Caucuses Are At The Grass Roots Of Politics Tuesday’s Precinct Sessions Are Often Misunderstood

One of the least understood and most ignored parts of the presidential process - precinct caucuses - will be held Tuesday night in Washington state.

Loved by party activists who understand the Byzantine system, they are loathed by reformers as a throwback to the days when party hacks picked candidates in smokefilled rooms.

Those days are over. Now most caucuses are held in public buildings, where smoking is banned. And Washington’s precinct caucuses don’t really pick candidates.

Caucuses start the process of picking the people who will pick the candidates.

Confused? Here’s a primer on understanding, and participating in, Tuesday’s 8 p.m. party caucuses.

What’s a caucus?

A political meeting. Precinct caucuses are meetings at the most basic of political districts, the neighborhood precinct. Caucus attendees select representatives for the next round of meetings that cover legislative districts and counties.

Why does Washington have caucuses plus a presidential primary?

Blame the parties and the voters, who disagree about who should pick presidential candidates. Party officials maintain the nominee should be chosen by true party members. A caucus is more likely to attract such people because it requires people to spend time discussing issues and publicly supporting a candidate.

Primaries in Washington state tend to reflect the general public’s opinions. Voters do not register by party and most primaries have all candidates on one ballot. A state initiative required Washington to hold a presidential primary. But the Democrats are using the caucuses to choose all of their delegates, while Republicans will select half their delegates through caucuses and the other half through the March 26 primary.

What’s a delegate?

Someone who will go to a convention pledged to vote for a particular candidate. Presidential primaries and precinct caucuses are really about selecting delegates. Each precinct is entitled to send one to four delegates to the county convention. County delegates select people to send to state conventions, which select delegates to the national conventions.

Delegates at the national convention nominate the presidential candidates.

How do I become a delegate?

The first step is showing up on caucus night. Turnout is often so light that everyone who wishes can be a delegate for his or her chosen candidate. If a caucus attracts more than the precinct’s allotted delegates, attendees eventually vote for their candidates, and delegates are awarded based on a formula that is explained by the caucus leader. Supporters of each candidate would then select the delegates for the county convention from among their ranks.

If I don’t support a presidential candidate, can I still attend?

Yes. The discussion among candidate supporters could help you make up your mind. Or it’s possible to be elected as an “uncommitted” delegate to the next round of meetings if enough other people at the caucus are also unsure.

Can delegates switch candidates after the caucuses?

Party rules differ, but delegates usually are pledged to their candidate for at least the first ballot at the next round of meetings. But if the candidate drops out of the race, a delegate is free to support another at the county convention, and even be named a delegate to the state convention. If that candidate drops out, the delegate can switch again.

Does that mean the results on Tuesday night aren’t important?

No, because the caucuses are a snapshot of how party activists feel about the candidates at this time.

As Todd Myers, a spokesman for the state GOP said, “the caucuses are not an event, they are a process.”

What about the Democrats?

The Democrats will award all their delegates on the basis of the caucuses, but will pay attention to the results of the state’s primary.

What does that mean?

All their delegates are going to be pledged to Bill Clinton, because the president has no real opposition. Caucuses will center mainly on discussing issues.

What issues?

Any local, state or national issues that you feel are important. Both parties will draft statements of principles, called platforms, at the conventions.

The first part of each party’s caucuses is devoted to discussing issues and resolutions that can be sent to the next round of meetings.

Is it permissible to support one candidate at the caucuses and vote for another in the primary?

Yes. In fact it is possible to attend a Republican caucus and vote in the Democratic primary, or vice versa.

, DataTimes MEMO: 3 Sidebars appeared with this story: 1. How to find your caucus Here’s how to use the lists below to find the right precinct caucus location. Decide whether to attend a Republican or Democratic caucus. Voters do not register by party in Washington, and can attend either - provided they will say they consider themselves a member of that party Tuesday night. Otherwise, they should skip the caucuses, which are party business. Determine the name or number of your precinct. Spokane city precincts are listed by their three-digit numbers, county precincts by names. Both are listed on your voter’s registration card. Or call the county elections office, 456-2320. Scan the list. Most caucuses will be at central locations, such as schools or churches. A few will be in homes. The individual caucuses are listed first, from the smallest to largest numbers in the city, and alphabetically in the county. If your precinct isn’t there, it is among the larger groups of caucuses. For each central location, the precincts are listed from smallest to largest in the city, alphabetically in the county. Locations were supplied by the parties; for more information, call Republican headquarters at 838-6162, or Democratic headquarters, 324-8525. For other Eastern Washington counties, call the local party leaders. Republicans - Adams: Steve Felice, 488-3285; Ferry: Carl Stevens, 775-2967; Grant: Mardine Brower, 765-8911; Lincoln: Bob Stuhlmiller, 796-2062; Pend Oreille: Mitch Brown, 447-4606; Stevens: Greg Simon, 684-6430; Whitman, Bea Nagel, 332-4394. Democrats - Adams: Herb Janzen, 659-0633; Ferry: Marie Bremmer, 775-3507; Grant: Mick Hansen, 765-3921; Lincoln: Brad Lyons, 982-0138; Pend Oreille: Debra McRoberts, 447-4513; Stevens: Robert Esvelt, 738-6530; Whitman: Herb Hill, 332-1945. Caucuses start at 8 p.m.

