Join a party for caucus

I am always amazed at the lack of understanding on the part of so many people about the purpose of a caucus. According to the dictionary, one of the meanings of a caucus is a meeting of local members of a particular party to select delegates to a nominating convention or candidates for office.

If you are not an avowed member of a local party or willing to become a member, you should not have a say in the selection of the delegates or candidates regardless of your past voting history. A caucus is only for party members.

A party has a right to determine the method used to determine the candidates who will represent it. In the case of the Idaho Republican Party, the decision to use the caucus system was known many months prior to the meeting. There was ample time for people to join the party if they so desired. By not declaring themselves a member of the party, they relinquished the right to have any say in party decisions.

By the way, I did not attend the caucus in my precinct because I am unwilling to declare allegiance to either party.

Edwina Stowe

Harrison, Idaho