Source: http://www.2012presidentialelectionnews ... -schedule/
Full Primary/Caucus Calendar
January 3, 2012
Iowa (caucus)
January 10, 2012
New Hampshire (primary)
January 21, 2012
South Carolina (primary)
January 31, 2012
Florida (primary)
February 4, 2012
Nevada (caucus)
February 4–11, 2012
Maine (caucus)
February 7, 2012
Colorado (caucus)
Minnesota (caucus)
Missouri (primary) – *See note below on Missouri
*Missouri: Missouri will hold a primary on February 7th, 2012, which will not count for delegates toward the 2012 GOP convention. The Missouri Republican Party will hold a caucus on March 17th, 2012, which will determine the delegates sent to the 2012 GOP convention
Story: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/20 ... -to-march/
February 28, 2012
Arizona (primary)
Michigan (primary)
March 3, 2012
Washington (caucus)
March 6, 2012
(Super Tuesday) Alaska (caucus)
Georgia (primary)
Idaho (caucus)
Massachusetts (primary)
North Dakota (caucus)
Ohio (primary)
Oklahoma (primary)
Tennessee (primary)
Vermont (primary)
Virginia (primary)
March 6-10, 2012
Wyoming (caucus)
March 10, 2012
Kansas (caucus)
U.S. Virgin Islands (caucus)
March 13, 2012
Alabama (primary)
Hawaii (caucus)
Mississippi (primary)
March 17, 2012
Missouri (GOP caucus) – *See note below on Missouri
March 20, 2012
Illinois (primary)
March 24, 2012
Louisiana (primary)
April 3, 2012
District of Columbia (primary)
Maryland (primary)
Wisconsin (primary)
Texas (primary)
April 24, 2012
Connecticut (primary)
Delaware (primary)
New York (primary)
Pennsylvania (primary)
Rhode Island (primary)
May 8, 2012
Indiana (primary)
North Carolina (primary)
West Virginia (primary)
May 15, 2012
Nebraska (primary)
Oregon (primary)
May 22, 2012
Arkansas (primary)
Kentucky (primary)
June 5, 2012
California (primary)
Montana (primary)
New Jersey (primary)
New Mexico (primary)
South Dakota (primary)
June 26, 2012
Utah (primary)
Now what is the difference between a primary and a caucus you may ask. Well, maybe you didn't ask, but I did and here's the answer smartypants.
Source: http://www.factcheck.org/2008/04/caucus-vs-primary/
Caucus: Caucus meetings are arranged by either the state or political party to take place at a certain place and time. Caucuses are unique in that they allow participants to openly show support for candidates. Voting is often done by raising hands or breaking into groups according to the candidate participants support. The results of the caucus are used to determine the delegates present at county, state and national nominating conventions of each political party. Most often, only registered voters can participate in a caucus, and they are limited to the caucus of the party with which they are affiliated.
Primary: Primaries are a direct, statewide process of selecting candidates and delegates. Similar to the general election process, primary voters cast secret ballots for the candidates of their choosing. The results are used to determine the configuration of delegates at the national convention of each party. Primaries come in two basic forms: In an open primary, all registered voters can vote for any candidate, regardless of their political affiliation. Registered Democrats may vote for a Republican candidate, and Republican voters may cast ballots for a Democrat, for instance. And registered Independents can participate in either party’s primary. But in a closed primary, voters may vote only for candidates of the party with which they are registered.
My state, Virginia, is an open primary state. As such even as an independent I can vote in the primary even though I am not a registered party member. I will be doing that and I encourage anyone who has interest in the future Republican nominee to do so as well. The primary process is not nearly as well participated in as the general and you have a greater chance of influencing events at this stage so get involved and vote!
