With the arrival of March and Super Tuesday, residents of Kansas can also look forward to showing their support for presidential nominees and other candidates by participating in the Democratic and Republican caucuses to be held on Saturday, March 5.

Those registered as Republicans can participate by traveling to the Linn County Fairgrounds in Mound City Saturday. The doors will open at 9 a.m. and close at 1 p.m., with votes being cast by secret ballots between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Representatives from the five, current candidates may be on hand to speak on behalf of their candidate in order to sway voters.

“It’s important to be there,” Bourbon County Republicans Vice-Chairperson Rhonda Dunn said, saying she hopes Bourbon County makes a good showing at the caucus. “This is our chance to vote for a presidential candidate.”

Registered Democratic voters in Bourbon County will caucus at two locations based on what district they reside in. Those in Senate District 12, which includes the northern part of Bourbon County, can participate at the Jayhawk-Linn High School in Mound City. Those of Senate District 13, including the southern part of Bourbon County, will caucus at S.E. High School in Cherokee. Those unsure of which district they live in can contact the county clerk.

Caucus registration will begin at 1 p.m. and will include everyone in line by 3 p.m., excluding any late arrivals. After registration, representatives from both Democratic candidates will have an opportunity to speak and the process will be explained to the caucus-goers by a master of ceremonies.

Participants will divide themselves into groups to show their support for a specific candidate. If one of those groups does not receive enough supporters, it will be considered nonviable and those supporters must join another group.

When all in attendance decide on which candidate they will support, the number of each group is tallied and their ballots gathered and counted.

“It is an opportunity for representatives of presidential candidates, democrat family, friends, neighbors and local candidates to meet and greet like-minded people,” said Shirley Palmer, Bourbon County Democrat Treasurer.  “It will be the largest gathering of Democrats in one place at one time probably since 2008.”

Palmer encouraged registered voters to participate in order to make a difference in Kansas in the 2016 elections.