Washington House Democrats

This year, Washington will hold both a presidential primary and presidential precinct caucuses to select delegates to the national conventions to determine each party’s presidential nominee.  The Republicans will allocate delegates using results from both the primary and the caucus.  Democrats will only use the caucuses to allocate their delegates.

About the primary

In the late 1980’s there was a push for having a primary in Washington State because not everyone is able to attend the caucuses.  Legislation was enacted in 1989 to have a presidential primary election.

The law states that Washington’s presidential primary is to be held in May unless an alternate date is agreed upon by the chairs and vice-chairs of both political parties, the Senate majority and minority leaders, and the Speaker and House minority leader. 

The group met in June 2007 and agreed to move this year’s presidential primary to February 19.  Absentee voters and voters in all-mail counties will receive their ballots in the mail starting on Feb. 1st.

When voting in the primary, voters will be required to sign an oath of affiliation in order for their vote to be valid. The oath states that the voter is a member of party of the primary they in which they wish to vote, and that they will not participate in the nominating process of the other party (i.e., voting in the Republican primary, or participating in the Democratic caucus).

About the precinct caucuses

Over the last few Presidential election cycles, the parties have shifted to allocating delegates by results of the caucus rather than the primary election.  

The parties generally feel that the people participating in the caucuses are more likely to become involved with the local party organizations and therefore prefer the caucuses to the primaries.

The caucuses will be held for each voter’s precinct on February 9^th at 1:00 p.m. in various locations such as schools and churches throughout the state.

The caucuses consist of voters gathering by precinct, and voting for their preferred candidate. The results are tallied by the parties, and the parties will retain the contact information for everyone attending.  They can use the information for party building and maintaining mailing lists.

The caucuses are paid for by the party organizations, not the taxpayers.

Voters will be asked to sign an oath of affiliation at their precinct caucuses similar to the oath required to vote in the primary election.

Why both?

In 2004, the Democrats voted to solely use the caucus results. On the Republican side, there was no serious challenge to George W. Bush’s re-nomination. Since neither party was to use the results of the primary, a special legislative session was held to cancel the 2004 primary election, which saved the $6 million it would have cost the state to hold the election.

This year, the Democrats voted to allocate their delegates solely based on results of the caucuses. Republicans have chosen to allocate 50 percent of their delegates based on the result of the primary, and 50 percent based on the results of the precinct caucuses.

Holding the presidential primary election will cost nearly $10 million.

After the primary, each party will receive a list of voters who chose to vote in that party’s presidential primary. Voters’ selections will not be recorded, but their party affiliation will be.

Also, because the caucuses are a party activity, the parties will retain the voters’ contact information as well.  

The Bottom Line

If a voter wishes to participate in the selection of the Democratic nominee, they must attend their Democratic precinct caucuses on February 9.

By only voting in the February 19 Democratic primary, their votes will not count. They must attend the precinct caucuses to participate. Voters should visit www.wa-democrats.org for Democratic caucus locations.

If a voter wishes to participate in the selection of the Republican nominee, they may vote in the February 19 Republican primary, as well as attend their Republican Precinct caucuses on February 9.  They may participate in one or both Republican events and their votes will count in either or both activities. Voters should visit www.wsrp.org for Republican caucus locations.