No primary election (by ballot) in Washington State this year

Washington State normally has both a caucus and a Primary Election (by ballot). The parties hold a caucus and the State runs an election. However, this primary will be by caucus only. No ballots will be mailed. I have noticed that several people I have talked to are not aware of this, so I thought it might be a good idea to post this in case some members are not aware.

Washington has always had a caucus. We also have a ballot election that is a result of a citizen's initiative, that was passed in the 80s? The ballot election has been cancelled for this election and will resume next election.

If you want to have a say in who is nominated for the GOP candidate then you must go to your caucus site on Saturday March 3rd. To find out where your caucus site is located first go here to look up you prescient number.. Then you can go Here to find out your precinct site.. The second link will ask for an E-mail address, it is NOT required. Only put your email if you want to get updated info about the caucus. The second link works State wide, but if you are having trouble using it, and you live in King County you can try this one.. If you do not live in King County, then try going to your county's party site. For example type Pierce County Republicans into your preferred search engine.

When at the caucus a "straw pole" of sorts is conducted. The results of which are released to the media, and these figures are what they ae talking about on primary night when they say " X 'won' the state primary" and " Y came in second". But what truly matters are the delegates. At your caucus you will elect delegates who will move on to the County caucus where elections are held to send delegates to the State caucus where elections are held for the National caucus.

For more information go to the State or County GOP site.

EDIT:

I realized that I neglected to also include a State-wide precinct locator.

Here is a State wide source to look up your precinct number https://wei.secstate.wa.gov/olvrsite/

After putting your info in and pressing continue, look to the left and click on "my districts &
elected officials" on the top it should read "My Districts and Elected Officials for precinct XXXX " Below that look under state and you should see "Legislative district xx"

Your District number and precinct number together is what you need. I am precinct 1279 in district 43, so my "full precinct number" is 43-1279.

Then you can go here http://wsrpcaucus.tumblr.com/caucuslocator To find you caucus location. The email is optional. In the space that asks your precinct number you should put the "full precinct number" ( mine is 43-1279).

Why are they cancelling the ballot for just this election primary. That, given the importance of this election seems very suspect to me.

My Vote is where you can look up your voter information to include your precinct, thanks for the information.

Wait...what? They are doing this election by Caucus? Thats REALLY suspicious.... and frustrating. I was sitting here and was going to assume that the ballot would be mailed to me. Thanks for giving the heads up.

Official press release

http://sos.wa.gov/office/osos_news.aspx?i=zwm8zI6TS07Z8OKbW30dOw==

To be clear, the only thing that has been cancelled is the Presidential Preference Primary under RCW 29A.56.010 through .060 (LINK: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=29A.56). The expression of the will of the people recognized as so important by this law is effectively neutered by 29A.56.050(1) which states: "A major political party may, under national or state party rules, base the allocation of delegates from this state to the national nominating convention of that party in whole or in part on the participation in precinct caucuses and conventions conducted under the rules of that party." This provision says to me that the parties can disregard the presidential preference primary results and choose national convention delegates using the caucus/convention system. Given that fact, it makes no sense to spend the money on the PPP. Now, if we could just get the Demoncrats in Olympia to exercise the same level of fiscal responsibility with the rest of the budget there might be hope.



"Socialism only works in two places: Heaven where they don't need it and hell where they already have it." - Ronald Reagan

Wolfebane said:

Why are they cancelling the ballot for just this election primary. That, given the importance of this election seems very suspect to me.

Click to expand...

Cuz Olympia has all the financial management capability of a stoned teenager who just found his dad's Amex, and now they're broke.

So anyways, who's actually going? My local precinct is meeting at a damn school, so not only can I not OC, I'd have to leave the gun at home​. Which annoys the crap out of me and makes me think twice about going.

Ours is at a school as well. Not going to miss it, regardless of location.

Sent by Droid

Why not save the money for running a Primary Election. WA State's Primary Election system is screwed anyway. The "Top Two" system they now use can have the effect of freezing out a worthwhile candidate. Let the Caucus determine who the Party wants on the ballot.

amlevin said:

Why not save the money for running a Primary Election. WA State's Primary Election system is screwed anyway. The "Top Two" system they now use can have the effect of freezing out a worthwhile candidate. Let the Caucus determine who the Party wants on the ballot.

Click to expand...

And then that would leave out popular independents.

I could never figure out why the state got involved in primary elections anyway. This is a political party business, not state business.

oneeyeross said:

I could never figure out why the state got involved in primary elections anyway. This is a political party business, not state business.

Click to expand...

It's the State. IF something exists, it must be involved in it.

sudden valley gunner said:

And then that would leave out popular independents.

Click to expand...

Not so. Additional candidates can be on the ballot for President by following simple rules:

1. The Secretary of State may determine that a candidacy is generally advocated in national
news media.
2. Members of the political party of the candidate may present a petition for nomination of
the candidate to the Secretary of State. The petition must contain the names, addresses,
precincts, and signatures of at least 1,000 Washington State registered voters who support
the inclusion of the candidate’s name on the ballot. Petitions must be filed with the
Secretary of State at least sixty days before the Presidential Primary.

Click to expand...

http://www.secstate.wa.gov/_assets/elections/appearingonthepresidentialballot.pdf

If the "candidate" is truly "popular" then they should have no problem obtaining the 1,000 signatures. If they can't then why would they be on the ballot at all.

