David Hill

Every even-numbered year, two of the most essential functions of county central committees for major political parties occur: precinct caucuses and county conventions. These two events are essential to the grassroots nature of political parties. Their primary function is to decide party platforms, bylaws, and pass resolutions. 

One might ask, “What is the difference between a caucus and a convention?” In Wyoming, precinct caucuses are held with people in your own neighborhood and precede county conventions. Caucuses are smaller and tend to be more discussion based. County conventions are larger and tend to have more formalities on debate and procedure.

Precinct caucuses

Park County has 29 voting precincts, which are geographical areas made up of the neighborhoods in which we live. At the precinct caucuses, each voter who is registered to vote in their respective party has the opportunity to sit down and discuss what is important to them. Attendees will look at the current county and state party platforms and bylaws to discuss how they agree or what changes they would like to see. The various precincts draft, revise and vote on platforms, bylaws and resolutions, which are then turned into the county central committee where they are compiled and organized for the county convention.

Attendees of the precinct caucuses also elect their delegate or alternative delegates for the county convention. These are the people who will be permitted to vote during the county convention.

While the caucuses for each of the 29 precincts do not have be held at the same location, they do have to take place on the same day. For the Republican Party in Park County, these events will be approximately one month apart in February and March; however, it is my understanding that the dates for the Democrat Party caucus and convention may be closer together or on the same date. Each party should place an announcement in the newspaper prior to their caucuses and conventions detailing their time, date and location.

County convention

After the caucuses are over and the various proposed platforms and bylaw amendments and resolutions have been gathered and prepared, the party holds a county convention.

At the county convention, precinct delegates vote on which proposed bylaws, platform planks and resolutions they wish to adopt; vote on delegates to send to the state convention; and propose changes to the state party bylaws to be submitted during the state convention. A similar process is then followed at the state convention and then the national convention. The first step in participating in this process is attending and voting in your local precinct caucus.

Keep in mind, in order to participate in the precinct caucus and county convention process, you need to be a registered voter of the party for which you would like to participate on the date that the party announces its meetings in the newspaper. In other words, you cannot wait until the day of the meeting. If you are unsure if you are currently registered to vote or in which precinct you reside, you can call the county clerk and verify your voter status and precinct.

Why does it matter?

Political parties sometimes get a bad rap for only representing the thoughts of the few loudest voices in the room or the people with the biggest ax to grind. Others may think that while they would like to participate, they do not really believe that their participation will make any difference. While these thoughts can certainly dissuade individuals from participating in local politics, they ought not to. As stated above, participating in precinct caucuses and county conventions is the first and most crucial step we can take to ensure that our political parties are moving in the direction we would like to see.

If you are completely happy with every aspect of your political party on a local and national level, come to the caucuses and conventions and let them know. If you want to see some changes, come to the caucuses and conventions and let them know.