Get rid of caucus primaries

[Fresh_Start]

http://www.pollster.com/blogs/primary_polling_primer_i_turno.php

In states with caucus primaries only 1 state had 10% participation. Iowa is an outlier because its the first primary with huge expenditure and outsized media coverage.

In states without caucus primaries only 1 state had less than 10% participation.

[TwilightGardener]

1. I don't like them--I think they're undemocratic. Secret ballot all the way.

[LisaM]

2. We have caucuses in Washington and I detest them

They are always controlled by bullies, who try to pick on people who aren't voting for a frontrunner. In 2004, our intention was to go and vote for Kucinich, then switch our votes to Kerry on the second round. However, it turned out a little differently. The Kucinich people started getting bullied by the Dean people (in our case, from a different precinct) to switch their votes. All they accomplished was to get an uncommitted person to switch to Kucinich so he would get a delegate. Then the Dean people kept complaining that the precinct captains had written down the wrong votes and that Kerry had stolen the election! I can't speak for other voting places, but I checked ours and everything was fine.

It's really a bad system, one about pressuring people to switch votes than allowing them just to vote for their candidate of choice.

[sunonmars]

3. I agree

I firmly believe your privacy in voting is a right, caucuses put peer pressure on people and with primaries people can vote whenever you like during the day and maintain their right to privacy. I also think caucuse skew reults for everyone, This shifting voters around does not sit well with me if your candidate doesnt do well.

We would not be having this hulaballoo if Nevada had a primary and take that from a staunch Hillary supporter.

They should ban all caucuses from now on. Its not worth the hassle

[Fresh_Start]

5. I worried about group dynamics and self-selection of participants

but until I saw the abysmal participation rate in caucus...I thought I might be in the minority.

My husband and I take shifts voting.
I vote as soon as the pools open (short lines YEAH!!!).
When I come home,my husband votes.
In my neighborhood lots of other families vote when its convenient for the individual members.
I'm guessing thats part of the reason for lower attendance.
And in my case, the last thing I'd want is to be locked in a room with a bunch of ppl I don't know and be bullied.

[sandnsea]

4. Ballot with first and second choice

I like the realigment aspect. Primaries should be done that way so people can vote for a lesser known candidate, but still have their voice heard towards the key candidates.

[Fresh_Start]

6. Yes, ballot with first and second choice

hell may as well assign 1-10 if you have 10 candidates.....

But make it easy for ppl to participate at the time and place of their convenience (including absentee)

[Captain Hilts]

7. The less like voting they are, the more useless they are. Nightime, alone, changes participation..

patterns.

And women are FAR more likely to be pressured by husbands than the other way around.

[Fresh_Start]

8. I think NV daytime.....

but they have less than 3% participation rate.

Even if they double it with their at large districts, it will still be 50% lower than the lowest ballot state.
In caucus primaries, does the party make money from renting locations to itself?

[Kazak]

9. Everyone should vote on the same day...

No results should be released until all voting is done nationwide.

[Captain Hilts]

14. For primaries? No. It disproportionately helps wealthy/well-known candidates. nt

[Fresh_Start]

16. its not about helping the candidates....its about the peoples choice

most of the country has no choice for Dodd or Biden, for example.

[rurallib]

10. Bring back the smoke filled back rooms

yeah - that was better.

[Fresh_Start]

11. maybe you should look at the post and statistics

I'm not advocating 'smoke filled room'. I'm advocating ballot because it allows maximum participation.

I call your BS.

[rurallib]

21. I am from Iowa and am just sick and tired of getting beat up.

The caucuses were an answer - not a perfect one - to the smoke filled rooms of before. There are problems with them which no seemed to care much about for about 40 years. I suspect that much of this concern has to do with someone's candidate not winning.
One of the big functions of the caucus is to build the party. They have really filled that role.

[Fresh_Start]

22. iowa has decent participation in caucus

so maybe its less of an issue in Iowa.
But look at the participation rates of the other caucus states v the ballot states.

[SoCalDem]

12. We need regional primaries.. with polls open for 24 hours

With all the unemployed/under-employed, we could certainly find enough people to man the polling places.

That way, people who were shift-workers could certainly find a time to go and vote.

[Fresh_Start]

13. I don't know if regional makes a difference

I'm rather on the side of the person who suggested all on the same day.

[SoCalDem]

20. All on the same day makes it almost impossible for the candidates to campaign

If they started the 6-region primary (numbers drawn by the RNC head and the DNC head..alternately...at random).. the candidates would have media centers in each region and would have a month to cover each..all are similarly structured..with rural and city and would truly represent a regional "flavor"...

Start in Feb and end in July.. the two "winners" NO campaigning in August ......... the conventions in September and then the two debate once a week until the election..

[justanaveragedude]

15. I agree, however...

I would like to know who determines if to caucus or to have a straight vote. If it is determined by the local party officials, then I respect their right to choose how to choose their nominee, now matter how stupid and undemocratic it might be. However, if it chosen by local governments then I agree completely with you get rid of it.

The other thing I don't understand is why in some states people of other parties are allowed to vote to determine another party's nominee. I think that you if want to have a say in the Democrat Party's nomination process, then join the party. Independents and Republicans should not have a say in whom the Democrats nominate.

[Fresh_Start]

17. I disagree

look at the numbers again.

What possible rational person choses the system that works worst.
The caucus system is worse. Its not a judgment call.
Is not a close second.
Do you think that 2% of the ppl should decide the delegates or 30% of the ppl should decide the delegates?

[damntexdem]

18. How do you suggest they be done away with?

A national law, which might even require a change to the Constitution? Or efforts in each state with caucuses?

[Fresh_Start]

19. has to be the state level NT

NT