The Washington state Democratic and Republican parties will hold precinct caucuses at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 at locations throughout North Kitsap. The caucuses are the first step in choosing the parties’ delegates to their national conventions this summer, which will officially select the two major party presidential nominees who will face each other in the Nov. 4 general election.

Any registered voter can participate in the caucuses. All that is needed is a voter registration card for proof of residency in a particular precinct. A list of locations (different for each party) can be found online at www.kitsapdemocrats.com or www.kitsaprepublicans.org.

Unlike primary elections, caucuses are run, and paid for, by the parties themselves rather than the state. Caucus participants will elect delegates committed to a particular presidential candidate, who will go on to the next stage of the process, the county conventions (and, for the Democrats, legislative district caucuses). These, in turn, will choose delegates to the state party conventions, who will then choose delegates to their national conventions.

In addition to the caucuses, Washington also has a presidential primary Feb. 19 (by mail-in ballot only in Kitsap County). While half of the Republicans’ national convention delegates will be determined by results of their primary, the Democratic presidential primary is essentially a preference poll and will have no bearing on their delegate selection.

The Washington caucuses come four days after so-called Super Tuesday on Feb. 5, when more than 20 states will hold presidential primaries. If the two nomination races are still up for grabs after that, Washington state’s contests could take on greater significance and receive more national media attention than usual.