The thousands of party caucuses held in homes and schools around the state begin Utah's election process. Neighbors meet to choose delegates who will gather later at county and state conventions to select candidates for the general election Nov. 7.

In Utah County, neighbors faced off in a classroom at Lehi High School - a row of public school teachers on one side of the room, a cluster of parents whose children attend charter, private and home schools on the other.

The issue of vouchers, which would use state funds to pay for part of the cost of private schooling to families who take their children to private schools, became the litmus test for those running for delegate positions in that meeting.

Rep. David Cox, a public school teacher who opposes vouchers, is up for re-election to represent Lehi. Republican Ken Sumsion, a business analyst for Brigham Young University, also has filed for the seat with support of voucher advocates. Nathan Barlow, who favors school choice legislation, was chosen as the county's delegate.

The Utah Education Association, which favors Cox, and Parents for Choice actively encourage their supporters to stack the caucuses, said Linda Hadfield, a public school teacher who attended.

Republican Party Chairman Joe Cannon warns not to predict much from early caucus gatherings.

"Every year you hear these conspiracy theories that the UEA is going to take over. Every year they get the normal proportions of delegates. It's hard to stack these caucuses," he said.

In Salt Lake County, 21 Republicans met at the Riverton home of Angela and Erik Sandstrom, where the education debate was dominant.

Riverton's state Senate district promises to be a major education battleground. Dave Hogue, a public education supporter, has abandoned his House seat to attempt to unseat voucher champion Sen. Howard Stephenson. Both are Republicans.

"Vouchers are only going to pull more money from public education," said Cindy Edstrom, a classroom volunteer who was elected as a county delegate.

Edstrom had support in the caucus from UEA members, such as Robyn Gines, an elementary school teacher.

"We've got to do something," she said. "Stephenson is public enemy No. 1 for public education."

Dave Argyle, who said he is open to innovative alternatives to traditional public education, was also chosen as a delegate.

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Reporter Rebecca Walsh contributed to this story.