How do you vote in a caucus? (vanity)

me | 01/13/04 | me

[hoosierboy]

I was wondering how a caucus works, I understand it not like traditional voting where you get a ballot and cast your vote. All I was able to gather was you sit in a group to cast a vote and something about the candidate has to get at least 15%. I have scoured google and haven't been able to come up with anything solid.

Could a fellow freeper step up to the plate and explain this to me and for any other freeper in the same boat as me who doesn't get it?

[hoosierboy]

Please forgive my ignorance and please educate me.

[EggsAckley]

I don't understand it either, kemo sabe.

[Only1choice____Freedom]

First you visit the cemetary.

Then you scan the obit's for recent deaths.

Then register them with a strip club for an address....

[martin_fierro]

How the Iowa caucuses work (MSNBC)

[erasmus605]

I'd also like an explanation.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Voters meet in a central location in each district. I don't recall how many there are in Iowa, but it's something like 1,800 districts. Voters meet in places like homes and schools, and by voice vote, tell those in attendance who you're voting for. Basically it's a voice vote, not a secret ballot vote like primaries are. The votes are tallied and reported to state election officials and you have the result of your particular caucus. It's probably a bit more complicated than that but that's pretty much how I understand it from watching C-SPAN the other night.

[hoosierboy]

Yeah but how long does it take, I heard you can do it by internet, or absentee. Why would I bother going to a church or school and waste my time listening to my neighbor say how good dean is when I want to vote for sharpton?

[BigSkyFreeper]

Palm Beach Post | Iowa Caucus Primer

[BigSkyFreeper]

A caucus is 3 hours long, opening at 6:30pm.

[erasmus605]

Ok, so people get together in a church/house/community center, break up into groups according to candidate, then send results into party headquarters? It's very informal, and, it seems, prone to fraud.

[zencat]

It seems so idiotic. Kinda of like one of those Afghan "loya jirgas" or something.

Why don't they just use a secret ballot primary system?

[Blue Screen of Death]

I don't know how they work, but I bet the National Organization of Women would like to change the name.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Well, and then the other thing that I read was that if I decided to back Lieberman and everyone else in the room decided to back Dean, my voice vote is basically "thrown out". Which seems a bit unfair. So, I can see why caucuses only attract the political junkies.

[hoosierboy]

Thanks, sounds like 3 hours of hell.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

A caucus is similar to caca.

[hoosierboy]

Thanks for all the info guys, once again its proen to me why I get most of my info here.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Agreed. Thank God the rest of us have primaries.

[hoosierboy]

proen = proven

[cc2k]

Only1choice____Freedom wrote:

---

First you visit the cemetary.

Then you scan the obit's for recent deaths.

Then register them with a strip club for an address....

---

No, that's the procedure for a primary election or general election.

Seriously, though, to answer the original poster's question. Check out The Iowa Democrat Caucus 2004 Facts Sheet for the full information.

Basically, each precinct meets at a home, meeting hall, or whatever. Each precinct can elect one or more delegates to the convention. The number of delegates a precinct elects depends on population.

After the meeting is called to order, the attendees break up into "preference groups". If the precinct only elects one delegate, then the "preference group" with the largest support wins and elects a delegate to support their candidate. There is still some politicing that goes on, as supporters of other candidates might want a delegate that will support their guy for VP or some other concession.

If there is more than one delegate to be chosen, then each "viable" preference group gets to elect one delegate. Basically, the smaller "preference groups" are enticed to throw their support in with one of the other groups to elect a delegate. So, for example, the one guy who supports Kucinich will have to find some common ground with one of the other candidates supporters and join with them to select a delegate.

The big difference between this and a primary is that voting is not by secret ballot. Supporters who participate make it known publicly who they are supporting and what they want to get if another candidate wants their support.

Also, I'm not really clear on whether the "delegates" chosen at the caucuses are the delegates to the national convention, or delegates to a state convention where the national delegates are selected. Based on the number of precincts, I suspect the "delegates" chosen by the caucuses go to a state convention and have some similar procedure for selecting a smaller number of national delegates.

[Pest]

I think Michigan is the only state that you can do it by internet. In fact, I just sent in my application to do so for the Feb. 7 primary. We'll see how it works out. Michigan is the first state to do this I think. Maybe I can sue the DNC if things get screwed up and I become disenfranchised. HA!