What are the advantages of the caucus?

Question

I know they're not used for presidential means anymore, but back in the day or for local elections?

Answer 1

Actually, they are still used for President in some states (including Iowa). Other states still use caucuses as part of the process for nominating candidates.

The advantage of a caucus is the same advantage as preferential voting. It allows supporters of the trailing candidates to change their vote to a compromise candidate after the first ballot. As such, it increases the likelihood that the candidate chosen is acceptable to the majority of the participants. In a primary or other similar system, it only takes a plurality to get the nomination.

The other advantage is that a caucus serves as an organization tool. You have all of the active party members in a precinct or county in one place. As such, you can use the meeting to put together plans for the general elections as well as to discuss the issues that concern the members of the party making it easy to formulate a platform for general election.

Answer 2

Causcuses give the local units to air grievances or to get the pulse of their group for national considerations.