GOP Leaders Expect Large Turnout at Saturday’s Caucus

By: Carter Moelk

KU Statehouse News Service

GOP Leaders Expect Large Turnout at Saturday’s Caucus

The Kansas Republic caucuses will be held in at these locations.

Democrats will find polling places here.

The Kansas Republican Party is preparing for a larger-than-usual turnout at the state’s GOP presidential caucus Saturday.

“We’ve already had to double the normal amount of ballots to around 60,000,” said Clayton Barker, Kansas GOP executive director. “We’re even making more (ballots) in case more people decide to attend.”

The increased number of attendees means more education is necessary to explain the process to voters, Barker said.

“We’re trying to combat the low knowledge about how the system works,” he said.

Barker explained that a caucus is a meeting where all registered Kansas Republicans can discuss and vote on which candidate they believe should be the party’s nominee for president.

After voting has occurred, the 40 delegates and 37 alternative delegates allotted to Kansas by the National Republican Convention are divided among the candidates.

“Kansas proportionally allocates our delegates, instead of using a winner- take-all system,” Barker said. “This gives candidates a more accurate delegate representation.”

The Republican nominee needs a total of 1,237 delegates to secure the party’s nomination and face the Democratic challenger in the November election.

What many people don’t know is that any eligible citizen can, and is encouraged to, participate in the caucus.

Shelby Clothier, a University of Kansas student and registered Republican from Wichita, said she plans to vote in the caucus, and she’s pleased the GOP is working to keep voters informed.

“You have to go out and seek the knowledge to know how a caucus or a voting system works,” she said. “I’m happy to see the Kansas GOP is taking that initiative to help.”

For Clothier and other Kansans participating the caucuses, the stakes are high.

“Caucuses are hugely important,” she said. “You’re literally deciding the candidate who is going to potentially change you and your children’s futures.”

Barker agreed.

“Because the turnout at caucuses is smaller than a national vote, every individual has a higher effect,” he said.

Barker said that college students need to know that they can participate in the caucuses near their university campuses, even if they originally registered in a different county.

“It makes it easier for college kids who’ve traveled across the state to participate,” he said.

For Clothier, this makes all the difference.

“I really want to participate,” she said. “And instead of having to drive around three hours home, I can just drive five minutes to the Lawrence location.”

Marco Rubio was in Topeka on Friday and was planning to stop in Wichita. GOP front-runner Donald Trump is also planning a Saturday stop in Wichita.

Cruz was in Overland Park Wednesday for a campaign rally at Johnson County Community College.

Caucuses are March 5 in 126 counties throughout the state from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Kansas Republic caucuses will be held in at these locations.

Or call party headquarters at (785) 234-3456.

Edited by Maddy Mikinski