SUMMIT COUNTY — As the ball gets rolling toward November's elections, precinct caucuses on Tuesday night will determine which local Democrats and Republicans are to represent their parties.

“They'll be picking representatives to the county assembly and precinct chairs,” Summit County Clerk and Recorder Kathy Neel said. “And the county assembly is where county candidates gain access to the ballot.”

The caucuses begin at 6 p.m.. The Republicans will meet at the Summit County Community Senior Center while the Democrats meet at Summit Middle School; both locations are in Frisco.

The caucuses are also to include straw polls for such offices as governor and U.S. senator.

To participate in a party caucus, one must have been registered to vote in the county for at least 30 days and affiliated with the political party for at least 60 days.

Debra Irvine, chair of Summit County Republicans and House District 56 candidate, said that at the Republican caucuses, candidates will make speeches and names will be collected of people interested in becoming election judges.

The Republican county assembly is scheduled for March 27 at 9 a.m. at the Community and Senior Center, she said.

The Democrats' county assembly is slated for April 5 at 6 p.m. at the Frisco Recreation Building, according to www.coloradodems.org.

Primary elections for both parties are Aug. 10.

Robert Allen can be contacted at (970) 668-4628 or rallen@summitdaily.com.

Summit County's active voters (participated in 2008 election) • Democrat: 5,075 • Republican: 4,268 • Unaffiliated: 7,268 • Minor parties: 151 • Total “active:” 16,762 source: Summit County Clerk and Recorder's Office