It’s Washington’s turn for a bit of limelight in the cross-country Republican presidential primary/caucus season.

Secretary of State Sam Reed is urging a strong turnout for Washington’s precinct caucuses, beginning with the hotly contested Republican caucuses this Saturday.  Democrats will gather on Sunday, April 15.

Reed, the state’s top elections official, reminds voters that there is no state-run presidential primary this year, due to budget cutbacks, thus underscoring the importance of the precinct caucuses and conventions run by the two major political parties.

The Republicans will gather at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at locations across the state, with the precinct caucuses beginning at 10 a.m. and lasting no more than two hours.

There are about 6,700 precincts in Washington.  Republicans have predicted up to 60,000 participants.

Participants on Saturday must be registered voters and will be asked to state that they consider themselves Republicans and will not attend a Democratic caucus.  Caucus-goers will sign a roster that includes their selection for favorite presidential candidate. The candidate preferences will be combined into a statewide non-binding straw poll that will be released at the end of the day.  Caucus participants will be able to run for delegate to county conventions, where state convention delegates will be chosen.  King County also has legislative district caucuses.

At the state Republican convention in Tacoma May 30-June 2, 40 national delegates will be elected. Three other delegates, including the state chairman, are automatic.

Caucuses provide a chance to discuss the issues of the day, to sign up as campaign volunteers, and to discuss potential platform planks and resolutions.  But much of the attention will be focused on the hotly contested nominating battle for president.

State and local GOP organizations, and media outlets are publicizing caucus locations. Many counties are using “pooled” gatherings where many precincts meet at the same location.  Thurston County Republicans, for instance, are directed to one of two locations. The state party overview and locator is here.  The state party has published FAQs for participants.

Reed noted that all four remaining Republican presidential candidates have visited Washington state, some more than once, and have had a chance to learn some of the state’s issues and concerns. The race has remained fluid, and with all four candidates targeting the state, and with the inherent unpredictability of the caucus-convention process, no clear frontrunner has been identified by the media, he said.

The four are former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Secretary Reed says:

“We have received a good deal of attention from the candidates and our state will have an impact on the course of the nominating season. A large number of delegates will be at stake this spring in Washington, the second largest state in the West.  Our Republican caucuses are very early on the elections calendar, coming on the heels of Arizona and Michigan and just ahead of the Super Tuesday.”

The state’s presidential primary, created in 1989 as an initiative to the Legislature, was suspended for this year only, due to the $10 million cost.  Democrats have never used the primary results to allocate national delegates and the Republicans typically have split the delegates 50-50 between caucus and primary results.  The primary is scheduled to resume in 2016.

“The caucuses are the option we have before us, and I certainly encourage all registered voters to take part if they’re able.  The caucuses are educational and interesting, so even if it doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, I strongly encourage people to attend their Republican or Democratic caucus this year.”

The Democrats, with no apparent challenge to President Obama’s renomination, will choose their national convention delegates through a process that begins with caucuses on April 15.  A voter may attend only one party’s caucus.