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Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

demmiblue

(36,748 posts)
Mon Feb 3, 2020, 12:49 PM Feb 2020

'You basically are nothing': the Americans shut out of the Iowa caucuses

Hundreds of thousands of Iowans are barred from the Iowa caucus because of physical and legal barriers

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 Monday’s caucus: people with felony convictions. Iowans are barred from voting for life once they commit a felony, and people can’t vote even if they committed a crime decades ago. The state’s policy, one of the strictest in the country, means more than 42,000 Iowans out of prison won’t have a say in choosing a presidential candidate. Almost 10% of the black voting-age population can’t 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 that’s 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 can’t 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 they’re removed from the process, then they’re not learning anything. If they have children, then they’re not telling their children anything.”

Smith, 46, who got his bachelor’s 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 can’t.

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



If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
'You basically are nothing': the Americans shut out of the Iowa caucuses (Original Post) demmiblue Feb 2020 OP
Caucuses are bullshit. dalton99a Feb 2020 #1
Not limited to caucuses, right? Iowans with felony convictions barred from ALL elections, right? MH1 Feb 2020 #8
How the Democrats have not fought tooth and nail to get rid of these is beyond me. Autumn Feb 2020 #2
Sanders did best in caucuses 4 years ago.Without them...non-enitity brush Feb 2020 #6
Give it up. This is 2020 and Bernie is in it. Autumn Feb 2020 #7
Who said he's not in it? All I said was he does best in caucuses, not primaries. Google it. brush Feb 2020 #9
Sanders does do well with caucuses booley Feb 2020 #10
We disagree on where and with who my candidate does best. nt Autumn Feb 2020 #11
AMEN from a former primary voter shut out of the Iowa caucus JT45242 Feb 2020 #3
Democrats got rid of a lot of them this time showblue22 Feb 2020 #4
Aside from this, caucuses are inherently undemocratic, and should be banned tritsofme Feb 2020 #5
People who are incarcerated should have the right to vote in all elections. WhiskeyGrinder Feb 2020 #12
K&R Scurrilous Feb 2020 #13
That's what some of us have been saying.. Cha Feb 2020 #14
A year ago they planned 6 days of on-line "virtual" caucusing. Hortensis Feb 2020 #15
Kick! Cha Feb 2020 #16
#EndCaucusesNow NurseJackie Feb 2020 #17
This article is excellent. Cha Feb 2020 #18
We've seen how bellicose supporters can also BULLY and INTIMIDATE people... NurseJackie Feb 2020 #19
It is unreal.. I hate the UnDemocratic caucuses. Cha Feb 2020 #20
Caucuses often result in a suppression or misrepresentation of the actual popular vote ehrnst Feb 2020 #21
Absolutely. Cha Feb 2020 #22
Regardless of who you support BlueIdaho Feb 2020 #23
K Cha Feb 2020 #24
 

MH1

(17,537 posts)
8. Not limited to caucuses, right? Iowans with felony convictions barred from ALL elections, right?
Mon Feb 3, 2020, 01:42 PM
Feb 2020

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.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Autumn

(44,757 posts)
2. How the Democrats have not fought tooth and nail to get rid of these is beyond me.
Mon Feb 3, 2020, 01:00 PM
Feb 2020

Caucuses shut out the very voices who should and need to have a say about who the nominee will be who governs them.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

brush

(53,471 posts)
6. Sanders did best in caucuses 4 years ago.Without them...non-enitity
Mon Feb 3, 2020, 01:17 PM
Feb 2020

In other words, controlled, non-diverse, non-democratic environments is were he thrives.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Autumn

(44,757 posts)
7. Give it up. This is 2020 and Bernie is in it.
Mon Feb 3, 2020, 01:18 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

brush

(53,471 posts)
9. Who said he's not in it? All I said was he does best in caucuses, not primaries. Google it.
Mon Feb 3, 2020, 02:14 PM
Feb 2020

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.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

booley

(3,855 posts)
10. Sanders does do well with caucuses
Mon Feb 3, 2020, 02:36 PM
Feb 2020

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.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Autumn

(44,757 posts)
11. We disagree on where and with who my candidate does best. nt
Mon Feb 3, 2020, 03:12 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

JT45242

(2,173 posts)
3. AMEN from a former primary voter shut out of the Iowa caucus
Mon Feb 3, 2020, 01:00 PM
Feb 2020

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.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

showblue22

(1,026 posts)
4. Democrats got rid of a lot of them this time
Mon Feb 3, 2020, 01:10 PM
Feb 2020

Iowa was one of those states that wanted to keep them. They're undemocratic.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

tritsofme

(17,323 posts)
5. Aside from this, caucuses are inherently undemocratic, and should be banned
Mon Feb 3, 2020, 01:13 PM
Feb 2020

as a method for choosing delegates. All Democratic voters deserve an election with a secret ballot.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

WhiskeyGrinder

(22,145 posts)
12. People who are incarcerated should have the right to vote in all elections.
Mon Feb 3, 2020, 03:15 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Cha

(295,911 posts)
14. That's what some of us have been saying..
Fri Feb 7, 2020, 11:40 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
15. A year ago they planned 6 days of on-line "virtual" caucusing.
Fri Feb 7, 2020, 11:51 PM
Feb 2020

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:

The top change will be the creation of a "virtual caucus," which will allow any Iowa Democrat to caucus virtually at specific times for six days leading up to the caucuses next February 3 instead of only in person on the traditional Monday night. The change comes after Democrats across the country have pushed for changes to caucuses in order to make them more accessible to people who can't get free at one specific time, like single parents, shift workers and people with disabilities.




If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Cha

(295,911 posts)
18. This article is excellent.
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 09:02 AM
Feb 2020

I went looking for it so I could kick ii up.

Thank you, Jackie!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

NurseJackie

(42,862 posts)
19. We've seen how bellicose supporters can also BULLY and INTIMIDATE people...
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 09:07 AM
Feb 2020

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

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Cha

(295,911 posts)
20. It is unreal.. I hate the UnDemocratic caucuses.
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 09:35 AM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)
21. Caucuses often result in a suppression or misrepresentation of the actual popular vote
Mon Feb 10, 2020, 09:48 AM
Feb 2020

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.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Cha

(295,911 posts)
22. Absolutely.
Thu Feb 13, 2020, 01:36 AM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

BlueIdaho

(13,582 posts)
23. Regardless of who you support
Thu Feb 13, 2020, 02:01 AM
Feb 2020

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.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
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