Seth A. Richardson

srichardson@rgj.com

The Nevada Caucuses are a crucial part of the 2016 election cycle, but to some, the process can seem confusing and arcane compared to the simplicity of a paper ballot primary.

Most states use a secret ballot primary similar to the general election during the presidential nomination process, but a handful use a caucus - a system similar to a neighborhood meeting that allows voters a chance to publicly discuss the candidates and sway supporters to their side.

Nevada first gained early-state status in the 2008 cycle. The national parties wanted to expand on the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary to include a Southern and Western state. South Carolina was chosen for the South and Nevada – largely by lobbying from then-U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. – was chosen for the West.

The early-state designation encourages the candidates to visit often as they look for a way to get ahead moving into Super Tuesday, the March 1 date of more than a dozen primaries and caucuses.

“It’s our opportunity to say we’re a Western state that’s important. We’re a battleground state. We have specific issues out here that matter to Nevadans like land use,” said Greg Bailor, caucus director for the Nevada Republican Party. “It’s exciting. It’s like a test run for the general election.”

The Nevada Caucus is only used for the presidential election. It’s not like a primary where people walk in and cast their ballot throughout the day. Thirteen states and three territories use a caucus instead of a primary.

Washoe County Democratic Party Chair Cecilia Colling said a caucus functions more like a community meeting where people get together to discuss their political views and the candidates. After the discussion, they cast a ballot to allot delegates and declare a statewide winner.

“The caucus is more of an intimate relationship between neighbors where you find like ground and are able to see the enthusiasm and work with each other on ideas and so forth for the party,” she said.

The Nevada Democratic Party is holding caucus training sessions beginning at 5:30 p.m. every weeknight until Feb. 20 at Washoe County headquarters located at 1465 Terminal Way #1. The Republicans are holding theirs at their Washoe County headquarters at 3652 S. Virginia St. Suite C-8 on the following dates:

Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 30 at 10 a.m.

Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 6 at 10 a.m.

Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m.

Feb. 16 at 6:30 p.m.

Feb 20 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Democratic Caucus is scheduled for Feb. 20 while the Republicans will caucus on Feb. 23.

Anyone who will be 18 years old at the time of the Nov. 8 general election is eligible to participate in the caucuses, including high school students. People with a Nevada ID or driver’s license can register to vote online at the Nevada Secretary of State’s website. Registration is also available at the Department of Motor Vehicles, county clerk’s office, voter registrar’s office or at Democratic and Republican county headquarters.

The caucus is a partisan process, so those wishing to participate must be registered as a member of the party. Democrats have same-day registration while Republicans require voters to register by Feb. 13.

On caucus day, voters will head to their nearest caucus site where they will meet with other members of the community before casting their vote. The campaigns will usually have representatives, or sometimes the candidates themselves, speak beforehand to try and woo voters at the last minute.

The main goal of a caucus is to collect as many delegates - supporters of the candidate who go to the county, state and national conventions - as possible. A candidate needs a certain number of delegates at the national convention depending on the party to secure the nomination.

Both parties recently released websites for voters to find their caucus sites. The Democrats’ website is at http://nvdems.com/caucus/locations/ with the Republicans’ at http://bit.ly/1n6YAns.

Absentee ballots are not accepted, save for overseas military personnel and their families.

The parties have different sets of rules on how a caucus runs.

Democratic voters break off into groups based on their chosen candidate to determine "viability", which is whether or not a candidate has enough supporters at the site to receive a delegate.

If a group is too small to be viable, the candidate is eliminated from receiving a delegate. Supporters from nonviable candidates can choose a different candidate to support. A final tally is taken and the delegates are allocated.

Voters then choose who will represent the candidates as delegates at the county conventions. These delegates eventually go on to the state and national conventions to determine the nominee. Alternates are also chosen in case a regular delegate is unable to vote.

Nevada is worth a total of 43 delegates at the Democratic National Convention. A candidate needs 2,382 of the 4,763 total delegates to clinch the nomination. The total number of delegates is subject to change, but it basically is a combination of population and Democratic elected officials.

Of the 43 in Nevada, 35 are what is known as “pledged,” meaning they are bound to the winning candidate through the first vote of the national convention. If the convention goes to a second round of voting, the delegates may choose whomever they wish.

The other eight Democratic delegates are “unpledged” and more commonly known as superdelegates. Superdelegates are party leaders and elected officials – including Reid and U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., – who count as an official vote at the convention. They are not bound by caucus voting.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton currently has pledged support from three superdelegates: Titus, State Sen. Ruben Kihuen of Las Vegas and consultant Andres Ramirez. Erin Bilbray, the daughter of former U.S. Rep. James Bilbray, pledged her superdelegate vote to Sanders in December.

After the presidential voting, citizens can submit ideas for the party platform for a vote. These are passed on to the conventions where they can become an official stance of the party.

The Republican process works much in the same way as the Democratic. Voters gather at their caucus sites and will hear from each of the campaigns as well as have some time to discuss their opinions with undecided voters.

Unlike the Democrats, viability is not taken into account.

Instead, Republicans take a paper ballot poll to determine the number of delegates each candidate receives. They also vote on delegates to the county conventions. Voters tend to choose delegates who reflect their political preference.

Nevada is worth 30 delegates to the Republican National Convention. They're split proportionally based on caucus night results. A candidate needs 1,237 of the 2,472 total delegates to win the nomination.

Republicans do not have superdelegates.

Republicans also have the chance to submit issues to be voted on at the county convention. Issues that pass become the official stance of the party.

The Republicans were excluded from having their caucus on Feb. 20, a Saturday, by the national party since the date clashes with the South Carolina primary.

How to register to vote

Citizens with a Nevada ID or Driver’s License can register online at the Nevada Secretary of State website or in person at the DMV, county clerk's office, voter registrar’s office or at the Republican or Democratic headquarters.

Democratic Caucus

Date: Feb. 20

Time: 11 a.m.

Number in nation: 3rd (after IA and NH)

Registered voters through December: 581,085

Registration requirements: Same-day available

Delegate Total: 43/4,763

Pledged/Unpledged: 35/8

2008 Delegate Winner: Barack Obama

2008 Popular Vote Winner: Hillary Clinton

2012 Delegate Winner: Barack Obama

2012 Delegate Winner: Barack Obama

Republican Caucus