Your Neighborhood Caucus Is Where It All Starts

Colorado needs YOU! The time to get involved and make a difference in your community is now. Local involvement has a huge impact and you get to experience the results of your time and effort! Boards, city councils, and other offices are posting openings now. Every voice makes a difference, contributes ideas, and offers balance and accountability.

The next Colorado election cycle begins in March. All Otero County Republican Voters are invited to attend their precinct caucus on Tuesday, March 3rd at 6pm. Caucus is a neighborhood meeting held every other year to discuss issues, elect local leaders called precinct committee persons, and select delegates for higher-level assemblies.

There are 17 Republican precincts in Otero County. You need to know which precinct you live in to know where your caucus will be held. At www.sos.state.co.us under My Voter Registration, you can plug in your name, birthday, and zipcode to pull up and check your own voter registration. Then, open County & District Information and the last two digits of your precinct ID are your county precinct number.

The caucus unfolds in a neighborhood meeting lasting about an hour. Two precinct committee persons are elected who organize future party activities. A key step of caucus is electing delegates and alternates to the county assembly. This next step is a county wide meeting of elected neighborhood delegates. It will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 9am in the Fowler school cafeteria. Attendees will hear from candidates, conduct business, and vote on delegates to the Republican State Assembly which is April 10th and 11th at CSU-P in Pueblo. The state assembly is where each county’s delegates vote on candidates to determine which will make the primary ballot.

This is a simple and incomplete explanation; but, enough to show that everyone can have a voice in their government-both by active participation in the caucus process and by voting. Both matter. A constitutional republic relies on the active participation of an educated citizen body. If good, moral citizen servants are not involved in government, the process decays and becomes corrupt.

To participate in the grassroots process as a Republican, you must be a registered voter affiliated with the Republican Party for at least 22 days before the caucus (Feb 9), a resident of the precinct for 22 days (Feb 9), and at least 18 years old (or 17 and turning 18 by March 3). Unaffiliated voters cannot participate in the caucus process unless they switch their registration before the 22 day limit.

Caucuses are open to the public for observation without voting or participation privileges. Registering to vote in Colorado can be done easily online at www.GoVoteColorado.gov or in person at your Colorado DMV or County Clerk’s office.

Participating in a precinct caucus empowers everyday Coloradans to influence politics directly. It's a low-cost alternative for candidates versus petitioning for ballot access, which requires thousands of signatures and can cost candidates significantly. By attending, you help shape who represents your party, contribute to platform decisions on issues like education or healthcare, and build community networks with neighbors. In an era of big-money politics, caucuses promote grassroots democracy, ensuring diverse voices—not just well-funded ones—drive nominations. They foster civic engagement and amplify local concerns at higher levels. With Colorado's open primaries allowing unaffiliated input later, caucuses give party members an exclusive early say, making participation vital for those passionate about their party's direction.

For 2026, the 17 Otero County Republican Precinct Caucuses are scheduled in ADA accessible public schools: precincts 1-5,7-10 at the La Junta Intermediate School cafeteria, precinct 3 at Swink HS, precinct 6 at Cheraw, precincts 11-15 at Rocky Ford HS, and precincts 16 & 17 at the Fowler H.S. (old gym) Gym Atrium. Complete addresses are available here. Should special remote access accommodations be necessary, 30 days notice in writing is requested by Feb 2, 2026 either by email to or text to 719-468-9823 so that the proper process can be initiated and accommodations can be coordinated. Detailed information is available at www.oterocountyrepublicans.us .

Caucus Locations and Information