If you’re a Republican, you might say your caucus appearance today counts for one half of your preference, with your vote in the Feb. 19 presidential primary — now under way by mail — for the other.
If you’re a Democrat, marking your Feb. 19 ballot is almost a perfunctory exercise.
The real action will be at the caucuses.
Got that?
Yes, it’s a confusing process
Washington Democrats will determine all their delegates for presidential nominee candidates at today’s caucuses, with no delegates to be awarded through the Feb. 19 presidential primary.
Washington Republicans will use caucuses to determine 49 percent of its national delegates; the rest will be awarded in the primary.
Not surprisingly, some critics call the primary a “largely meaningless beauty contest.” It costs taxpayers $10 million.
Important — people who vote in the Feb. 19 presidential primary also can participate in (and vote in) their party caucuses today.
They must, however, stick to the same party.
Ron Richards, a caucus coordinator for the Clallam County Democrats, said he had heard misinformed people alleging that citizens must choose between voting in the primary or attending a caucus.
“The last person who called said she got it from a neighbor who read it someplace,” Richards said.
Voters participating in the presidential primary must sign an oath indicating that the voter has not participated in the other party’s caucus process.
Each party will receive a list of voters who chose to affiliate with that party in the primary.
Kris Grier, Clallam Democratic caucus coordinator, urged people who plan to attend a caucus to share rides to the precinct sites.
Grier said the Democratic caucuses in 2004 drew about 1,200 people.
He expects 2,000 participants today.
