Minnesota DFL Precinct Caucus Frequently Asked Questions
What you may want to know about Precinct Caucuses, Presidential Preference Ballot and National Delegate Selection
Minnesota’s Importance in the Democratic Presidential Race
Precinct Caucus Basics
Presidential Preference Ballot
National Delegate Allocation
Schedule of caucuses and conventions
I. Minnesota’s Importance in the Democratic Presidential Race
Democrats are voting in 22 states on Super Tuesday, February 5. Is Minnesota going to be an important Super Tuesday state?
Yes. Minnesota is tied for seventh-largest of all the states voting on February 5 in the number of delegates it sends to the national convention.
1) California 441
2) New York 280
3) Illinois 185
4) New Jersey 127
5) Massachusetts 121
6) Georgia 104
7) Minnesota 88
7) Missouri 88
9) Tennessee 85
10) Colorado 71
11) Arizona 67
Minnesota’s delegates are awarded based in part on past Democratic performance, which means that our state is more of a player on Super Tuesday than if awarded just on population. For example, while our population is smaller than that that of Arizona, Tennessee, or Missouri, we have more delegates than Arizona and Tennessee and as many as Missouri for this reason.
If the Democratic presidential race is still undetermined, will this affect caucus turnout?
Absolutely. DFL precinct caucus turnout in 2004, the last presidential election year, was 56,000, compared to 12,000 in 2000. Because the DFL moved its caucuses to February 5, making Minnesota a pivotal state in the nomination process, we expect from 75,000 to 100,000 participants this year.
II. Precinct caucus basics
What is a precinct caucus?
A precinct caucus is essentially a neighborhood meeting where DFLers gather to vote on a candidate for President, to show their support for candidates at all levels, and to have a real voice in the DFL Party’s 2008 platform. At more than 4,000 precinct caucuses on February 5, Minnesota DFLers will:
Vote for their favorite Democratic candidate in the Presidential Preference Ballot.
Select delegates to the next level of DFL convention. (In the seven-county metro area, Stearns and St. Louis Counties, these are senate district conventions; everywhere else they are county conventions.)
Elect precinct officers (one chair and two associate chairs)
Debate and pass resolutions for inclusion in the Minnesota DFL Party’s 2008 platform;
Identify DFL election judges.
Who may participate in a precinct caucus?
To participate, you must:
reside in the precinct whose caucus you are attending
be eligible to vote by November 4, 2008
not be an active member of another political party
not attend another party’s caucus in 2008
By signing in, participants state that they agree with the DFL principles as stated in the Minnesota DFL Constitution and Bylaws. Those who will not be eligible to vote in the November 4, 2008 general election may not vote in the Presidential Preference Ballot or in the election of delegate elections or precinct officers, but they may participate in other caucus business.
What time are caucuses over?
Registration for precinct caucuses begin at 6:30 p.m. and caucuses start at 7:00 p.m. The Presidential Preference Ballot is open from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. For that reason, caucuses must remain open until 8:00 p.m., but are free to remain in session anytime after that point (to finish other business).
II. Presidential Preference Ballot
When can you cast your presidential preference ballot?
People can cast ballots starting at 6:30 p.m. and anytime until 8:00 p.m. The balloting will close at 8:00 p.m. unless people are still registering at that time.
Can you sign in, cast your ballot, and leave, or are you required to stay for the duration of the caucus?
You are welcome to sign in, vote, and leave. There is no obligation to stay for the remainder of the caucus.
What candidates are on the Presidential Preference Ballot?
The following candidates are eligible to receive votes on the Presidential Preference Ballot:
Joe Biden
Hillary Clinton
Chris Dodd
John Edwards
Dennis Kucinich
Frank Lynch
Barack Obama
Bill Richardson
Uncommitted
The "Uncommmitted" category could actually receive delegates to the national convention if it reaches the threshold of 15% across the state or in a particular congressional district.
How are Minnesota caucuses different from Iowa? Is there sub-caucusing involved?
Whereas Iowans determine the outcome of their caucus by sub-caucusing, or gathering in small groups to gage support for each candidate, the Minnesota DFL holds a Presidential Preference Ballot, a secret ballot cast by precinct caucus participants. The results of that ballot determine the allocation of delegates to the Democratic National Convention that pledge to support each candidate.
Can I vote absentee?
No. You must attend your precinct caucus to cast your presidential preference ballot.
How are the ballots counted? How are they reported?
After balloting has concluded at 8:00 p.m., each precinct caucus will tally and certify its own results and announce the results to attendees at the caucus. The caucus chair will relay the results to the chair of the senate district or county in which the caucus is being held. That local party chair is responsible for reporting the results, by telephone or online, to the Office of Secretary of State. The convenors will be encouraged to report the results to the party unit chair at their earliest convenience.
