NationStates Jolt Archive

First, I'm curious if anyone here has participated or will participate in a a caucus. The only one I know of is the Iowa, but I'm sure there must be others.

Secondly, which form of choosing candidates do people here prefer: caucus or primary? If you don't know which is which, go to Wikipedia. Any link I gave you would just be one I found there anyone, so I won't even bother.

Poll acomin'.

I'll caucus for the first time on Thursday. While I can see certain advantages and drawbacks, especially since my brother's done it before and I have his experiences to draw on, I'll reserve judegement until afterwards.

Just a quick run down on how it works for the lazy:
On caucus night, Iowans gather by party preference to elect delegates to the 99 county conventions. Presidential preference on the Republican side is done with a straw vote of those attending the caucus. This vote is sometimes done by a show of hands or by dividing themselves into groups according to candidate. In precincts that elect only 1 delegate they choose the delegate by majority vote and it must be a paper ballot. Democratic candidates must receive at least 15 percent of the votes in that precinct to move on to the county convention. If a candidate receives less than 15 percent of the votes, supporters of non-viable candidates have the option to join a viable candidate group, join another non-viable candidate group to become viable, join other groups to form an uncommitted group or chose to go nowhere and not be counted. Non-viable groups have up to 30 minutes to realign, if they fail to do so in that time, they can ask the for more time, which is voted on by the caucus as a whole. If the caucus refuses, re-alignment is done and delegates are awarded. A "third party" may hold a convention to nominate one candidate for president and one for vice president as well. The results of this caucus activity on both the Democratic and Republican sides are not binding on the elected delegates, but the delegates usually feel obligated to follow the wishes expressed by the caucus-goers. Thus the initial caucus results provide a good barometer of the composition of Iowa's national delegation.
http://www.iowacaucus.org/iacaucus.html

For a criticism, see What's the Matter With Iowa? (http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110011061)

*snip*
Thanks for the links; both are very helpful.

Only those 4 options? How limited. I 'spect not enogh people have enough understanding to have any real basis to compare the two.

this will be my second democratic caucus

as it was set to replace the much later primary, it works pretty much the same as a primary. ill stand in line for half an hour at the city hall and cast my vote.

so for me they are equal.

this will be my second democratic caucus

as it was set to replace the much later primary, it works pretty much the same as a primary. ill stand in line for half an hour at the city hall and cast my vote.

so for me they are equal.

Just out of curiosity, which state are you in?

Thanks for the links; both are very helpful.

No probs.

Just out of curiosity, which state are you in?

new mexico.

our caucus is on feb 5th. it replaces a june primary.

im not sure if the republicans are voting in feb or not.