What you need to know about the Caucus in Plainfield
WHAT IS A CAUCUS?
The Annual Plainfield Town Caucus will be held Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall at 348 Main Street. The Town Caucus Warrant is posted on the Bulletin boards at the Town Offices 304 Main Street and the Town Hall at 348 Main St. It is also published in the Plainfield Post and on the Town website. Copies are available from the Town Clerk.
The Caucus is a meeting of citizens called by the Selectmen and usually held in March or April for the purpose of making nominations for local offices. Plainfield holds the annual caucus the third Wednesday of March. It is held at the Town Hall 348 Main Street at 7:30 in the Evening. A caucus serves the same purpose as a political primary election. In Plainfield, the same idea. While no party affiliation is recognized at the annual Plainfield Caucus, any Plainfield registered voter may nominate any other Plainfield registered voter (who is willing to accept the nomination) for any open elected Town Position. This does not mean that they will automatically get the position – their name will appear on the official Town Election ballot held the first Saturday in May. Plainfield Registered voters will decide who will win a contested race.
The Caucus is opened by the Town Clerk by opening the floor for nominations for Caucus Chairman. The Chairman of the Caucus shall be elected by ballot. In balloting the voting lists furnished under section sixty-two of chapter fifty-one shall be used as check lists.
Caucus Chairman then opens nominations for Caucus Secretary. The Caucus Secretary keeps track of everything happening at the Caucus – names of all nominees for each position – accepts and decline. May be requested to vote for the floor. Secretary must write report in Caucus book and return to Town Clerk.
Caucus Chairman then opens nominations for Checkers and Counters. Checkers will check in voters for the first ballots to be cast. Counters will count the results of the ballot.
Town Clerk to swear everyone in. The Town Clerk turns the meeting over to the Caucus Chairman and the Town Clerk can not serve as a caucus officer. Meeting can begin now. Caucus Chairman will request nominations for the first position open. Each position must be done separately – nominations closing nominations, vote on nominations. First vote must be done by paper ballot. Second vote can be done verbally, if there is only one candidate nominated for the position. A motion must be made from the floor: “Requesting that the secretary to vote for the floor after a verbal vote. Once all positions have been done. Moderator should remind all nominees that they must sign the Nominations sheet.
Adjourn meeting.
Submitted by the Town Clerk