This year, 2016, is a presidential election year in the United States, but the process begins long before November. In Minnesota, the major party caucuses take place Tuesday, March 1. A caucus is when members of a political party, or those likely to vote for the candidates of that party, gather to select delegates to the state convention, discuss relevant political issues and decide which candidate they hope will represent the party on November’s ballot.
In Minnesota, our caucuses are open caucuses, meaning that any voter – regardless of party registration – may participate in the caucus of either major party (but not both). In addition, a voter’s party affiliation is unaffected by which caucus he or she might chose to participate in. For example: An Independent who chooses to participate in either the Republican or Democratic caucus remains a member of neither party.
The library has a great guide of information about the caucuses, including tools to find your caucus location, links on what to expect when you go to caucus and resources to help you research the candidates.
Students are encouraged to participate in this process. To participate using your current address, whether on or off campus, refer to the information below. To participate at your home/permanent address please refer to your home state’s Secretary of State’s office to see how to be engaged in the political process based on your home/permanent address.
Caucuses begin Tuesday, March 1, at 7 p.m. Caucuses are meetings that allow a community to come together and discuss the issues important to them. You also will have the opportunity to cast a presidential preference ballot after arriving at the caucus.
Students living off campus
Where and how you caucus depends on two things: what party you would like to caucus for and where you live.
The library’s caucus guide has links to each of the major party’s caucus finders, or else you can visit the Secretary of State’s caucus finder site to enter your address and learn the caucus locations for every party based on your address. You do not need to provide ID or proof of residency to participate – simply show up.
Students living on campus
The locations for caucuses for students living on campus depend on which hall you live in and which campus it is on. Halls on north campus (north of Summit Avenue) may have different caucus locations than halls on south campus (south of Summit Avenue).
- Democratic Farm Labor (DFL) Party
- North campus
- 2115 Summit Ave.: Central High School, 275 Lexington Parkway N., St. Paul, MN 55104
- Precinct: St. Paul W-F P-06
- South campus
- 2260 Summit Ave.: Highland Park Senior High School, 1015 Snelling Ave. S., St. Paul, MN 55116
- Precinct: St. Paul W-4 P-07
- North campus
- Republican Party
- North campus and south campus: Cretin-Derham Hall High School, 550 Albert St., St. Paul, MN 55116
Caucus locations are now available and can be found online on the Secretary of State website.