CAUCUS vs PRIMARY

It has come to my attention that some people are not familiar with the difference between a primary and a caucus.  Since we are in an election cycle I thought I would explain.

Caucus:  A private meeting of members of a political party to plan action or to select delegates for a nominating convention.  A caucus is more of a party affair, similar to a town hall meeting.  These meetings can be held anywhere from public venues to private homes.  Members gather, listen to speeches, and engage in discussion before voting for a candidate.  Only registered members of that particular party are allowed to vote.

Primary:  An election held to nominate a candidate for a particular party in a forthcoming election for public office.  Democrats can vote in a Republican primary and vice versa.  These elections are held only in public voting poll locations.  The majority of candidates today are selected in primaries.

Caucus States:  Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nevada, Nebraska, Washington, Maine, Wyoming, Texas, Utah.

Texas has both a primary and a caucus.   2/3 of the delegates in Texas are determined by primary results, and 1/3 of the delegates in Texas are determined by the caucus results.