The Office of Secretary of State will tally the statewide results and post them on its website as results become available that evening. Please contact the Office of Secretary of State Mark Ritchie for more information about how they will report the results of the presidential preference ballot.
III. National delegate selection
Is the ballot binding? Is that different from the Minnesota GOP straw poll?
The Presidential Preference Ballot is binding – which means that it determines the allocation of delegates for each candidate at the DNC. This is different from the Minnesota GOP caucuses, where their presidential straw poll is not binding and has no impact on delegate allocation at the Republican National Convention.
Is there a viability threshold to receive any national delegates?
Yes. A presidential candidate must receive a minimum of 15% of the presidential preference ballots cast in at least one of Minnesota’s eight congressional districts in order to be allocated any delegates to the DNC. The Secretary of State will report all the results, regardless of whether the viability threshold was met.
How many delegates does Minnesota send to the Democratic National Convention?
Per Democratic National Committee rules, Minnesota may send 88 delegates and 12 alternates to the Democratic National Convention. Of Minnesota’s 88 delegates, 72 are pledged and 16 are unpledged (the 12 alternates are pledged).
The results of the presidential preference ballot are binding on how the 72 pledged delegates (and 12 alternates) are allocated among the presidential candidates who reach the 15 percent viability threshold.
How are the 72 pledged delegates (and 12 pledged alternates) selected?
The 72 pledged delegates are selected in two stages: at conventions in each of Minnesota’s eight congressional districts, and at the DFL state convention.
The eight congressional-district conventions will select a total of 47 pledged delegates (and eight alternates) between them. The DFL state convention will select the remaining 25 pledged delegates (and four alternates).
How are the congressional districts’ 47 pledged delegates (and eight pledged alternates) to the Democratic National Convention divided among the districts?
The 47 pledged delegates (and eight alternates) allocated to the eight districts are divided as follows:
Delegates Alternates
Congressional District 1 2 male, 3 female 1 male
Congressional District 2 2 male, 3 female 1 male
Congressional District 3 3 male, 3 female 1 female
Congressional District 4 4 male, 3 female 1 female
Congressional District 5 4 male, 4 female 1 male
Congressional District 6 3 male, 2 female 1 female
Congressional District 7 3 male, 2 female 1 female
Congressional District 8 3 male, 3 female 1 male
TOTAL 24 male, 23 female
(47) 4 male, 4 female
(8)
How do you decide how many pledged delegates each presidential candidate will get in each CD?
The number of delegates each presidential candidate receives in a congressional district depends on that candidate’s share of the vote on the presidential preference ballot in that congressional district.
What Determines The Number of Delegates in Each Congressional District?
The number of delegates in each Congressional District is determined by the DFL performance in each district in previous elections. For instance, DFL candidates get more votes in CD5, which explains why CD5 has more delegates to the National Convention.
Are there any congressional districts that award their delegates on a winner-take-all basis?
No. DNC rules prohibit the allocation of any National Convention delegates on a winner-take-all basis.
How do you decide how many delegates presidential candidates will receive among the 25 pledged delegates chosen at the state convention?
The 25 pledged delegates elected at the State Convention are allocated based on the statewide results of the Presidential Preference Ballot.
How are the 16 unpledged delegates chosen? Are they the so-called “super delegates”?
The 16 unpledged delegates are the so-called “super delegates.” There are two types of unpledged delegates: 14 unpledged Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO), who are selected before the delegate-selection process begins by virtue of the office they hold or their status as a “Distinguished Party Leader”; and two unpledged add-on delegates, who are chosen at the state convention.
Who exactly are the 14 unpledged PLEO delegates?
The following are Minnesota’s 14 unpledged PLEO delegates:
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
U.S. Representative Tim Walz
U.S. Representative Betty McCollum
U.S. Representative Keith Ellison
U.S. Representative Collin Peterson
U.S. Representative James Oberstar
DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez
DFL Party Chair Donna Cassutt
Four Democratic National Committee members
Former Vice President Walter Mondale
V. Schedule of caucuses and conventions
Minnesota DFL precinct caucuses: Tuesday, February 5 at 7:00 p.m.
Senate district/county DFL conventions: Anytime between Tuesday, February 5 through Sunday, April 6
Congressional District DFL conventions:
Congressional District 3: Saturday, April 12
Congressional District 4: Saturday, April 19
Congressional District 1: Saturday, April 26
Congressional District 5: Saturday, April 26
Congressional District 6: Saturday, April 26
Congressional District 2: Saturday, May 3
Congressional District 8: Saturday, May 3-Sunday, May 4
Congressional District 7: Saturday, May 17
Minnesota DFL state convention: Friday, June 6 - Sunday, June 8, Mayo Civic Center, Rochester
