WATCH: Webinar with Republican, Democrat leaders produced by Missouri League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters of Missouri hosted an informational webinar Jan. 17 on changes to Missouri’s presidential selection process. The Zoom program was recorded; view it here.
Many Missouri voters are unaware that two years ago the Missouri General Assembly eliminated the state’s presidential primary, traditionally held in March, and turned the process over to political parties.
This will be the first time voters in the state will need to participate in a political party’s caucus to show their preference for a particular presidential candidate. At a political party’s caucus, members of that party meet and divide into groups, showing their support for their favorite candidate.
The League’s webinar featured two speakers who explained their party’s caucus process:
- At 6:30 p.m, Chris Grahn-Howard, budget policy coordinator to the St. Louis County Council, explaining the Republican caucus, scheduled for March 2.
- At 7:30 p.m., Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Matthew Patterson explaining the Democrat Party caucus, to be held March 23
- Click here for information on the speakers.
The caucus structures, in brief:
Republican Party: The Republican caucus on March 2 will be similar to how Iowa selects delegates. Neither party affiliation nor registration are required, but participants must be registered to vote.
Democrat Party: The Democrat Party will set up polling places on Saturday, March 23. Participants must be registered to vote and can’t be registered with another party.
Libertarian Party will caucus during their state convention on Feb. 24 in Earth City, near St. Louis.
For information on changing your voter registration to add your party affiliation, contact your local election authority or go to Register to Vote (mo.gov).