What is a caucus?

What is a Caucus?

Political parties in Maine hold biennial meetings in each community that they use to reconstitute their town or city committees.  These meetings are referred to as caucuses (the word caucus in this sense means a group of people united to promote an agreed-upon cause).  These meeting are used to organize local committees, elect committee members, appoint delegates to county committees and to the biennial party convention and participate in the presidential nominating process during the presidential election cycle. 

These meetings also provide an opportunity to hear from candidates for office and learn about the work being done to elect candidates and promote the party.

Caucuses are organized at the municipal level under rules outlined by Maine law (MRS Title 21-A, §311).

Who Can Attend?

Enrolled party members who live in at community are welcome (and encouraged!) to attend. 

Unregistered voters and registered voters who are not enrolled in another party are also welcome to attend and enroll in the party before the meeting starts.

People registered to vote and enrolled in one of the other parties (Democrat, Green and Libertarian) are not invited to participate in a caucus.

In some cases, members of other parties might attend a caucus for some legitimate reason.  Caucuses are a private meeting of the organization and the organizers of a caucus can deny entry to anyone.

We hope you'll consider attending a caucus, whether it's your first time ever or you've been to many!