Caucus day set in SEK
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Following last-minute Kansas campaign stops by Republicans Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, as well as Democrat Bernie Sanders, each major party will caucus tomorrow.
Cruz and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump will be in the state tomorrow morning to make their final argument for caucus attendees.
SEK Democrats will vote at 3 p.m. at Southeast High School, 126 W. 400 Highway, Cherokee. Crawford County Republicans will vote at 10 a.m. at the Homer Cole Community Center, 3003 N. Joplin, Pittsburg.
Democrats
The Democrats will hold a crowd-based caucus, unlike most elections. Voters will be able to register at 1 p.m. and doors will open at 3 p.m. Everyone who wants to vote must be in line by 3 p.m. The caucus is open; anyone may participate, but non-Democrats must register as Democrats outside the caucus first.
Once all voters are in the caucus area, the school’s east gymnasium, groups will form supporting either Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders or another candidate. Presentations will occur, followed by the start of counting.
If less than 15 percent of the people at the caucus compose one group, it will be dissolved and other groups will attempt to persuade its members to join theirs. The dissolved group’s members will choose between joining another group or deciding to not vote.
Once all groups have at least 15 percent support, a final count will occur. The winning group will represent the 12th Senate District. The winner among the 47 Senate districts will receive 22 delegates to the Democratic National Convention from July 25 to 28 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 11 delegates will be awarded according to statewide vote totals for each candidate. 4 “super-delegates” are appointed by the party and will be free to vote as they see fit at the convention.
Republicans
The Republicans will gather as a caucus but voters will cast traditional secret ballots. All voters must bring photo ID and have been registered as Republicans by Feb. 4. The gathering is closed to all non-Republican voters.
Ballots will be cast after short speeches by volunteers representing Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and John Kasich.
Unlike the Democrats’ event, voters are free to leave as soon as they have cast their ballot and need not listen to the speeches or gather in groups.
Instead of a clear winner for this caucus site (Republicans vote in every county), the state’s 40 delegates to the Republican National Convention from July 18 to 21 in Cleveland, Ohio, will all be awarded according to state voting totals.
25 delegates will be assigned based on each candidate’s vote share across the state. 12 will be awarded based on the vote in each of the four U.S. House of Representatives seats. Crawford County is part of the 2nd U.S. House district. The remaining three delegates are party members who are pledged to vote for the candidate who wins the most votes overall.