Precinct Caucus Planning

Precinct Caucus Planning Materials

 

NOTE: If your caucus is contactless, submit a Caucus Non-Attendee Form via email or drop it off at your local drop-box. There will no in-person or Zoom attendance.

 

 

This is the main resource page for Organizing Units Planning for Precinct Caucuses.

You can find information on participating in Precinct Caucus Night here.

 

*NOTE: The Precinct Caucus Registration Affirmation Sign has been updated to comply with the new requirements to participate in Precinct Caucuses as voted on by the State Central Committee on 1/25/22. YOU CAN VIEW THE BYLAW HERE.

 

Option for Contactless Caucus

On this 12th day of January 2022, the State Executive Committee of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, in recognition of the evolving situation hereby issued an emergency declaration regarding precinct caucuses on February 1, 2022, to address the rapidly changing situation relating to COVID-19 and allow for units to opt into a contactless caucus.

Unit Precinct Caucus Type and Contact Information

A response is required from your unit by 11:59 PM this Sunday, January 16th as to which option your unit will be choosing. The Chair (or highest-ranking officer) of an OU  may elect to opt-in to the Contactless Precinct Caucuses for all precincts in their OU by emailing [email protected] the following: 

  • a subject of “Contactless Precinct Caucuses” and the name of the Organizing Unit (e.g., Contactless  Precinct Caucuses Example County);  
  • the name and contact information for the chair of the Organizing Unit; and  
  • the location(s) to be used on February 1, 2022 (more information in the full declaration).

Full Emergency Declaration

The DFL will be hosting Calls for Party Leaders to provide information and answer questions on this process. We will post a recording here if you cannot attend.

Party Leader Contactless Caucus Option Morning Call Thursday, January 13th

To access the recording of this meeting…

  • Go to mndfl.litmos.com/account/login
  • Click on “Content Library”
  • Search “Precinct Caucus Training”
  • The 3rd course is called “Party Leader Caucus Update”, this is where you can view the recording.

 Click here to view the Party Leader Caucus Update Slides

Key Dates

 – November 1, 2021 – All Caucus Locations must be reported to the State Party

 – December 11, 2021 – Caucus Kits will be distributed at the State Central Committee Meeting

 – February 1, 2022 – Precinct Caucus Night

Caucus Location Reporting

Caucus Locations must be reported to the State Party by November 1, 2021

⇒ Current List of Reported Caucus Locations: This is a list to review currently reported locations. Access to spreadsheets for reporting caucus locations has been sent to Organizing Unit Chairs, Vice Chairs, and Secretaries. If you need help with reporting locations please email: [email protected]

⇒ How to Report Caucus Locations: Here is a document that will walk you through how to report your caucus locations.

⇒ Proof Of Insurance: Some locations will require Proof of Insurance for Caucus Night. You can request this through the State Party using the linked form.

 

Training Opportunities

Caucus Planning Training

You can sign up for this training via the DFL Training Hub. Go to https://mndfl.litmos.com/self-signup/ and use code: caucus. This will sign you up for a course where you can see all training sessions relating to caucuses that have been published so far.

Planning Resources

⇒Precinct Caucus Planning Guide – Lays out what you will need to do to plan a successful precinct caucus night. 

⇒Precinct Caucus Kit Instructions – Explains what needs to happen with your kit materials. 

⇒Accessibility Guidelines – Provides guidelines for accessibility at precinct caucus.

Registration Materials

These are the materials you will need for caucus registration. 

*NOTE:  In order to access this tool, you will need to request an account HERE. You will receive an invitation to start practicing with the tool the Monday after you request access.

⇒Electronic Registration Tool Training – To access this training, go to dfl.org/training, click on the link to either make an account or sign in to an existing account, go to Content Library and search “Precinct Caucus Training”

⇒Electronic Registration Tool Instructions (multiple for each precinct) – Basic explanation of how to use the tool. Can be on the registration table to support registration volunteers. This document will be provided in the precinct caucus kit and links will be added when they become available.