2. Democratic precinct caucus locations City precincts 300, 302, 313, 341, 348, 362, 374, 381, 387, 392: Franklin Elementary, 2627 E 17th 301, 308, 318: North Central High 303, 304, 314, 315, 333, 373, 393: Longfellow Elementary, 800 E Providence 305, 354, 356, 377, 378: Garfield Elementary, 222 W Knox 306, 343, 344, 345: Masonic Temple, 1108 W Riverside 307, 309, 316, 327, 355, 382: Shaw Middle School 4106 N Cook 310, 311, 312, 324, 372,: Bemiss Elementary, 2323 E Bridgeport 317, 326, 342, 357, 358 368, 370, 391: Jantsch High School, 1300 W Knox 319, 323, 329, 331, 332, 350: Garry Middle School, 725 E Joseph 320, 334, 335, 363, 367, 371: Audubon Elementary, 2020 W Carlisle 321, 322, 325, 328, 330, 375: Logan Elementary, 1001 E Montgomery 336, 337, 338, 339, 340: Holmes Elementary, 2600 W Sharp 346, 364, 365: Cooper Elementary, 3200 N Ferrall 347, 359, 361, 369, 389 390: Grant Elementary, 1300 E 9th 349, 351, 352, 353, 360, 366: Stevens Elementary, 1717 E Sinto 376, 379, 380, 383, 384, 385, 386, 388: Roosevelt Elementary, 333 W 14th 401, 402, 404: Bemiss Elementary, 2323 E Bridgeport 403, 405: Mead High 600, 617, 618, 640, 667, 668, 670, 671, 673, 674, 675, 676, 677, 678: Glover Middle School, 2404 W Longfellow 601, 602, 608, 681, 686: Finch Arboretum, 3404 W Woodland Blvd. 603, 604, 663: 168 S Coeur D’Alene 605, 606, 607, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 616, 619, 620, 679, 682, 684, 687: Salk Middle School, 6411 N Alberta 615, 639, 649, 650, 653, 654, 655, 680, 688, 690, 691: Linwood Elementary, 906 W Welle 621, 622, 623, 625, 626, 629, 631, 644, 645, 652, 656, 657, 661: Hutton Elementary, 908 E 24th 624, 627, 630, 632, 658, 659, 660, 662, 664, 665, 666, 669, 672: Shadle High School 628, 633, 634, 635, 636, 637, 642, 643, 646, 651, 683, 689: Hamblen Elementary, 4005 S Napa 638, 641, 647, 648, 685: Mullan Road Elementary, 2612 E 63rd

