Cactus vs. Caucus

I officially don’t ever have to move to Iowa. I was always jealous that they got to caucus (which sounded so fun and mysterious), while the rest of the country just got to fill in a bubble and leave. I figured the only way to join the fun would be to move to Iowa. Apparently, I was not right; 14 states and Washington DC hold caucuses.

The state of Washington has both a primary and a caucus. Our caucus was today, February 9. Our primary is on February 19. Although they hold a Democratic primary, it doesn’t count. Why do they even hold it? It seems that an initiative passed to hold a primary, but the democratic party has never used it to select delegates. The Republicans in the state count both, with a percentage of the final delegates selected from both processes. I am sending in my ballot, but it’s probably a waste of a stamp. That’s right, a stamp. Most of Washington votes by mail. All my ballots come to my doorstep. Actually, I don’t have a doorstep.

So, what is a caucus? I can tell you what it’s not. The little girl next to me at the caucus told her dad, “I don’t like caucuses.” I figured she was just bored, but I think her next words were “they’re prickly” because her dad proceeded to explain to her that she was thinking of a “cactus.” That had to be the cutest thing ever.

A caucus is pretty simple. Everyone has to look up their caucus location (which can be confusing because it’s different than where we “vote” in a regular election). Jamie and I had the same caucus location. Not shocking, since she lives with me. However, most of the other people I know in the neighborhood had a different location. Ours was in a school.

The caucus was scheduled to begin at 1 pm. We arrived and found out that our precinct was caucusing in the West gymnasium. We were one of three precincts in that gym. Our precinct covers about 13 blocks. On average, a precinct has 511 voters.

Once in the gym, we signed in (no voter registration card needed) and indicated our preference for candidate. You could also indicate that you were undecided or uncommitted. Then we waited around. At 1:30 pm a leader told us how the rest of the caucus would work.

Step One: Divide into groups by who you support. Obama on one side, Clinton on the other. Undecided people and the one guy voting for Gravel were in the middle.

Step Two: Initial Tally. 99 for Obama, 15 for Clinton, 20 or so undecideds. With eight delegates for our precinct to give, that gives 6 to Obama, 1 to Clinton, and 1 undecided delegate.

Step Three: Make speeches. Each side gets one minute to defend their candidate. One person from each group is selected to make the speech.

Step Four: Try to get the undecided people to choose your candidate. Mostly here you just sit on the floor and talk to your neighbors (and they really are your neighbors).

Step Five: Re-tally. Enough voters switched to Obama to gain one extra candidate. Final count: 7 to 1.

Step Six: Select delegates to represent the candidate. Each delegate has an alternate. This was done by people raising their hands if they were willing. There were 15 willing people for Obama and only 14 were needed. I didn’t stay to watch, but I assume one of them just said, I won’t do it. If it was contested, there would be a paper and pen ballot process.

Then what? Jamie and I went home (we did not volunteer to be a delegate). We were done by 2:15 or so. However, the process is far from over.

Our eight selected delegates go to a legislative district caucus on April 5. After that there are county conventions. Finally, there is a congressional district caucus on May 15th. Only then will the state of Washington’s delegates be officially selected.

Get it?

So that’s a caucus, but it’s not a cactus. It’s strange compared to the voting in a little booth with a curtain. No, actually, that’s weird too. It felt good to be involved. I am fascinated by this year’s primary. I spend way too much time analyzing the data on CNN after each primary. I’m getting antsy. Is it November yet?

I’m hoping Obama wins the nomination. We shall see.