Ooof. What great turn out we had for the Colorado county caucus where my parents live. We were absolutely overwhelmed. Of course, my father is a big get-out-the-voter and he had ever single registered voter in our county called to remind them of the caucus, many of them he called personally. And so we had the largest turn out ever for this county and it seems we weren't alone. I am pleased to see my fellow citizens turn out to vote in such numbers. I heard that in Fairbanks, Alaska 1,000 people showed up in -41F (-40.54 C) temperatures. We had 5 precincts at our caucus area and I was kept very busy checking people in for more then an hour and the parking lot was so full that people were circling and we were afraid that not everybody would get in.
It was interesting to me that during the caucus nobody seemed ambivalent about the process. We had some people who were very angry about the caucus set-up: they wanted to come in and vote and then leave and they didn't want to have to talk or listen to other people's opinions. We had people who were just so excited about being there and feeling like their voice counted; excited to be involved. And we had young children zooming about on office chairs in the corridors. Note to the organizers next year: if you plan on getting the vote out it might be a good idea to provide a babysitter.
Showing posts with label elections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elections. Show all posts
06 February 2008
04 February 2008
Caucusing
Here we go a caucusing, a caucusing we go...
I will be at a caucus tomorrow, but sadly, unable to participate other then checking voters in because I can't afford the plane ticket back to Alaska to join in where I'm registered, which is ironically being held at my old workplace! So instead I'm calling Colorado voters and talking my Alaskan friends into going to theirs. I wish that so many candidates on both sides hadn't dropped out before Super Tuesday. I wish that more people in this country felt passionate about exercising their civil liberties. But all in all I think it's going to be an exciting night.
Edited to add: I did not vote. I wanted to and looked into voting absentee but Alaska has switched to caucusing and you cannot vote absentee for a caucus, only a primary. If I have not registered somewhere new by the time September rolls around I will definitely vote absentee in the actual election for Alaska.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the terms here are the definitions of a caucus and primary - some states have one, others the other. Some have a primary for everything other then the presidential race where they caucus.
US Election Caucus: where the members of a political party get together and must be physically present to vote. In addition this usually is lead by members of the party getting up and saying their thoughts prior to voting. The upside of this, to my mind, is that it is also a social event which I think makes some people turn out more. The downside, to my mind, is that your vote is not private and you are in the company of everyone you know and some people may feel peer pressure about their votes.
US Election Primary: also known as a nominating primary. This is where individuals go to a polling station and vote in a private booth for the candidate of their choice. Usually this is also limited to the party with which you are affiliated although in some states independents can now choose a party and vote in their primary.
I will be at a caucus tomorrow, but sadly, unable to participate other then checking voters in because I can't afford the plane ticket back to Alaska to join in where I'm registered, which is ironically being held at my old workplace! So instead I'm calling Colorado voters and talking my Alaskan friends into going to theirs. I wish that so many candidates on both sides hadn't dropped out before Super Tuesday. I wish that more people in this country felt passionate about exercising their civil liberties. But all in all I think it's going to be an exciting night.
Edited to add: I did not vote. I wanted to and looked into voting absentee but Alaska has switched to caucusing and you cannot vote absentee for a caucus, only a primary. If I have not registered somewhere new by the time September rolls around I will definitely vote absentee in the actual election for Alaska.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the terms here are the definitions of a caucus and primary - some states have one, others the other. Some have a primary for everything other then the presidential race where they caucus.
US Election Caucus: where the members of a political party get together and must be physically present to vote. In addition this usually is lead by members of the party getting up and saying their thoughts prior to voting. The upside of this, to my mind, is that it is also a social event which I think makes some people turn out more. The downside, to my mind, is that your vote is not private and you are in the company of everyone you know and some people may feel peer pressure about their votes.
US Election Primary: also known as a nominating primary. This is where individuals go to a polling station and vote in a private booth for the candidate of their choice. Usually this is also limited to the party with which you are affiliated although in some states independents can now choose a party and vote in their primary.
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