Delegates--This May Be of Interest

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1. In a primary system, Democratic voters cast their ballot for their presidential preference in the primary
election. Based on the results of that election, district-level delegate positions are allocated proportionately to
the presidential candidates. For example, if a candidate receives 50% of the vote in that district, he or she will
get half of the delegates. However, a candidate must win at least 15% of the vote to be eligible to receive any
delegates.

2. A state uses one of the following methods to fill the district-level delegate positions awarded to the
presidential candidates:
a. Pre-primary caucus. Prior to the primary election, supporters of each presidential candidate meet to
select a slate of delegate candidates. For example, if eight delegates are to be chosen from a district,
each candidate's caucus votes for eight people who have filed to run as a delegate pledged to that
presidential candidate. If, as a result of the primary, that candidate wins two positions in that district, his
or her top two vote-getters in the pre-primary caucus become delegates to the convention.

b. Two-part primary. During the primary election in certain states, Democratic voters can vote for a
presidential candidate and for delegates on the ballot. For example, a Democrat who votes for
Candidate X may then also vote for individuals to serve as Candidate X's delegates from that district to
the convention. If Candidate X wins two positions as a result of the primary, then his or her top two votegetters
become delegates to the convention.

c. Post-primary caucus. Following the primary election, supporters of each presidential candidate who won
delegate positions, meet to select people to fill those positions.

B. The Caucus System
1. In states using the caucus system, there is no binding primary election to measure the presidential
preference of Democratic voters. Delegate positions are awarded to presidential candidates based on the
vote taken in a meeting (“caucus”), or series of meetings.

2. The actual system for conducting caucuses varies widely. At the first stage, local meetings are held to vote
on presidential candidates and individuals pledged to those candidates. Persons elected at this stage go on
to the next series of meetings, generally at the county or congressional district level.
In some cases, there are several series of meetings, or "tiers," to a caucus. For example, in some states,
there are precinct meetings, or caucuses, open to all Democratic voters. Each precinct caucus votes on the
presidential candidates and on delegates to a county caucus. At the county caucus, those delegates elect
persons to serve as delegates to a state convention