Even "not so popular" candidates make it to the ballot. How many Communist Party, Socialist Party, Libertarian, etc candidates do you see on a ballot, that is assuming you're registered and actually vote?

Metalhead47 said:

It's the State. IF something exists, it must be involved in it.

Click to expand...

Yeah, basically. More here.

amlevin said:

Not so. Additional candidates can be on the ballot for President by following simple rules:




http://www.secstate.wa.gov/_assets/elections/appearingonthepresidentialballot.pdf

If the "candidate" is truly "popular" then they should have no problem obtaining the 1,000 signatures. If they can't then why would they be on the ballot at all.

Even "not so popular" candidates make it to the ballot. How many Communist Party, Socialist Party, Libertarian, etc candidates do you see on a ballot, that is assuming you're registered and actually vote?

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! I registered to vote this year and am going to write in Ron Paul if he isn't on the "ticket". :lol:

Gotta stop the succession of every president being worse than the one before it, and I have no doubt Romney, Gingrich, will be worse than Obama just like he was worse than Bush 2 and he worse than Clinton...etc.

Metalhead47 said:

Cuz Olympia has all the financial management capability of a stoned teenager who just found his dad's Amex, and now they're broke.

So anyways, who's actually going? My local precinct is meeting at a damn school, so not only can I not OC, I'd have to leave the gun at home​. Which annoys the crap out of me and makes me think twice about going.

Click to expand...

I'm not missing it. Mine is also at the local high school.

BTW you can leave it in the car and park on school grounds. You are conducting legitimate business at the school.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.280

The primary election was for never more than half the delegates anyway, the caucus has always been in place and if you really wanted to influence you party, you have to do both. (or this year, the caucus). I actually like that this year is all caucus. The party chair will not be able to appoint who he wants as a delegate (the delegates elected by the primary vote are appointed based on the vote, but like the electoral college, they are not required to vote that way after the first ballot, and they can vote as they wish on the party platform.

The cost of the primary is paid for by the state, the cost of the caucus is paid for by the party. Not having a primary is cheaper for the state,

The important stuff is always determind at the state party convention, based on the delegates that were elected at the county convention, which are based on the delegates that were elected at the precinct, and the platform vote goes strictly through the caucus system. If you want to influence you party, you NEED to get active, Just voting in the beauty contest is not enough. We need people who are willing to be delegates to the county caucus, and then we need people who will continue on to teh state convention...been there...BTW: if you stand to be a delegate...IT IS NOT FREE!!!! be prepared. You do not need cash in hand at the precinct caucus, but be prepared to shell out party fees...and pay your own expenses...been there, done that...Make sure you know who to support as a delegate if you will not stand to be one yourself. The delegates elected March 3 are more, way more, important than the straw poll!!!!!

sudden valley gunner said:

Thanks for the info! I registered to vote this year and am going to write in Ron Paul if he isn't on the "ticket". :lol:

Gotta stop the succession of every president being worse than the one before it, and I have no doubt Romney, Gingrich, will be worse than Obama just like he was worse than Bush 2 and he worse than Clinton...etc.

Click to expand...

Please consider going to your caucus and helping to nominate Ron Paul. I fully understand your apprehensions about declaring a "preferred party". I felt the same way. I have never participated in a (presidential) primary election before because I was not comfortable "choosing a party". I have always considered myself an independent.

Keep in mind that to participate in the caucus you do not have to "join the party" , and you do not have to "register as a republican" You simply sign a form that states you "consider yourself a republican" and you will not take part in another party's caucus this election cycle. Think of it as trying to "bring the party to its roots" if you want. Personally I am willing to consider myself a republican temporarily. If Ron Paul is not nominated, I will stop considering myself a republican.

I have decided to do his because nominating him as a republican is the only chance we have of him becoming president. I do not think he will leave the party to run as an independent. If he does, I will of course vote for him. I unfortunately do not think he would have lasted as long in the house as he did if he was not a "republican".

If he does not run then writing him in wont do much good(not saying you still shouldn't do it). Even if, by some miracle a plurality of voters actually write him in. He will still not become president. The electoral college will not elect someone who is not running.

END_THE_FED said:

Please consider going to your caucus and helping to nominate Ron Paul. I fully understand your apprehensions about declaring a "preferred party". I felt the same way. I have never participated in a (presidential) primary election before because I was not comfortable "choosing a party". I have always considered myself an independent.

Keep in mind that to participate in the caucus you do not have to "join the party" , and you do not have to "register as a republican" You simply sign a form that states you "consider yourself a republican" and you will not take part in another party's caucus this election cycle. Think of it as trying to "bring the party to its roots" if you want. Personally I am willing to consider myself a republican temporarily. If Ron Paul is not nominated, I will stop considering myself a republican.

I have decided to do his because nominating him as a republican is the only chance we have of him becoming president. I do not think he will leave the party to run as an independent. If he does, I will of course vote for him. I unfortunately do not think he would have lasted as long in the house as he did if he was not a "republican".

If he does not run then writing him in wont do much good(not saying you still shouldn't do it). Even if, by some miracle a plurality of voters actually write him in. He will still not become president. The electoral college will not elect someone who is not running.

Click to expand...

I think I will do that. Now to find my local caucus.

Remember, if you sign up at the Republician Caucus you do not "become" a republician. You only promise not to participate in any other party's caucus THIS year>

Another thing: PLEASE Pay attention to who you vote as a DELEGATE. The DELEGATEs are much more important than the beauty contest. The beauty contest is important, but NOTHING LIKE THE DELEGATEs.