Can someone explain the caucus thing to me?

[alarimer]

why are they saying you get to vote twice? I did early voting but I do not understand the caucus. What is it for?

[WolverineDG]

1. Allocating & selecting delegates

it's not "voting twice." That's some shit cooked up by the Clintons who are too arrogant to admit that they (a) forgot how the process was done, even though they ran for president in 1992 & 1996 and (b) didn't plan for anything after February 5.

dg

[sonias]

2. You got a lot of catching up to do

Go do some research at the TDP website
TDP Pct Convention Info site

Start with ABCs of conducting your Pct Convention.

If all of that doesn't help and you really want to see the reasons why of the whole sausage making try the Burnt Orange Report web site
http://www.burntorangereport.com

Upper right hand corner section labeled "TX Primary Resources". Everything you need to know or want to know is in there.

Essentially Texas is a hybrid state, we allocated most of our votes via the election primary vote and about 35% in a caucus vote. So if you really want to support someone this election you need to go to both.

Sonia

[alarimer]

4. Okay thanks.

I am not sure if I will go to this or not.

[Justitia]

7. All you really HAVE to do is show up and sign your name on the sign-in list for your candidate.

Assuming that someone is running the convention....

Seriously, just show up, sign the sign-in sheet and take off.

Of course, I always recommend staying and participating / enjoying the process, but it is perfectly acceptable to simply sign in and leave.

Unless you have a really big Dem area, the whole thing is pretty quick.

Are you in a Dem heavy area?

[alarimer]

10. Yes, pretty heavy Dem especially this year

Actually more purple than blue. Lots of white republicans outnumbered by Hispanic Democrats. I may just do that.

[Streen]

3. tomorrow

It's sorta like voting twice, but it's become a major problem because voters think they go to the polls and cast a second ballot. So I hate saying it's "voting twice." I wish both campaigns would stop doing it.

I've also gotten two emails so far from the Obama campaign saying that the caucus will start at 7:00 p.m. That isn't true. It starts at 7:15 or when the polling location is ready. I've emailed them three times now about it, but I doubt they'll do anything about it.

I'm working the polls tomorrow as an Alternate Judge and I don't even know how a caucus works fully yet. I'm about to read the election material on it and I'm excited. I've done it for five or six years now and this will the be the first caucus we've done. And I know people are interested because we've gotten calls from voters about it.

So, to everyone, even if you don't understand how it goes or feel intimidated by it, I recommend going and participating in history. It's not something you should miss!

[Lisa0825]

5. Welcome to DU!

:patriot:

[MagickMuffin]

6. Well in all fairness, you can be there at 7:00

But you can't start the precinct convention/caucus until every last vote has been cast at the polls.

So, even if everybody hasn't finished voted in the primary at 7:15 then the precinct convention can not start at that time.

Anyway that's the way I understand it. I've been to three training sessions now, and every one has said the same thing, you can not start the precinct convention until the last voter has voted.

Welcome to Texas DU, and Good Luck tomorrow.:hi:

[sonias]

8. They're just asking you to be there early in case

They know it starts at 7:15 or after the last voter has voted. That just makes sure you get there on time.

Welcome to DU Streen!

:hi:

Sonia

[MrsBrady]

9. 2/3 of delegates are chosen at the primary...another 1/3 are chosen in the caucus

most states have a primary or a caucus.

texas has both.

you must vote early or on election day to be able to participate in the caucus.


in the caucus, you go and sign your name and your candidate preference.
Primarys are a private vote, caucus voting is a public vote

you can stay and offer yourself as a delegate to the next level on March 29th, or you can sign in(that is your vote) and leave.

each precinct is awarded a certain amount of delegates.
the delegates will be split according to a percentage formula according to party rules...but basically the more people show up for a certain candidates, that candidate will get more a percentage of the delegates.


you must caucus at your exact voter precinct.

texas caucus info:
http://www.txdemocrats.org/index.php/282?