What is the difference between a primary and caucus?

In Minnesota, the difference between a primary and a caucus is that they are two different ways to nominate candidates for an election. Primary elections are the most common form of nominating candidates for an election. In a primary election, eligible voters cast ballots for their preferred candidates in a polling place. The candidate who receives the highest number of votes becomes the nominee of that party for the general election. Caucuses are run by political parties as a way to select a party’s nominees for election. They are usually targeted to a particular political party and involve a group of people working together. Participants at caucuses typically discuss ideas and issues and debate the merits of each candidate. After the discussion, each participant casts a vote for their preferred candidate and the candidate with the most votes becomes the party’s nominee for the general election. So, while both a primary and a caucus are a way to nominate a candidate for the general election, the way that the process is conducted is different. Primaries are done via a voting ballot and are open to all eligible voters, while caucuses are done in a group setting and are only open to members of that particular political party.

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What is the difference between a primary and caucus?

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