Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "Many left caucuses before being counted"

[Tom Rinaldo]

Many left caucuses before being counted
By AMAN BATHEJAStar-Telegram Staff Writer
SPECIAL TO THE S-T/BRANDON WADE

Democrats stand in line to sign in for their precinct caucus at Hurst Recreation Center on Tuesday. Long lines caused many Texans to leave without being counted. No one was in charge. The rules were unclear. Confusion reigned.

The day after thousands of Texans participated in Democratic caucuses around the state, the overall disorganization of the events is getting closer attention as disgruntled voters compared horror stories...


...Kenya Whitaker of Arlington left at 9 p.m. because her son had to take the TAKS on Wednesday.

"We had been standing outside for 2 hours without any direction," Whitaker wrote in an e-mail. "There were tow trucks, because cars were stuck in the mud. It was a mess!"

The disabled, elderly, and people with young children were often the first to leave without getting a chance to participate...


...Tarrant County Democratic Chairman Art Brender spent much of the evening at Sagamore Hill Elementary School in Fort Worth, where voting stretched to 7:30 p.m.. Brender said some people who couldn't stay for the start of their caucus were permitted to sign in early, state their presidential preference and leave.

Some precincts did the same thing while others refused to allow voters to begin signing in until the last person voted.

The Texas Democratic Party's precinct caucus rules clearly state that early sign-ins are forbidden.

"No one can sign in before 7:15 pm, or when the last person has voted -- whichever occurs later," the rules state.

Even once the caucuses started, the disorder caused some to leave in frustration...."

http://www.star-telegram.com/localelections/story/514300.html