Anchorage - All eight national candidates have registered to participate in Alaska’s February 5th Democratic Presidential Caucuses.

Alaska Democrats attending the caucuses will be able to participate in selecting the Democratic Party’s nominee for President. The Democratic Presidential candidates at this time include Barack Obama, John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, Bill Richardson, Dennis Kucinich, and Mike Gravel. Joe Biden and Christopher Dodd, who announced following the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses that they would withdraw, have not withdrawn from the Alaska caucuses.

Alaska Democrats will meet at locations around the state on February 5 to elect delegates to the state convention on the basis of presidential preference, to elect officers and conduct other party business. Alaska will be one of 22 states that will select presidential delegates on Feb. 5.

The Alaska Democratic Party today released an updated list of Alaska caucus locations (see www.alaskademocrats.org for complete list of locations). In the larger communities, all state house districts will meet in the same location. For example, in Anchorage, all 16 district caucuses will be held at Begich Middle School. Additional locations are still being organized in the smaller communities and villages. Participants must be there by 6 pm to vote for President.

“We want every Democrat to have a chance to participate,” said Alaska Democratic Party Chair Patti Higgins. “Selecting our presidential nominee is an important responsibility, and we encourage everyone to take part.”

How does the process work? Alaska Democrats will meet in communities around Alaska on February 5 to select presidential delegates. People who come to the Feb. 5 caucuses get to vote for the candidate of their choice. Their votes determine the number of delegates that are allocated proportionally to each candidate.

Up to 411 delegates will be selected to represent the Presidential candidates based on the allocations at the caucuses; those elected will attend the Alaska Democratic Convention May 23-25, 2008, in Palmer. At the state convention delegates will be selected from this group to attend the National Democratic Convention in Denver next August.

The Alaska caucus process is explained further at the Alaska Democratic Party's Presidential Caucus Information Center. This page contains documents and tools including a summary of all pertinent rules related to Alaska's presidential delegate selection process.

Who can participate? Any voter who is a registered Democrat can participate in Alaska Democratic Presidential Caucuses. A voter may change their party registration to Democrat anytime between now and Feb. 5 to be eligible to participate. A voter can change their registration that night at the caucus.

A person must be 18 years or older as of May 4, 2008, to participate. (A person may register to vote within 90 days of turning 18. A person must be 18 years old within 90 days of Feb. 5 in order to register to vote and therefore be eligible to participate in the caucus.)

Where will the Feb. 5 caucus be held in my community? Specific locations of the caucuses in each community will be posted on the party's web site as they become available. The caucuses in Anchorage will be at Nicholas J. Begich Middle School, 7440 Creekside Center Drive.

How do I become a delegate? Eighteen delegates and four alternates will be elected at the state convention to attend the National Democratic Convention in Denver next August. Delegates will be selected under rules designed to ensure gender and ethnic balance, inclusion of elected officials and party leaders, and inclusion of historically under-represented groups by virtue of race/ethnicity, age, sexual orientation or disability. Specific forms must be filed to run for delegate; the forms are available on the state party web site.

How can I get involved? The Alaska Democratic Party is seeking leaders to help lead the local caucuses and other volunteers to help with the logistics of those meetings; those interested can sign up on the state party web site.

Who is running for the Democratic nomination for President? Information about the Democratic presidential candidates can be found at the state party's web site.

National convention info: Democratic National Convention to be held in Denver, Colorado August 25-28, 2008. See http://www.demconvention.com.