Years ago it was a welcome moment to attend a meeting known as a caucus. This was ( and still true today) particularly popular in states with less population. Residents are usually more dispersed, yet the next election was an important part of rural life. People would meet with others at a designated location to learn of candidates and take a vote on delegates of their state.
That was then, what about now?
The Oxford Dictionary defines caucus as: " A meeting of the members of a legislative body ( meaning to have the power to vote in a legal election) who are part of a particular political party. It is a group who share concerns within the same political party or larger organization. These political discussions and voting are relevant, important, and the results of these meetings can affect the election results."
"How are you going to let a bunch of old ladies sitting in a room saying who they like and don't like determine who is going to be the next president?" Chris Christie
Caucuses were at one time the most common way to choose a presidential candidate. A caucus is arranged by state or political party. Meetings are scheduled to take place at a certain place at a certain time. A caucus will allow participants in a scheduled meeting to learn and show support of their candidates. These meetings are only made up of people who affiliate with the same political party. Meetings are divided into groups according to the support of each candidate. Voting is usually done by the raising of hands. The results of a caucus meeting are used to help determine delegates being considered at county, state, and national offices ( including the President of the Unites States.)
Caucuses are very different from primaries. They are scheduled at odd locations like a church, a school, or in the living room of a home. Caucus meetings have odd hours like 6 to 9pm and if a member is informed of this meeting and does not attend, they cannot vote.
"I am not a Democrat, I'm an Independent, but I caucus to the Democrats." Bernie Sanders
"You're in a caucus state, which means that as I hope I will be so brilliant and so eloquent and so high energy, that you sign up for the caucus in February." Jeb Bush
"I never understood the Iowa caucus." Larry King
Caucuses are still used in Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Iowa. Fewer people attend a caucus voting process vs. open primaries used in most states. Iowa is traditionally the first state to exercise their right to vote through caucus votes while New Hampshire leads the states in primary elections.
Fewer people vote in caucus style voting. In 2012, Iowa with a population of 3.1 million, had 122,000 people participate in caucus voting. This results are 4% of the total population voting for delegates running for office.
This is in sharp contrast to many states who use open primaries in voting for a candidate. New Hampshire is traditionally the first state to use a primary format with a total population of 1.3 million people. During the initial primary, 248000 went to a booth and voted, resulting in 19% of the entire state's population voting.
Although there are various primaries like open and closed primaries (closed primaries vote by party affiliation), an open primary allows registered voters choose any candidate regardless of party affiliation.
Primaries are also in the more familiar places for voting and lasts all day ( usually 7 am to 7 pm.) Primaries are defined as "a preliminary election for the purpose of voting a particular delegate to office. This principal candidate is chosen to represent the voice of the people."
So which is better?...a primary or a caucus? In 2010, Fordham University did a study on caucus vs. primary and concluded: primaries are more democratic in and of themselves due to the convenience for the voters. There is also less chance of partiality to influence or even distort voting results.
How do those who favor caucus style voting respond? A caucus voter encourages education and causes a voter to be more informed about each candidate. Primaries tend to attract voters who may be ignorant to candidates on a ballot. Primary voting allows people to vote strictly from an emotional basis, the influence of others, or a "catchy cliche." Caucus voters express the need for voters to take an election more seriously through learning about each candidate via educational style meetings prior to voting day. The results in a caucus format...people are a more informed community.
Caucus or Primary?... I like the convenience of primary style voting, I think caucus voters bring up an important point in the voting process...educating ourselves! Most importantly...get out there and vote!
"The ballot is stronger than the bullet." Abraham Lincoln
That was then, what about now?
The Oxford Dictionary defines caucus as: " A meeting of the members of a legislative body ( meaning to have the power to vote in a legal election) who are part of a particular political party. It is a group who share concerns within the same political party or larger organization. These political discussions and voting are relevant, important, and the results of these meetings can affect the election results."
"How are you going to let a bunch of old ladies sitting in a room saying who they like and don't like determine who is going to be the next president?" Chris Christie
Caucuses were at one time the most common way to choose a presidential candidate. A caucus is arranged by state or political party. Meetings are scheduled to take place at a certain place at a certain time. A caucus will allow participants in a scheduled meeting to learn and show support of their candidates. These meetings are only made up of people who affiliate with the same political party. Meetings are divided into groups according to the support of each candidate. Voting is usually done by the raising of hands. The results of a caucus meeting are used to help determine delegates being considered at county, state, and national offices ( including the President of the Unites States.)
Caucuses are very different from primaries. They are scheduled at odd locations like a church, a school, or in the living room of a home. Caucus meetings have odd hours like 6 to 9pm and if a member is informed of this meeting and does not attend, they cannot vote.
"I am not a Democrat, I'm an Independent, but I caucus to the Democrats." Bernie Sanders
"You're in a caucus state, which means that as I hope I will be so brilliant and so eloquent and so high energy, that you sign up for the caucus in February." Jeb Bush
"I never understood the Iowa caucus." Larry King
Caucuses are still used in Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Iowa. Fewer people attend a caucus voting process vs. open primaries used in most states. Iowa is traditionally the first state to exercise their right to vote through caucus votes while New Hampshire leads the states in primary elections.
Fewer people vote in caucus style voting. In 2012, Iowa with a population of 3.1 million, had 122,000 people participate in caucus voting. This results are 4% of the total population voting for delegates running for office.
This is in sharp contrast to many states who use open primaries in voting for a candidate. New Hampshire is traditionally the first state to use a primary format with a total population of 1.3 million people. During the initial primary, 248000 went to a booth and voted, resulting in 19% of the entire state's population voting.
Although there are various primaries like open and closed primaries (closed primaries vote by party affiliation), an open primary allows registered voters choose any candidate regardless of party affiliation.
Primaries are also in the more familiar places for voting and lasts all day ( usually 7 am to 7 pm.) Primaries are defined as "a preliminary election for the purpose of voting a particular delegate to office. This principal candidate is chosen to represent the voice of the people."
So which is better?...a primary or a caucus? In 2010, Fordham University did a study on caucus vs. primary and concluded: primaries are more democratic in and of themselves due to the convenience for the voters. There is also less chance of partiality to influence or even distort voting results.
How do those who favor caucus style voting respond? A caucus voter encourages education and causes a voter to be more informed about each candidate. Primaries tend to attract voters who may be ignorant to candidates on a ballot. Primary voting allows people to vote strictly from an emotional basis, the influence of others, or a "catchy cliche." Caucus voters express the need for voters to take an election more seriously through learning about each candidate via educational style meetings prior to voting day. The results in a caucus format...people are a more informed community.Caucus or Primary?... I like the convenience of primary style voting, I think caucus voters bring up an important point in the voting process...educating ourselves! Most importantly...get out there and vote!
"The ballot is stronger than the bullet." Abraham Lincoln
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