The 2022 Precinct Caucuses, the first step in Minnesota’s process for selecting our parties’ candidates, leadership, platforms, and values, are just around the corner and we need you and those in your community to participate. For all major political parties, caucuses will be held on Tuesday, February 1st and it’s critical that we have your voice present in this process to ensure our political parties and candidates are working on behalf of people and the land, not corporate interests. This year, given the uncertainty of COVID, caucuses for many will look different and could cause confusion. That is why we need to make sure everyone knows how to participate based on where they live and party affiliation and why participation is so important.
Below we also have a timeline and general overview for the upcoming caucus process, and you can reach out to LSP/LSAF’s Political Organizer, Emily Minge, at eminge@landstewardshipaction.org or 612-400-6353 with questions.
Timeline:
- February 1, 2022 at 7:00 pm – Precinct Caucuses. At caucuses you often hear from the different candidates seeking your party’s endorsement, elect precinct delegates who will move onto their Senate District Convention and/or County Convention, and you can bring forward resolutions to be added to your party’s platform.
- This year depending on your party affiliation, your County or Senate District may be engaging in contactless caucusing which will include either emailing or dropping off a Non-Attendee Form with your party unit leadership. This form can be submitted up until 9am on caucus night, Tuesday, February 1st.
- If you are caucusing with the DFL, you can click here to find if your County or Senate District is doing in-person or contactless caucusing and if so, who to to send your Non-Attendee Form.
- Click here for the DFL Non-Attendee Form.
- The MNGOP will have fully in-person caucuses.
- Click here for the MN GOP Caucus forms.
- March and April 2022 – Senate District and/or County Conventions. Delegates gather to vote on candidate endorsements and resolutions within the Senate District and/or County. For example, at Senate District Conventions, you will endorse candidates running for the State House and State Senate in that district. Delegates for the Congressional District Convention will also be elected.
- From what we know now, these will be fully remote, but will update this page with more information when we have it.
- April 2022 – Congressional District Delegates will gather to endorse congressional candidates and vote on resolutions. State Convention Delegates will also be elected.
- May 2022 – State Convention where state delegates adopt party platforms based on resolutions and endorse statewide candidates.
Steps to Caucusing:
- Decide which party to caucus for. Minnesota does not require party registration to vote, but you should caucus with the party that best aligns with your values.
- Determine if your County of Senate District is doing in-person or contactless caucusing.
- If you are caucusing with the DFL party, click here to determine your caucus method.
- If your County or Senate District is doing contactless caucusing or you are not comfortable attending in person, download and complete your party’s Non-Attendee and Resolution forms and send them to your local party unit leader by 9pm on Tuesday, February 1st.
- Click here for the DFL Non-Attendee Form, click here to find your local DFL party unit leader, and click here for the DFL Resolution Form.
- Click here for the MN GOP caucus forms.
- If in-person, determine if you need time off or accommodations. Your employer is legally required to give you time off to caucus as long as you submit a written request at least 10 days in advance. If you require accommodations due to hearing or visual impairment, the major parties must accommodate you.
- If in-person, find your caucus location on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.
- Recruit your family, friends, and neighbors and make sure they know how to participate!
- If in-person, show up to your Precinct Caucus location between 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on February 1st with any resolutions you’d like to introduce.
What does it mean to be a delegate?
- If you are elected a delegate at your precinct caucus, it means you will be moving onto the next step in the process and attending your Senate District or County Convention.
- At the convention, you will be casting your vote for candidate endorsements and resolutions that made it through caucuses.
What is a resolution?
- Resolutions are simple statements of values or policy priorities that you’d like your party to adopt or maintain. Those that pass will go on to help shape your party’s platform, but they must receive support at multiple conventions to keep moving upward.
- During your Precinct Caucus, your caucus chair will ask if anyone has resolutions to bring forward.
- Click here for the DFL Resolution Form.
- Click here for the MN GOP Resolution Form.
- Click here to read and download the full slate of Land Stewardship’s 2022 Caucus Resolutions