Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forum'You basically are nothing': the Americans shut out of the Iowa caucuses
As Democratic candidates began a last-minute blitz across Iowa on Friday evening, nearly a dozen men gathered in a cavernous YMCA meeting room in downtown Des Moines to have a conversation that felt a universe removed from the 2020 race.
They were part of one of the largest groups shut out of Mondays caucus: people with felony convictions. Iowans are barred from voting for life once they commit a felony, and people cant vote even if they committed a crime decades ago. The states policy, one of the strictest in the country, means more than 42,000 Iowans out of prison wont have a say in choosing a presidential candidate. Almost 10% of the black voting-age population cant vote because of a felony conviction.
For decades, the Iowa caucuses have marked the beginning of the presidential primary, and often set the tone for the election year. But the event has come under increasing scrutiny for giving some voters namely white and wealthy Iowans outsized power in choosing the president in a state thats already more than 90% white. Meanwhile, the physical and legal barriers built into the structure of the caucuses leave out large swaths of the population, whether they are disabled, work long hours, or were once convicted of a crime.
When you know you cant vote, you remove a certain segment of people from the political process, said Mendoor Smith, one of the participants at the two hour meeting, organized by Image 4 Lives, a mentorship and support group founded by Robert Pate, a former felon. If theyre removed from the process, then theyre not learning anything. If they have children, then theyre not telling their children anything.
Smith, 46, who got his bachelors degree after getting released from prison said he had been closely following the caucuses and has been going to rallies and encouraging others to caucus, even though he cant.
A few miles north, Gretchen Brown-Waech was getting ready for a historic caucus designed to serve another community often sidelined in the political dialogue: the 300,000 voting-age Iowans with disabilities.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/03/americans-shut-out-iowa-caucuses?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
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primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
dalton99a
(81,068 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MH1
(17,537 posts)This line:
"Iowans are barred from voting for life once they commit a felony"
SO, if the rule applies to ALL elections, it is irrelevant to whether or not caucuses are bullshit. They may or may not be, but it sure doesn't hinge on an attribute applicable to ALL elections.
I don't want someone helping to determine the nominee if they can't possibly vote in the general election.
I DO think felons who have completed their sentence should be able to vote in ALL elections. Then they would also be eligible to vote in the caucuses.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Autumn
(44,757 posts)Caucuses shut out the very voices who should and need to have a say about who the nominee will be who governs them.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
brush
(53,471 posts)In other words, controlled, non-diverse, non-democratic environments is were he thrives.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Autumn
(44,757 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
brush
(53,471 posts)And you want to get rid of caucuses (I agree with that, btw) but if your candidate does best in caucuses, why would you want to get rid o them?
That does not compute, just like his self-avowed socialism does not compute for a majority o Americans.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
booley
(3,855 posts)I think that has less to do with which is more Democratic.
Though that could be why many Sander's supporters still don't' like them. Its a matter of principle.
just like his self-avowed socialism does not compute for a majority o Americans.
And yet when asked, a majority of Americans agree with Sanders on the issues.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Autumn
(44,757 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
JT45242
(2,173 posts)I will preface this by saying that I have been transplanted to Iowa from a state with a primary.
Caucuses suck. They are a ridiculous burden. The JH school where mine will be held tonight has between 60& 80 parking spots. Last time I had to park almost a mile from the event and walk back. There are a total of about 5 handicap spaces in the parking lot -- legal for a school but not accessible.
You must be there by 6:30 and stay until the end, standing the whole time as the gym risers will be up with no place to sit. So if you have any health problems that make standing non stop for 2-3 hours difficult. Tough on you. If you have a second shift job, tough luck. No voting for you either.
And the worst part is, I had to travel for work this week and there is no way to remote caucus or absentee ballot form where I am.
So, my vote cannot be cast.
Caucuses should be eliminated for primaries everywhere. Vote around your work schedule. Absentee ballots, etc.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
showblue22
(1,026 posts)Iowa was one of those states that wanted to keep them. They're undemocratic.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
tritsofme
(17,323 posts)as a method for choosing delegates. All Democratic voters deserve an election with a secret ballot.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
WhiskeyGrinder
(22,145 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Scurrilous
(38,687 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,911 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)That fell through because, I don't remember, mostly security concerns?
The app developed months later had precincts reporting results BY SMARTPHONE IN SPITE OF SECURITY CONCERNS.
The whole thing is such a shame and so suspicious given Russia's "sowing chaos" for this election. It's unfortunate, but I am among those who do not have confidence in the results. The elephants in this room are major players who include our enemies foreign and domestic. I feel bad for those of us in Iowa. Fascinating an experience caucusing would be, let's hope the next try is a version of the most reliable remote and on-site primary process in the nation.
From last year:
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,911 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,911 posts)I went looking for it so I could kick ii up.
Thank you, Jackie!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)We've seen how bellicose supporters can also BULLY and INTIMIDATE people... and this can end up caucus-goes being pressured into "changing their vote" (and indeed, some potential caucus-goers don't show up at all). I've seen examples of UGLY and AGGRESSIVE behavior in the past have been very disruptive.
#EndCaucusesNow
#EndTheCaucus
#NoMoreCaucuses
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,911 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)and skews it in favor of the choice of the young, healthy and/or not dependent on an hourly wage job demographic.
Time for it to go... no matter which candidate it benefits.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BlueIdaho
(13,582 posts)Or if the state has a caucus or primary - this is inexcusable. As a country we need to have a deep hard think about incarcerated individuals. We need to find a decent method of rehabilitation and then restore rights to prisoners who have served their time.
We are jailing too many people for too long without a thought of how we will fully return them to society.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden