Political party caucus meetings scheduled across Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Delegates for state political party conventions will be chosen at neighborhood caucus meetings amid a climate of bickering at the Utah Republican Party over the nomination system for candidates.

The current nomination process allows candidates to gather voter signatures to get on the primary election ballot as alternatives to the caucus/convention system. Mormon leaders have urged members of the faith to get involved, citing low political participation rates in Utah.

The meetings will be held Tuesday night, the Deseret News <a target=”&mdash;blank” href=”http://bit.ly/2DFsbw8″>reported</a> .

Delegates attend party conventions and cast votes to select candidates to run in primary and general elections. Delegates must be at least 18 by the November election, must live within the precinct and must be registered to vote and a member of their party.

State delegates have a voice in picking candidates for statewide offices, legislative districts that cross county lines and congressional offices. County delegates are confined to casting ballots for county offices.

Caucus locations and times for the various parties in the state can be found at <a target=”&mdash;blank” href=”https://vote.utah.gov/vote/menu/index”>vote.utah.gov</a> .

Utah Democratic Party Chairwoman Daisy Thomas said there’s a lot of enthusiasm this year for the caucus meetings.

“Our phones are ringing off the hook with people excited about caucusing and voting this year and getting involved,” she said to KSL-TV.

Democrats, a decided minority in Utah, have fielded 119 candidates in 95 races statewide, party officials said. Meanwhile, multiple Republicans filed to run in a host of open legislative seats, and a dozen are running in the high-profile U.S. Senate race to replace retiring Republican U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch.

“From caucus night to convention becomes a very robust discussion and discourse on who is best going to represent us for the next couple of years,” Utah Republican Chairman Rob Anderson said to KSL-TV.

The new United Utah Party will also hold caucus meetings Tuesday, but unlike other parties, will not elect delegates.

All party members are automatically delegates to their county conventions and the state convention and select candidates there. Caucus meetings are open to all people regardless of current voter registration.

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Information from: Deseret News, <a target=”&mdash;blank” href=”http://www.deseretnews.com”>http://www.deseretnews.com</a>

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