The Nebraska Rules

A generation or two ago Nebraska's presidential primary was a major stop on the national campaign trail. Now it seems to be limping toward extinction. Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans plan to use it to elect delegates in 2008; instead, they will conduct separate caucus processes and select delegates at their state conventions.

Hoping to be at least a small player in the 2008 nominating process, Nebraska Democrats will hold precinct caucuses Feb. 9 (with the caucuses combined into larger units in some places). Content to watch events unfold from the sidelines, Nebraska Republicans will not begin their caucus process until early June. Each party limits participation to registered voters in their party, although Democrats allow any voter to join their ranks by registering at their caucuses on Feb. 9.

As for the primary, it is still on the books (at least for now) as a nonbinding "beauty contest." Participation is currently limited to registered voters in each party. As of November 2006, there were 1,138,069 registered voters in Nebraska—572,869 Republicans, 370,600 Democrats, and 194,600 independent and third-party voters.