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2016 guide to caucuses, elections in Nevada

Posted at 12:00 PM, Feb 01, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-23 15:50:11-05

The Nevada "First in the West" caucuses are quickly approaching and we have the rundown of everything you need to know for the 2016 presidential election.

The earlier caucuses only started in Nevada in 2008. The purpose of the caucuses is to select delegates which are nominated to the county convention, where they then go on to the state and then nationally.

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During a caucus, area residents gather together to discuss politics, elect delegates to the county convention, and cast their vote for the presidential candidate of their choice.

The caucuses are open to those in each party 18 and older and those who will turn 18 by Election Day, Nov. 8.

The Clark County Election Department is not involved in the caucuses.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY CAUCUSES -- FEB. 20

Click here for results of the caucus listed by state total and county

The Nevada Democratic Party will hold caucuses in each precinct, which will then choose delegates to be sent to county conventions based on presidential preference. Voting begins at 11 a.m. The Nevada Democratic Party has a list of caucus locations on its website.

At-large locations will be on the Las Vegas Strip for those working on Feb. 20. People can sign up for at-large caucus locations here.

The Nevada Democratic Party also has several mock caucuses in the weeks before the caucus. Check out the events here.

The county convention is April 2.

REPUBLICAN PARTY CAUCUSES -- FEB. 23
The Nevada Republican Party will hold its precinct caucuses. Each precinct caucus votes for presidential candidates by secret ballot and chooses the precinct's delegates for the county conventions. Nevada gets 30 delegates at the Republican National Convention.

Caucuses run from 5 to 7 p.m. The Nevada Republican Party has a list of caucus locations on its website.

A difference between the Democratic and Republican caucuses is that there is no same-day registration. Voters must be registered as a Republican as of Feb. 13 to participate. Also, people can vote at any time using a paper ballot.

Even though many candidates have dropped, all 11 who qualified in January will be on the ballot.

The party is also holding a series of trainings and various other political events that can be found here.

Click here for the caucus results listed by state total and by county.

PRIMARY ELECTION -- JUNE 14
While Nevada does not hold primary elections for its presidential candidates, it holds a primary for other federal and state races, including Senate and House of Representatives.

Check out the Clark County Election Department's website for more information.

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE IN LAS VEGAS
The debate will take place at the Thomas & Mack Center on the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, campus on Oct. 19. Las Vegas has previously hosted primary debates, presidential speeches, and been long considered for political conventions by both parties.

KEY DATES NATIONWIDE

  • Feb. 1 -- Iowa caucuses
  • Feb. 9 -- New Hampshire primary
  • Feb. 27 -- South Carolina primary
  • March 1 (Super Tuesday) -- Primaries or caucuses in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Vermont. Republicans also doing caucuses in Alaska and Wyoming.
  • March 5 -- Primaries or caucuses in Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nebraska and Maine.
  • March 15 -- Primaries in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio.
  • March 22 -- Arizona primary and Utah caucus.
  • March 26 -- Democratic caucuses in Alaska, Hawaii and Washington.
  • April 5 -- Wisconsin primary
  • April 19 -- New York primary
  • April 26 -- Primaries in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
  • May 3 -- Indiana primary
  • May 10 -- West Virginia
  • May 17 -- Primaries in Kentucky and Oregon.
  • June 7 -- Primaries in California, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota.
  • July 25-28 -- Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia
  • Sept. 26 -- 1st presidential debate at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio
  • Oct. 4 - Vice presidential debate at Longwood University in Virginia
  • Oct. 9 -- 2nd presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis
  • Oct. 19 -- 3rd presidential debate at University of Nevada, Las Vegas
  • Nov. 8 -- Election Day