Hawaii Democratic Caucus FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When is the Hawaii Democratic Party conducting its caucus meetings?
A: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 7:00 pm. Most locations will open their doors between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm.
Q: How many caucus meetings take place on February 19, 2008?
A: Each of the 51 state house districts will conduct its own caucus meeting. A few of the larger house districts are split into multiple locations.
Q: Which caucus meeting do I attend?
A: You must attend the caucus meeting that takes place for your state house district. If you can not find your caucus, please call the Party at 596-2980. Find your House District - Find your caucus location
Q: Do I need to be a registered voter to participate in a caucus meeting?
A: Yes. Voter registration forms are available at http://hawaii.gov/elections, in the front of telephone books, and at Satellite City Hall locations on Oahu. You can also fill out a WikiWiki Voter Registration form which will be available at the caucus.
Q: Do I need to be a registered member of the Hawaii Democratic Party to participate?
A: Yes. You must fill out a Hawaii Democratic Party membership card before you will be allowed to participate in the caucus meeting. Blue registration cards will be available at each caucus location.
Q: I have previously selected a Democratic ballot during primary elections. Does that qualify me to participate in the Hawaii Democratic Party’s caucus meetings?
A: No, you must register as a Hawaii Democratic Party member by filling out a blue card.
Q: What if I am unsure about my membership status with the Hawaii Democratic Party?
A: You can check with the Hawaii Democratic Party by phoning 596-2980. If you arrive at the caucus and are not found on the membership list, you can fill out a blue membership card and join the party on the spot.
Q: When must I join the Hawaii Democratic Party to participate in the caucus meetings?
A: You can register any time before February 19, 2008, or show up at the caucus meeting and register.
Q: Can I vote absentee at the Hawaii Democratic Party’s caucus meetings?
A: No. You must attend in person.
Q: What happens when I go to a caucus meeting?
A: You will be separated into precinct meetings which are determined by your residence address. The precincts will then conduct their regular business meetings, which will include electing precinct officers and representatives, before proceeding with the presidential preference voting.
Q: Can I skip the precinct meeting and just participate in the presidential vote?
A: No.
Q: Is my presidential vote secret?
A: Yes.
Q: Which candidates are eligible to be considered at the caucus meetings?
A: All candidates who have satisfied the eligibility requirements for the Hawaii Democratic Party. Barack Obama has satisfied those eligibility requirements.
Q: How many delegates will Hawaii be electing through the caucus process to send to the Democratic Party’s National Convention in Denver?
A: Hawaii will send 29 delegates to the National Convention this August. 20 of the delegates will cast votes based upon the percentage of votes received by the presidential candidates. 9 delegates are so-called "super-delegates" and are free to vote for whomever they want. The superdelegates include the state chair, vice-chair, national committeeman, national committeewoman, our two US Senators and the Representatives, and one unpledged "add-on" superdelegate.
Q: How do the caucus meetings influence the selection of delegates to the national convention?
A: Any candidate that receives at least 15% of the total vote in a congressional district is eligible to have delegates selected to support his/her candidacy. The number of delegates will be awarded proportionally for all candidates receiving over 15%. Thus, if Candidate A receives 50% of the Second Congressional District votes, Candidate B receives 25%, and no other candidate receives over 15%, then Candidate A would receive 10 delegates and Candidate B would receive 5 delegates?
Q: Are the actual delegates to the national convention being selected on February 19?
A: No. The actual delegates will not be selected until the Hawaii Democratic Party holds its state party convention in May 2008.
Q: What if I have other questions about the caucus process?
A: Call the Hawaii Democratic Party at 596-2980.