The western portion of the United States gets screwed by our current presidential primary and caucus system. The only state west of the Rockies that votes before March 22 for their party’s representative as Leader of the Free World™ is Nevada, which means a geographic third of the country is represented in the most crucial period of presidential politics by a state founded on brothels and blackjack.
But you finally have a vote.
This Saturday at 10:00am (arrive early if you can), Democrats in Washington state will gather in school gyms, community centers and their neighbors’ living rooms to caucus for their favorite candidate for President. Bernie Sanders’ hopes of a political revolution hang by a thread, and a big win here in Washington (with our 101 delegates) is perhaps the only thing that can keep his campaign alive. Likewise, a Hillary Clinton win on Saturday would make her nomination all but inevitable.
Your vote matters.
I attended my first Washington state precinct caucus in 2004, hopped-up on a fever dream of a President Dennis Kucinich…or Howard Dean…or John Kerry. Anyone but Bush. Four years later I was an Area Caucus Chair and Precinct Committee Officer at a chaotic John Stanford School, where 700 caucus-goers passionately discussed whether Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama would be better suited to clean up the mess created by the Worst President Ever®.
I don’t expect 2016 to feel quite as desperate as 2004, or as hopey/changey as 2008, but Democrats will likely come out in fairly large numbers to politely debate their preference for Bernie or Hillary. Due to budget constraints, fewer locations are being utilized than in caucuses past. I have been told that 50 precincts will be caucusing at Hamilton Middle School. That is five times the number of precincts that caucused in 2008 at John Stanford, so even with a lower turnout per precinct, expect a couple thousand people to show up at that one location.
Caucus locations will be crowded, so in order to keep things rolling smoothly, here are answers to some questions you may have:
• What precinct am I in? The Washington State Democrats have a “Find my Caucus Location” tool, where you can also pre-register, stating that you will attend the caucus and declaring who your preferred candidate is. This will be a nice timesaver for your caucus chairs.
• What should I expect? The Washington Democrats have put out a short video outlining what to expect from your caucus. They also have some bullet points on How to Caucus.
• What if I can’t attend? Unfortunately it’s too late to submit a Surrogate Affidavit Form, which was due to the state Democratic Party last Friday. However, you can show up by 10:00am, submit your caucus form and leave. So even if you can’t spare the 90 minutes to 2 hours for the full meeting, your vote can still be counted.
• What if I’m not a Democrat? The Republicans have a primary sometime in May. Good luck with that.
Does anything prevent me from voting in the caucus and in the primary? As far as I can tell it is frowned upon by the parties, but that seems more like a party problem than my problem.
Not being consistent in your party preference is frowned upon. If you participate in the caucus as a Democrat, then you should vote in the presidential primary as a Democrat. Your party choice, if you participate in either or both, is public record. Before you ask: Why would some one who participated in the caucus as a Democrat also participate in the presidential primary as a Democrat? Let me answer: The only reason I know of is that it creates interesting statistics.
Nope, the primaries are for the state to determine the candidates on the general election ballot. The parties don’t use it at all, and don’t pay even for it, so feel free to do what you choose. Ballots in WA state at least are private, so the parties really have no say.
CLARIFICATION–you must print out your pre-registration form and bring it–rules require a paper with a signature. It is not an on-line registration.
Two notes: You do not have to be registered as a Democrat. (Washington does not have party registration). To caucus,you simply have to be willing to identify as a Democrat. If you expect to vote for Democratic candidates in November, that’s enough. Just no Republicans, please.
Yes, most of Wallingford is caucusing at Hamilton Middle School. (A few Wallingford precincts are at BF Day Elementary, UW or at Hazel Wolf School, so do check the caucus location tool)
If you must drive to Hamilton, parking is available in the Lincoln school lot.
Fruitbat, why would you want to exclude Republicans, or anyone for that matter? They are likely just as disenfranchised as all the rest of us. I’m a strong independent with many very conservative Republican friends, and they are about as frustrated as I’ve ever seen them with the choices forced upon them by their own caucus system. I’m sure there will be many moderate Republicans who will cross lines and vote for someone like Hilary, where previously that would be unthinkable. It’s that bad this year.
I’d welcome them into the Democratic Caucus. They might find they have more in common than they (or you) think.
Jeff, we would want to exclude active Republicans because their reasons for caucusing with Democrats are not necessarily positive ones (e.g., voting for the candidate they think is weaker).
If someone has previously voted Republican but is tired of that party’s excesses and is now interested in supporting Democrats, they are welcome to switch over to our side.
Fruitbat, I understand your point about hoodlums in the house
It’s hard to say who is weaker in the contest though isn’t it?
Bernie is a far more upstanding human being, but his economic theory (my education is a degree in Macro Economics) is deeply flawed in his approach to a more just and equitable society. However, his desired outcome is admirable. I believe he means well and I trust what he says (even though what he says isn’t always grounded in reality)
Hillary is a lying, untrustworthy career politician, but her economic ideas are at least grounded in reality and I don’t think she’ll cause economic chaos.
What a choice!
Jeff, Are you and your Republican friends planning to participate in the mail-in primary as Republicans? I was born in Seattle and have lived in the company of people all my life who consider themselves Republicans and then vote and act like Democrats. For the caucuses and mail-in primary, you have to publicly declare that you consider yourself a Democrat or a Republican.
A request to those attending: Please be patient. As Doug says, there’s going to be a huge number of people at Hamilton Saturday. I’m planning to show up early to volunteer, and I promise we’ll do our best. But like democracy, things will probably be somewhat messy.
That said, THANK YOU in advance to everyone who attends, and gets involved in the process. I really enjoy the caucuses, because I get to hear good points and good ideas from neighbors who support all the candidates.
(Excuse me, I meant to say “hear good points and good ideas from neighbors who support each of the candidates.” D’oh!)
I attended the caucus in 2098 at the John Stanford School. It was chaotic, disorganized, confusing and only those who could yell the loudest were heard. I am not physically able to attend this year but I emailed my vote. The notices to return your vote were sent out too late to respond by mail so I emailed my surrogate form to [email protected]. Hopefully it will get counted.
Darn phone, that is 2008, not 2098. I wish.:)
For Sale: Used 1981 DeLorean
Extensive aftermarket modifications include: flux capacitor, Mr. Fusion unit, hydraulic actuated hover-wheel conversion
Repairs include: replacement of fuel line damaged by a misdirected arrow meant for the subjugating forces of the US Cavalry, a mostly-straightened frame following crashes into the Peabody barn and the Town Theater, removal of dents caused in riots after the chaotic 2098 Democratic caucus which pitted Donald Trump [clone 3] against Donald Trump [clone 7] to decide who would take on Republican nominee Donald Trump [clone 4].
Shout Out to Precinct 43-2047! What a great group of neighbors. Final tally: 6 delegates to Sanders, 2 delegates to Clinton.
As some may have read, caucus turnout was less than 6% of eligible voters, so Bernie’s ‘win’ was 60% of 6% was about 3.5% of those who could vote.
The caucus process is no doubt cheaper than actual ballots – no need to print, mail and count ballots, but doesn’t represent much of anything.
That 6% number is misleading. That was the turnout among all eligible voters, not Democrats. And Bernie had 73% of the caucus votes, not 60%.
So using the real numbers, the 3.5% you stated is actually closer to 10%. And while that’s not an overwhelming turnout, it’s a large enough number to represent a landslide victory by Bernie Sanders.