Why Should I Vote in a Caucus?

A caucus is a meeting held exclusively for registered members of a political party in which the party nominates its candidates for political office or selects the delegates who will choose its candidates. Not all states or localities hold caucuses; those that don't hold primary elections. Texas offers both.

The Facts

• Caucuses take place at all levels of government, from the federal to the local level. Rules for caucuses vary from state to state and region to region, but one criteria common to all caucuses is that only registered members of the party in question may vote.

Empowerment

• If you live in a state or locality where primaries aren't held, voting in a caucus is the only way you can help decide who will represent your party on the larger political stage. By choosing not to vote in a caucus, you are leaving it up to other people to decide who will represent your interests in an election.

Exclusivity

• Caucuses, like closed primaries, give voters a singular opportunity to choose their party's candidates for office without the voting input of people outside their party. In places with open primaries, this opportunity does not exist. Regardless of an area's preliminary election process, by the time a campaign has reached a general election it is too late to pick your party's representatives.