Mobile Guide

Desktop Guide

⇒Request Caucus Registration Tool Account  – This link will take you to a google form to request both an account we will only give individuals approved by unit chairs access to their real precinct caucus list. We are planning to make accounts approximately once a week starting in early November.

⇒Link to Login for Caucus Registration Tool – You can only log in if you have already had an account made.

⇒Caucus Registration Tool Mobile Guide – This link will guide you through a practice session on how to register attendees via your mobile smartphone.

⇒Caucus Registration Tool Desktop Guide – This link will guide you through a practice session on how to register attendees via your computer or laptop device.

⇒Blank Caucus Registration Sheets (multiple for each precinct) – If your unit uses the electronic registration system, these will be used to sign-in individuals that need to be added to the system. If your unit does not choose to use the new electronic caucus registration tool, attendees can sign in using these forms.  

⇒Email Party Affairs Department if you need Pre-Printed Registration Sheets – If you choose not to use the electronic registration tool, we will have prepared printable registration lists for each precinct. To get access to your units’ list, we ask that the unit Chair or Vice-Chair send an email to [email protected] You will then be sent a PDF of registration forms which you can print as appropriate for caucus night. These will be shared in December. 

Caucus Kit Materials

Below are materials you will need to collect, copy, or prepare for each precinct caucus meeting in your unit. 

⇒Map or Description of Precinct Boundaries – You will need to find and provide a map of the precinct to each convener for posting at the caucus room location. (Maps are available at https://www.gis.leg.mn/html/precincts2018.htm)  

⇒Precinct Caucus Convenor Instructions (UPDATED 1/26/22)  & Convenor Script Update (1 copy per precinct) – Provides detailed instructions for Conveners and Caucus Chairs. You should plan to meet with your convenors to go over this packet and give them specifics related to their caucus. In addition, you can direct your convenors to complete the convenor training on the DFL Training Hub. This document will be provided in the precinct caucus kit and links will be added when they become available.

⇒DFL Caucus Registration Affirmation (1 copy per precinct) – This sign must be displayed in the precinct caucus registration area. NOTE: This is the most up-to date version of the affirmation sign, as voted on by the State Central Committee on 1/25/22.

⇒Caucus Rules/Agenda and Basic Information Sheet (1 copy for each attendee) – This sheet includes the basics of participating in the caucus as well as sample rules and an agenda. You cannot remove items from the agenda, but you can add local business. Make your best guess on how many copies will be needed for your caucuses based on previous attendance. Make sure you copy both sides.  

⇒Resolution Form (1 copy for each attendee) – All resolutions for a precinct must be attached to this form.  

⇒Non-Attendee Form (multiple copies for each precinct) – If a voter cannot attend caucus or must leave the caucus early, filling out this form and delivering it to the Unit Chair or Caucus Chair allows their name to be put into nomination for offices they have indicated. 

⇒Precinct Caucus Report Forms (at least 1 set for each precinct) – Depending on the size of a precinct they may need multiple sets of some of the forms. These will be the written record of what occurred at the caucus.  

⇒House Caucus Letters (1 copy for each attendee) – Needs to be put out for attendees to take. Documents will be provided in the kit.

⇒Senate Caucus Letters (1 copy for each attendee) – Needs to be put out for attendees to take. Documents will be provided in the kit.

⇒Local Information – Provide locations and times of local elections, pre-convention committee meetings, and any other relevant information or events.

The State DFL will provide enough copies of the following documents for each precinct. The following information is just for your reference. 

⇒Precinct Envelopes – These will be provided in your caucus kit. Complete the information on the front: precinct name, number of delegates to be elected, time, and location of your CD Convention. Place all materials for each caucus in this envelope. If all the materials don’t fit in the envelope, you can use something else to pack the materials, but be sure to include that envelope for the conveners.

⇒2022 Precinct Caucus Report Coversheet – This page needs to be attached to the top of each caucus’s packet of report forms. One cover sheet is provided for each precinct in your caucus kit.   

⇒Party Documents (Constitution, Official Call, and Platform) – In your caucus kit there will be enough of these to give one copy to each precinct. If you need more for some reason, they can be found at DFL.org/PartyDocuments. 

2022 Caucus Envelope