FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Contact: Kristen Schulze Muszynski
626-8404/ 441-7638


Presidential nominating caucuses begin this week throughout Maine

AUGUSTA ? Maine?s political parties will begin conducting their 2016 presidential nominating caucuses this week, at locations throughout the state, with most of the caucuses slated for this weekend.

The Maine Department of the Secretary of State, which oversees statewide elections, would like to remind citizens that these caucuses are not the same as the primary election, which is slated for June 14. Voters will cast ballots on a variety of elected officials at the primary election, which is administered by the Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions.

The caucus process is administered by Maine?s three recognized political parties: Republican, Democratic and Green Independent. It is not a primary election and its sole purpose is to allow party members to choose delegates for their respective party?s state convention, who will then select delegates for the party?s national convention.

Only those who are enrolled in a party can vote in that party?s caucus. Voters who are not enrolled in a party can register with that party by arriving early on the day of the caucus. However, voters who were enrolled in a party and desired to change their party status to participate in the caucus had to do so by the Feb. 19 deadline.