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Educating people about the caucus process is the challenge local Republicans and Democrats are facing.
As the Jan. 19 caucus date approaches for both parties, many potential voters are unaware what their votes mean in this process.
Mark Feest, chairman of the Churchill County Republican Central Committee, said there are many voters who think the caucus is when they cast their ballots for a candidate.
"We are finding that a lot of people are confused and think it is the primary election," Feest said.
Part of the confusion stems from this being the first time the state has had a caucus in a presidential election.
To try to educate Republican voters in the county, the state party will visit Fallon sometime in December to teach them what it means to be part of the caucus.
"A caucus is really a straw poll to tell candidates what the voters are saying," he said.
Nevada is one of the last states to hold a primary, and Feest said the caucus is the only way state voters can be heard.
By the time Nevada has its primary, the selected candidate will already have secured enough states to win the party's nomination.
Having a caucus so early, Feest thinks, could propel some of the early voting states in the primary to follow Nevada's lead.
"We want to have a role in who the candidate is," he said.
While about 80 percent of registered voters turned out for the last presidential election, Feest expects a turnout of 30 to 40 percent at the caucus.
"People have to get excited to come out and support their candidate," he said, mentioning the primary and general elections are several months away.
Gaye Johnston of the Churchill County Democrats said she is optimistic there is going to be good turnout at their caucus. She added more and more people are attending Democrat meetings in the county.
"Most of the people I contact say they plan on being involved," she said.
She said all of the precincts will have captains, which is a first for the Churchill County Democrats.
Johnston said most of the Democrats who plan on being involved in the caucus will be signed up by Jan. 19, but added people can sign up that day as well.
"If they don't know what a caucus is, we will show them," she said, "I am hoping they come even if they do not know how the process works."
The local Republicans' caucus will be at 9 a.m. at the Churchill County Senior Center, and the local Democrats' starts at 11 a.m. in the Multi-purpose Building at the Churchill County Fairgrounds.
As the Jan. 19 caucus date approaches for both parties, many potential voters are unaware what their votes mean in this process.
Mark Feest, chairman of the Churchill County Republican Central Committee, said there are many voters who think the caucus is when they cast their ballots for a candidate.
"We are finding that a lot of people are confused and think it is the primary election," Feest said.
Part of the confusion stems from this being the first time the state has had a caucus in a presidential election.
To try to educate Republican voters in the county, the state party will visit Fallon sometime in December to teach them what it means to be part of the caucus.
"A caucus is really a straw poll to tell candidates what the voters are saying," he said.
Nevada is one of the last states to hold a primary, and Feest said the caucus is the only way state voters can be heard.
By the time Nevada has its primary, the selected candidate will already have secured enough states to win the party's nomination.
Having a caucus so early, Feest thinks, could propel some of the early voting states in the primary to follow Nevada's lead.
"We want to have a role in who the candidate is," he said.
While about 80 percent of registered voters turned out for the last presidential election, Feest expects a turnout of 30 to 40 percent at the caucus.
"People have to get excited to come out and support their candidate," he said, mentioning the primary and general elections are several months away.
Gaye Johnston of the Churchill County Democrats said she is optimistic there is going to be good turnout at their caucus. She added more and more people are attending Democrat meetings in the county.
"Most of the people I contact say they plan on being involved," she said.
She said all of the precincts will have captains, which is a first for the Churchill County Democrats.
Johnston said most of the Democrats who plan on being involved in the caucus will be signed up by Jan. 19, but added people can sign up that day as well.
"If they don't know what a caucus is, we will show them," she said, "I am hoping they come even if they do not know how the process works."
The local Republicans' caucus will be at 9 a.m. at the Churchill County Senior Center, and the local Democrats' starts at 11 a.m. in the Multi-purpose Building at the Churchill County Fairgrounds.
