was a really great experience.

I think my caucus will be more heavily attended than yours was, hope your's goes well!

hlthe2b

(105,874 posts)
11. Here (after far more effort than it should take) is the info you need:
Fri Feb 12, 2016, 11:53 AM
Feb 2016

Last edited Fri Feb 12, 2016, 02:39 PM - Edit history (1)

I caucused in 2008 in Denver and found it easy to find info. This year, not so much...

TO be honest, had I not gotten a cell phone call from the Sanders campaign the other night, I'd likely still not realize it is on March 1. They couldn't tell me where to go, but I googled Democratic caucuses 2016 Colorado and found you need to find your precinct number FIRST from the Secretary of State's voter registration site (unless you have that info already):
https://www.sos.state.co.us/voter-classic/pages/pub/olvr/findVoterReg.xhtml

then, armed with that precinct number, go to:
http://www.coloradodems.org/action/2016-caucus-locations

and hit the link for your county then scroll to find your precinct number.


Honestly, this disturbs me that the word/info is not getting out better and that it takes so much effort to find out where/when to go.
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