County precincts Airway Heights North, Rimrock, Spence: 404 S Craig Rd Airway Heights South, Amber, Buckeye, E Marshall, Fairchild, Fairfield, Four Lakes, Freeman, Garden Springs 1 & 2, Glennaire, Glenrose, Ira Shae, Jefferson, Latah, Liberty, Marshall 1 & 2, McIntosh, , Mountain View, Mt Hope, Palouse, Plaza, Ponderosa 4, Rockford, Rudolf, Saltese, Silver Lake, South Moran, South Spangle, Spangle, Valleyford, Waverly, West Medical Lake: Pratt Elementary, 6903 E 4th Arlington: Finch Arboretum, 3404 W Woodland Blvd Bear Lake, Chattaroy, Colbert North, Deer 1 & 2, Deer Park North and South, Elk, Eloika, Greenbluff, Milan, Orchard Bluff: Riverside High School Brentwood 1 & 2, Camelot, Fairwood, Five Mile, Friedland 2, Lincoln, Mead 1 & 2, Northwood, Peone, Vera 5, Warren 1 & 2, Whitworth 2, 3, 4 & 7, Woodway: Mead High School Carnhope, Dishman 1&2, E Hillyard, E Spokane, Edgecliff 1, 2 ,3 & 4, Fancher, Foothills, Forker, Friedland 1, Irvin, Kaiser, Marita, Millwood 1 & 2, Mirabeau, Orchard 1, 2 & 3, Pasadena, Pleasant Prairie, Raymond 1 & 2, Trentwood, Wells, Woodruff 3: Argonne Library Cheney 1-6, Garden Springs 1 & 2, Medical Lake 1-3: Cheney Library Chester 1-6, East Chester, Evergreen 1-4, Kokomo 1 & 2, Opportunity 1-8, Pines 1 & 2, Ponderosa 1,2,3 & 5, South Chester, Terrace 1 & 2, University 1 & 2, Vera 1-4, West Chester, Woodruff 1 & 2: N. Pines Jr High, 701 N Pines Colbert, Colbert West, Foothills North, Greenleaf, Mead 3, Mt Spokane, Newman Lake, Pine Glenn, South Greenbluff, Whitworth 5, 6 & 8: Northwood Jr High, N 13120 Pittsburg Corbin 1, 2 & 3, Del Rey, Grant, Greenacres, Lakeview, Liberty Lake 1 & 2, Mission, Otis 1 & 3, West Farms: Greenacres Jr High, 17409 E Sprague Dartford, Wayside, Wildrose: O’Halloran residence, 16916 N Dartford Dr Deep Creek, Espanola,Stevens: Steinmetz welding, 1411 S Ritchey Rd East Farms, Eastland, Moab, Otis 2: Mt View Middle School, Newman Lake East Moran, Moran, Southview, Tara, West Moran: Mullan Road School 2612 E 63rd Nine Mile North & South, River, Southbank: Lake Spokane Elementary, Nine Mile Falls Linwood 1, 2 & 3, Whitworth 1: Linwood Elementary, 906 W Welle Riverside: Bemiss Elementary, 2323 E Bridgeport

3. Republican precinct caucus locations City precincts 315: 1203 E Dalton 328: 317 E Sharp 332: 1620 E Crown 333: 123 E Bridgeport 338: 1436 N Summit Blvd 365: 3303 E Liberty 367: 2503 W Gordon Ave 388: 214 E 13th 604: 1607 W 11th 608: 2311 W 16th #272 622: 1004 W 26th 628: 908 W Melinda Ln 629: 3603 S High Dr 631: 1521 E Pinecrest RD 635: 947 E 37th 637: Jefferson Elementary, 3612 S Grand Blvd 645: 2425 S Crestline 652: 2307 E 17th 657: 2112 S Manito Blvd 661: 626 W 21st Ave 669: 1721 W Rockwell 677: 5103 Northwest Blvd 679: 10206 N Comanche 686: 3118 W Woodland 300, 302, 309, 313, 341, 343, 344, 345, 347, 348, 349, 351, 352, 353, 359, 360, 361, 362, 366, 369, 374, 376, 379, 380, 381, 383, 384, 385, 386, 387, 389, 390, 392: Hutton Elementary, 908 E 24th 301, 305, 308, 317, 318, 320, 321, 325, 326, 330, 334, 335, 336, 337, 339, 340, 342, 354, 356, 357, 358, 363, 368, 370, 371, 377, 378, 391: Willard Elementary 500 W Longfellow 303, 304, 307, 309, 310, 311, 312, 314, 316, 319, 322, 323, 324, 327, 329, 331, 346, 350, 355, 364, 372, 373, 375, 382, 393: Hillyard Baptist Church 2121 E Wabash 401, 402, 403, 404, 405: Broadway Elementary, 11016 E Broadway 605, 606, 607, 609, 610, 611, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620, 624, 627, 630, 632, 639, 640, 649, 650, 653, 654, 655, 658, 659, 660, 662, 664, 665, 666, 667, 668, 678, 680, 682, 684, 687, 688, 690, 691: NW Christian School, 1412 W Central 600, 601, 602, 603, 621, 623, 625, 626 633, 634, 636, 638, 641, 642, 643, 644, 646, 647, 648, 651, 656, 663, 670, 671, 672, 673, 674, 675, 676, 681, 683, 685, 689: Lewis & Clark High, 511 W 4th

