One Week and Counting Until Caucuses

While much of the attention in the political world is on Florida and its presidential primary today, Minnesota continues to gear up for its .

And even though the final votes have yet to be cast down south today, candidates for the GOP nomination for president already have set their eyes on Minnesota. For instance, Rick Santorum made a campaign stop yesterday in Luverne, in the southwest portion of the state.

And on Wednesday,  is scheduled to visit with former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty at Freightmasters in Eagan at 1 p.m.

Considering Minnesota is one of three states—Colorado and Missouri are the others—with either caucuses or primaries on Feb. 7, it would not be surprising if other candidates visit our state in the coming days.

For a state-by-state calendar of this year’s presidential primaries and caucuses, click here.

CAUCUS SITES ANNOUNCED

Last month, Minnesota’s major political parties—DFL, Independence and Republican—announced the sites of their respective precinct caucuses.

Caucus sites for Northfield residents include:

• DFL—The Senate District 25 DFL will meet at , 2200 Division St. For more information about the District 25 DFL, click here.

District 36 DFLers living in Northfield precincts W-3 and P-3 will meet in conjunction with District 25 at Northfield Middle School. For more information about the District 36 DFL, click here.

• Independence—A caucus for the entire Second Congressional District, which includes all of Lakeville, will be hosted by a delegate in Apple Valley. The Independence Party website says more details will be available soon. For more information about the Independence Party, click here.

• Republican (GOP)—District 25 Republicans will meet in the lower and upper cafeterias of l, 1400 Division St. For more information about the Rice County GOP, click here.

District 36 Republicans in Northfield precincts W-3 and P-3 will meet at Boeckman Middle School, 800 Denmark Ave., Farmington. For more information about District 36 GOP, click here.

In Minnesota, the DFL, Independence and Republican parties are considered major parties. For the definitions of major and minor political parties in Minnesota, click here.

All caucuses begin at 7 p.m.

WHAT'S A CAUCUS?

A caucus helps a political party gain consensus as to how voters have aligned their political and candidate preferences.

But at a caucus, there’s more going on than just candidate selection. Participants sometimes select county committee chairs that go to a state—and sometimes national—convention.

What distinguishes a caucus from a primary is that at a primary, voters don’t have to be present at one particular location at a specific time. For a primary, voters just go to their polling place and cast a vote, the same as they would do at a general election.

For a caucus, you have to be physically present at your designated caucus site, register, show your party affiliation and then participate in the process. Attendees participate directly.

To take part in a caucus, you must be eligible to vote in the 2012 general election and live in the precinct.

Each party has its own rules and guidelines it follows.

Additional caucus information—including a caucus finder—can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of State website by clicking here.