For once, you can put ‘exciting,’ ‘caucuses’ in one sentence

Thousands of Snohomish County voters are gearing up for what’s likely the most exciting political contest in a generation.

Whether it’s Hillary Clinton or John McCain or Barack Obama or Mitt Romney — or anyone farther back in the pack — voters here plan to voice their preference at the presidential caucuses Saturday.

Democratic and Republican party leaders have staked out 70 locations across the county for their members to meet, including churches, auditoriums, schools and homes.

They hope they’ve got enough room.

Democrats are expecting 6,000 to 7,000 people at their caucuses at 27 locations in Snohomish County.

“Washington is in play,” said Rick DeWitt, a Mill Creek resident and Democratic caucus organizer in the 44th Legislative District.

Republicans are eager, too, but don’t have a clear idea of possible turnout.

“We’re anticipating a really big turnout, based on what’s going on in the rest of the country,” said Olga Farnam, Snohomish County’s Republican caucus coordinator. “I’m anticipating a few thousand people in our county. The excitement’s up there.”

The caucuses are run by the political parties and are separate from the presidential primary election. Most voters have received their ballots, which require signing an oath declaring party preference. Ballots are due back by Feb. 19.

Snohomish County has about 335,000 active registered voters. Turnout at the caucuses and participation in the primary election could be dampened by a strong independent streak in voters and some resistance to showing party preference.

Organizers aren’t dissuaded.

They say it takes just a couple of hours to sign in, declare yourself as a Democrat or Republican, name your favorite candidate and spend some time chatting with your neighbors. Uncommitted voters can listen to short speeches from their neighbors about the candidates before they make a choice.

Or uncommitted voters can stay uncommitted.

Saturday’s caucuses are divided by voting precinct, but for convenience often share big public meeting spaces.

Voters quickly will find out where candidates rank in their neighborhoods, legislative districts and — later in the evening — the state.

Democrats plan to choose their delegates based on caucus results. The results of the state’s Feb. 19 presidential primary election is a beauty contest.

Republicans have a different plan. They will designate 18 delegates based on caucus results and 19 from the primary election tallies.

Both parties agree that caucus and primary election turnout depends on how many presidential candidates are left standing after Tuesday — Super Tuesday, that is — when two dozen states choose their presidential favorite.

But Washington is in the catbird seat and is expected to draw attention and visits from the presidential front-runners, leaders of both parties said.

The two parties are running their caucuses a little bit differently.

Democrats are allowing 17-year-olds to participate in their caucus as long as they will be old enough to vote on Nov. 4. Republicans are allowing only currently registered voters.

The results of the caucuses will show the leading candidates precinct by precinct. Unlike paper ballots, support for each candidate is entrusted in the neighborhood delegates chosen to carry the results to regional caucus meetings this spring.

Republicans plan to hold county conventions to support presidential candidates in March and April, followed by a state convention in May and a national convention in September.

Democrats have a slightly different approach. They plan to hold caucuses based on state legislative districts in support of candidates in April, smaller congressional caucuses in May and a national convention in Denver in August.

A winner usually emerges from each party.

If not, delegates at the national conventions will decide which presidential candidates will appear on the ballot.

Washington Democrats have 97 delegates to represent presidential candidate preferences, including the individual preferences of 17 so-called “super delegates.” The super delegates are state officeholders and members of the Democratic National Committee.

Washington Republicans have 40 delegates. They plan to choose 18 delegates based on caucus results, 19 delegates from the Feb. 19 primary election, and have three super delegates who can weigh in on their own.

Democrats are planning big combined caucus meetings with 125 precincts at Kamiak High School in Mukilteo and 120 precincts at the Everett Civic Auditorium.

Anywhere from 2,000 to 3,000 people are expected at Kamiak, Snohomish County Democratic Party chairman Mark Hintz said.

The biggest single gathering of Republicans in Snoho­mish County is planned at Silver Creek Community Church in Lynnwood, where 148 precincts will convene. If a dozen people come from each precinct, that could mean nearly 1,800 voters.

A big turnout will show that people care about their rights and responsibilities as Americans, Farnam said.

“We don’t have one candidate that’s just blossoming over the rest of them,” Farnam said. “It’s anybody’s game right now. It’s going to be exciting.”

Reporter Jeff Switzer: 425-339-3452 or jswitzer@heraldnet.com.