Minnesotans Get Their Turn with Tuesday Caucus

The caucuses are coming.

Television ads are getting airtime locally, and Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney was just down in Eagan Feb. 1, making a campaign stop at a Twin Cities trucking company. Ron Paul dropped by Arden Hills to talk about jobs and national security. Even Rick Santorum even visited the state last week.

Caucuses are a true way for voters representing any of the major parities to truly get involved in the political process.

Minnesota’s major political parties—DFL, Independence and Republican—announced the sites of their respective precinct caucuses.

Here are the locations by voter precinct for Tuesday night. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m., with caucusing at 7 p.m.

ST. MICHAEL PRECINCT 1A AND 1B

Republicans–Caucuses will take place at for both precincts, which cover all of St. Michael

Democrat-Farm-Labor (DFL)–Democrats from St. Michael will caucus at , located in the city center. This also covers all of St. Michael.

Independence–Voters who are registered with the Independence Party are caucusing at the Buffalo American Legion. This is for any registered Independence Party member in Wright County. Note: these are not independent voters. The Independence Party is a recognized party in Minnesota.

ALBERTVILLE PRECINCT

Republicans–Albertville residents who are registered as Republican voters will caucus at the on Main Street. This is for all Republicans within Albertville city limits.

DFL–Albertville Democrats will be meeting at (in another area of the school) to caucus.

Independence–Voters who are registered with the Independence Party are caucusing at the Buffalo American Legion. This is for any registered Independence Party member in Wright County.

HANOVER PRECINCT

Republicans–Those who voted in the Hanover area in the 2010 election should meet at Hanover City Hall, 11250 5th St. NE in Hanover. There are some St. Michael developments within this voting area.

DFL–Hanover DFLers will caucus with northwest Hennepin County Democrats at Maple Grove High School, 9800 Fernbrook Lane in Maple Grove.

Independence–Voters who are registered with the Independence Party are caucusing at the Buffalo American Legion. This is for any registered Independence Party member in Wright County.

OTSEGO PRECINCT

Republicans–Registered Republicans will be caucusing at Otsego City Hall, 8899 Nashua Ave. NE, Otsego. Registration for new voters and caucus members begins at 6:30 p.m.

DFL–Democrats will be meeting at the Otsego Elementary School, 8125 River Road in Otsego.

Independence–Voters who are registered with the Independence Party are caucusing at the Buffalo American Legion. This is for any registered Independence Party member in Wright County

Additional caucus information—including a caucus finder—can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State website by clicking here.

WHAT'S A CAUCUS?

A caucus helps a political party gain consensus as to how voters have aligned their political and candidate preferences.

But at a caucus, there’s more going on than just candidate selection. Participants sometimes select county committee chairs that go to a state—and sometimes national—convention.

What distinguishes a caucus from a primary is that at a primary, voters don’t have to be present at one particular location at a specific time. For a primary, voters just go to their polling place and cast a vote, the same as they would do at a general election.

For a caucus, you have to be physically present at your designated caucus site, register, show your party affiliation and then participate in the process. Attendees participate directly.

To take part in a caucus, you must be eligible to vote in the 2012 general election and live in the precinct.

Each party has its own rules and guidelines it follows.

Again, additional caucus information—including a caucus finder—can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State website by clicking here.

The main topic at Republican caucuses, of course, will be the 2012 race for the presidential nomination.

The race for Minnesota's delegates may not mean as much as it once could have, however. Newt Gingrich has all but said he's conceding Minnesota, and a Jan. 26 favorability poll on Gingrich from Public Policy Polling shows a 60 percent unfavorable rating, with just 27 percent having a favorable view of the former speaker.

The race, meanwhile, appears to be former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s to lose, as he pulled down Florida Primary and the Nevada caucus last week.