Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Mary Richards reportingTonight is everybody's chance to truly get involved at the grassroots level of politics. The political parties hold their neighborhood caucus meetings tonight.
Members of a Cottonwood Heights precinct recited the pledge as they started their last neighborhood caucus meeting two years ago. Tuesday night across the state, people will do the same thing.
Matthew Burbank: "This gives them an opportunity really to be in at the grassroots of what political parties.
Matthew Burbank, a U of U associate professor of Political Science, says at the caucuses, people pick delegates for the county and state party conventions.
Matthew Burbank: "They can got hey can talk about candidates they want to support or listen about other candidates."
Exoro Group partner Lavarr Webb says it's an opportunity for anyone to get involved.
Lavarr Webb: "Really get involved in some campaigns, get a lot of literature, get invited to lunches and really get to know the candidates better."
A recent KSL TV Deseret Morning News poll shows nearly two thirds of Utahns do not plan on going to this year's caucus meeting.
Matthew Burbank: "My guess is participation will be lower, which in as sense is good if you want to be elected as a delegate because it will be easier to do so."
Burbank says you can really have an influence by showing up at your caucus meeting if there's a candidate you think is particularly good or particularly bad, you can go and say why you think so, and that can often have an impact."
Lavarr Webb: "Bring your family and friends and run a little mini-election in that caucus. That's what it's all about.
