Caucus vs. Primary Election A primary is an election; a caucus is a meeting Caucus States: Alaska Colorado Hawaii Iowa Kansas Maine Minnesota Nevada North Dakota Washington Wyoming

Caucus A caucus, is a meeting, where people get together and discuss things. A caucus doesn't have to involve any voting. The Iowa caucus is a more complicated event than the primary, where you just go into a booth, pull a lever, and leave. The Iowa caucuses are people gathering in rooms to listen to each other campaign for the candidate. People gather in different corners of the room (or under banners) to represent what candidate they've decided to support. At the end of the meeting, a head-count is taken in the various corners. If a corner doesn't have enough people in it, people are allowed to move to support their second choice. This all takes several hours (which is part of the reason only about 10% of the eligible voters actually show up). Technically, that final phase is an election (an open-ballot, second- choice election) but the event is named after the meeting part of it, which the primaries lack.

Direct Election A caucus is more like a Direct Election where people actually go to a designated area for specific candidates and the take a head count. The General Election on the other hand is an Indirect Election where voters and the electorates through the electoral college all go to the states leading voted getter.

Primary A primary election is just that: an election. People vote for who they want to win. Any discussion is held outside of the event. The primary election is different from the general election because it's where people vote for the nominee of a particular party. (Many primaries are just for members of that party, but others are open to anybody.)

A caucus is a precinct-level meeting of politically like-minded individuals. Participation is open to anyone over age 18, or who will be old enough to vote in the Nov. 8 presidential election. There is no cost to attend and an individual can show up Monday night and register with the party of his or her choosing. However, participants must be there at the designated time—unlike, say, a primary where polling places are open from morning to night—and wait for the chance to vote for their presidential favorite. That puts a premium on committed supporters willing to turn out on a chilly evening and stick around.

Republicans and Democrats caucus differently. After some organizational business and speeches, Republicans write down their pick for president and turn in their secret ballot. Democrats break into groups according to their preference, plain for all to see. If a candidate fails to achieve the “viability” threshold of at least 15%, he or she is eliminated and supporters fall in behind another Democratic candidate. Or they can go home, though that is considered bad caucus form.

Voter turn out?? Voter turn out in a caucus are generally lower than a primary since you have to attend at a specific time as apposed to having all day to go in and vote. For most people caucuses are confusing but it is mostly a ritual or tradition that has never been eliminated So what are some things that would effect voter turnout in a caucus

2012 Election