Question Details	Asked By	Asked On
Primaries and caucuses	jselee70	01/19/04
What is the difference between a primary and a caucus? I have a general idea of how a primary works but I'm not too familiar with caucuses.
Answered By		Answered On
elgin_republicans		01/19/04
A primary is another election, but limited in some manner to only members of a particular political party. A caucus is a meeting of members of a particular political party. In Iowa, only members of the Democratic Party went to their precincts or other designated places, and told the folks running it who they wanted to be their candidate for President. The rules vary from state to state, but generally speaking; you get up, talk about why your guy should be picked, and then everyone votes by standing or going to another room, or walking or something definite to indicate whom they prefer. After the bodies are counted, the precinct or township, or district, or whatever, reports that 37% of the people at the meeting chose Kerry, 32% Edwards, 11% Dean, etc. The chosen delegates then go on to other forums (perhaps state conventions, or the national party convention) and vote for their guy.

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