What is the difference between a primary and caucus?

A primary and a caucus are two different ways of choosing a nominee for an election. In California, a primary is an election where all eligible voters can choose from a list of candidates for a particular office. Voters cast their ballots in a private, secret manner and the candidate with the most votes becomes the nominee for the party in that election. On the other hand, a caucus is a meeting organized by a political party at the local level. Only members of that party are invited to attend and they are asked to choose the party’s nominee. The meeting is typically conducted in an open forum and attendees can express their views and debate before voting on a nominee. After the votes have been counted, the candidate with the most votes is chosen as the party’s nominee. The main difference between a primary and a caucus is the way the candidate is chosen. Primaries are governed by election laws and attendees do not have an opportunity to express their views. On the other hand, caucuses are more like a democratic debate and attendees have the opportunity to debate on issues before choosing a nominee.

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