What voters need to know about Saturday's Kentucky Republican Caucus

LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) -- Republican voters in Kentucky will head to the polls Saturday.

This will be the first Kentucky Presidential Caucus since 1984. The unfamiliar style of voting has a lot of voters confused.

"I think it's interesting that they're actually doing it here in Kentucky because like I said, as old as I am, I had never heard of it happening," said Sharon Fitzgerald.

"I would have to say that I do not know caucuses well," said Republican voter Paul Prince.

Prince sees the caucus as a major opportunity that Republicans should take advantage of.

"We don't have to know all there is about a caucus to recommend them being here," Prince said. "It does give us an opportunity to vote in effect. To vote now, rather than waiting until the last of May when the decision's probably, for the nomination, already been made. So it's an opportunity to actually have impact."

Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at several locations around the state. A Kentucky GOP official tells WSAZ people must be in line by 4 p.m. to vote. These are different polling places than primary or general elections.

Most counties will have one voting location, but some will combine with neighboring counties for a regional caucus.

You can go to www.RPK.org/caucus/where to find your voting location and see a full list of locations across Kentucky.

Lawrence County Clerk Chris Jobe says there will be a different environment in this caucus.

"It'll be a little bit different than what they're normally used to on election day. There will be representatives, possibly from each candidate, there to speak with the voters when they come in," Jobe said.

County clerks are not running the caucus, but Jobe says he is trying to give voters who may be confused more information.

The voting process is similar to a normal election. Voters will show their ID, sign in and cast a secret paper ballot.

Boyd County GOP Chairman Randy VanHoose tells WSAZ a caucus may be more social, but voters do not have to participate in that aspect.

"There may be some electioneering occurring and voters will be encouraged to linger and socialize if they want which is a bit different than usual, but for the most part folks that just want to cast their ballot and leave, can do so as quickly as in any most other election," VanHoose said.

The presidential race will be the only race residents will vote on. The other races, including the Democratic presidential vote, will be decided in May.

Jobs says the clerks do not conduct the caucus, but voters can call their local clerks office with any questions.

The caucus is being paid for by U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has dropped out of the presidential race. State law would not allow Paul to run for both president and re-election to the Senate on the May primary ballot. His name will be on the ballot in the primary election in May as a candidate for U.S. Senate.

LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) -- Republican voters in Kentucky will head to the polls Saturday.

This will be the first Kentucky Presidential Caucus since 1984.

Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at several locations around the state. These are different polling places than primary or general elections. You can click the link to see where you can cast your ballot.

The voting process is similar to a normal election. Voters will show their ID, sign in and cast a secret paper ballot.

The presidential race will be the only race residents will vote on. The other races, including the democratic presidential vote will be decided in May.

Lawrence County Clerk Chris Jobe says there will be a different environment in this caucus.

"It'll be a little bit different than what they're normally used to on election day. There will be representatives possibly from each candidate will be there to speak with the voters when they come in," Jobe said.

Jobe says, "The way I understand it, they have to be so many feed away. They won't be in the room with voters. They'll be in a separate location."

Jobs says the clerks do not conduct the caucus, but voters can call their local clerks office with any questions.

The caucus is being paid for by US Senator Rand Paul, who has dropped out of the presidential race. His name will be on the ballot in the primary election in May as a candidate for US Senate.