Dems change caucus rules for 2020

The Wyoming Democratic Party will be changing its rules for the Presidential Caucus on April 4. In an effort to be more inclusive and give all Democrats registered by March 20 the chance to express their choice, the caucus will use ranked choice voting.

All registered Democrats in Wyoming will be sent a ranked choice voting ballot on February 17 that can be returned by mail in the enclosed envelope. Voters will be asked to rank their top five choices of candidates who have qualified for the caucus ballot.

By casting a ballot for up to five candidates, each voter will have their vote counted in subsequent rounds of voting. On each round, the candidates not receiving 15 percent of cast ballots in the county will be eliminated.

“This will give each registered Democrat the ability to participate in the presidential candidate selection process by absentee voting, and will allow them to express their preference in ranked order for up to five candidates,” says Randy Leinen, Crook County Democratic Chair.

“It will allow for more participation for all Democrats in this selection process.”

Democrats registered by March 20 will also be able to drop their completed ballot at a site to be designated on March 28 and their votes will be sent to state headquarters, sorted by county and the results made available electronically in their county caucus on April 4.

Voters can also attend the caucus on April 4 at the courthouse at 10 a.m. If registered by March 20, you will have the opportunity to plead your case for your preferred candidate, caucus with your fellow Democrats and cast a ranked choice ballot, which will be tabulated and the results reported electronically to the state headquarters.

County and statewide results will hopefully be completed by noon. After the results are tabulated, selection of delegates to the state convention in June for candidates receiving at least 15 percent of the vote will be held.