County precincts Amber: 35024 S Weisman Rd Carnhope: 5621 E Woodlawn Dr. Cheney 3: 633 W 5th Chester 1: 10206 E 19th Chester 2: 2308 S Calvin Rd Chester 3: Chester Elementary, 3525 S Pines Chester 4: 13604 E Redlin Colbert: 20621 N Bernhill Colbert West: 18111 N Ranchette Road Corbin 1: 18127 E 8th Dartford: 14206 N Rivilla Ln Deep Creek: 27710 W Star Route 2, Deer 2: 27305 N Short Rd, Deer Park Deer Park South: 416 E “B” St, Deer Park Del Ray: 7721 N Campbell Rd East Marshall: 1409 W Paradise Rd Eloika: 7310 E Elk Hwy Rd Edgecliff 4: Central Park Condo Rec., 6011 E. 6th Espanola: 15615 S Salnave Rd, Cheney Evergreen 4: 14416 E Alki Ave Foothills: 10318 N Morrison Rd Freeman: 19309 E. Elder Rd Greenacres: 17216 E Baldwin Greenleaf: 6212 E Lowe Rd, Mead Kaiser: 4720 N Isenhart Marshall 1: 7802 S Cheney-Spokane Rd Mead 3: Colbert Elementary, 4526 E. Green Bluff Rd. Moran: 2004 E 54th Mt Spokane: 19615 N Holcomb Rd Opportunity 5: 11922 E 10th Opportunity 6: 13020 E 8th Otis 3: 3911 N Ashton Rd Pasadena: 6724 N Old Argonne Rd Pineglen: 4815 E Pine Glenn Ln Pleasant Prairie: 7827 E Bigelow Gulch Rd Ponderosa 1: 3504 S Ridgeview Rimrock: 404 S Grove Rd Southbank: Nine Mile Fire Station, Charles Road South Chester: Horizon Jr High, 3915 S Pines Stevens: 12121 N Wood Rd, Reardan Terrace 3: S 2903 Pines Rd Trentwood: 4614 N Vercler University 1: 9509 Archery Rd Vera 1: 15223 E Cataldo Vera 2: 1519 S Limerick St Vera 4: 15104 E 11th Ave Wildrose: 23912 N Dalton Rd, Deer Park Airway Heights South, Fairchild, Garden Springs 1 & 2, Marshall 2: Marshall Community Church, Marshall Airway Heights North, Arlington, East Moran, Southview, Spence, Tara, West Moran: Lewis & Clark High, 511 W 4th Bear Lake, Chattaroy, Colbert North, Elk, Foothills North, Greenbluff, Milan, Newman Lake, Nine Mile North, Orchard Bluff, South Greenbluff, Wayside, Whitworth 5, 6, & 8: Chattaroy Elementary, 25717 N Yale Rd Brentwood 1 & 2, Fairwood, Five Mile, Linwood 1-3, Nine Mile South, River, Warren 1 & 2, Whitworth 1-4, 7, Woodway: NW Christian School, 1412 W Central Buckeye, Cheney 1,2,4,5,6, Four Lakes, Ira Shea, Medical Lake 1-3, Rudolf, Silver Lake, West Medical Lake: Betz Elementary, 317 N 7th, Cheney Camelot, Dishman 1, East Hillyard, East Spokane, Friedland 1 & 2, Lincoln, Marita, Mead 1 & 2, Millwood 1 & 2, Northwood, Orchard 1-3, Peone, Raymond 1 & 2, Riverside, Wells, Woodruff 1 & 3: Broadway Elementary, 11016 E Broadway Chester 5 & 6, East Chester, Edgecliff 1-3, Evergreen 3, Fancher, Kokomo 1 & 2, Opportunity 4, 7 & 8, Pines 1 & 2, Ponderosa 2-5,, Terrace 1 & 2, University 2, Vera 3, West Chester: Keystone Elementary, 612 S McDonald Rd Corbin 2 & 3, Dishman 2, East Farms, Eastland, Evergreen 1 & 2, Forker, Grant, Irvin, Lakeview, Liberty Lake 1 & 2, Mirabeau, Mission, Moab, Opportunity 1-3, Otis 1 & 2, Vera 5, West Farms, Woodruff 2: Skyview Elementary, 16924 E Wellesley Deer 1 and Deer Park North: Arcadia Middle School, 1120 East D St Fairfield, Glennaire, Glenrose, Jefferson, Latah, Liberty, McIntosh, Mountain View, Mt Hope, Palouse, Plaza, Rockford, Saltese, South Moran, South Spangle, Spangle, Valleyford, Waverly: Valleyford Fire Station, 12100 E Palouse Hwy