I'm in Colorado. I was the caucus captain. None of our Bernie delegates wound up on the list

[Turn CO Blue]

for the County Convention tomorrow, meaning MY name was also left off.

In our precinct, it went 4 for Bernie Sanders, 3 for Hillary Clinton.

But there ARE seven names for our precinct on that list.

All seven of them are for Hillary. Before I fly off, a reasonable explantion is that it was a clerical thing - where the Hillary alternates were entered in as delegates instead of alternates. Except that would equal six, not seven.

Or I am talking myself off the ceiling with that logic and benefit of the doubt anyway.

(Seven are for Hillary? How do I know this? Because I go to the District breakfasts sometimes, because I recognize some names, one of them is our PCP, one is our chair, etc. AND because I snooped a bit on Facebook).

I hope that the Hillary supporters understand just WHY we are all so suspicious of cheating.

I really, sincerely try to NOT leap to conclusions.

Even so, I am a very practical person and can see with the Colorado process (way too many races on caucus night, all of them needing delegates and alternates, a lot of people passing sheets to write their name and contact info, some for CD1, some for regent, some for assembly, some for presidential delegate) - that this could easily some kind of major clerical error. (Because frankly, the young man who ran our caucus was in over his head.)

But the issue I take is that is NOT EASY to correct the error.

The Bernie campaign has no standing to argue, so the four of us will have to argue to be seated tomorrow in front of a Credential Committee. One good thing is that as far as the Bernie organizer could tell -- from his list that Bernie has the correct TOTAL number of delegates in our county (for the numbers tomorrow), so he wasn't too concerned because mine was the first he had heard of people's names not being on the delegate/alternate list. He said that it just seems on a precinct by precinct level, the numbers are wrong with the overall total being correct. But with everything going on, what if he's wrong? I will be spitting mad tomorrow if a whole bunch of people are being told their name is not on the list.

The reply we got back from Denver Democrats was terse and basically said that the delegates were the names completed on the DPOD form (whatever that is) so that is who will be seated. And that we could take it up tomorrow with the Credential Committee. Sounds like a fun time will be had by all in that committee room, I'll tell ya!

I sent in some very convincing evidence (I had our delegates and alternates write a list and contact info in their own handwriting on a second sheet for the Bernie campaign in case they asked) so I do have something from the night of the caucus.

AND a couple of people in the precinct and the district know me, but I am still all riled up. I just have a fear that we will not be heard, or that the session for the next level of delegates will happen while we are still in another room trying to get seated. Ugh.

I have also written a note to the district chair (who is over our precinct) for her to assist us with arguing to be seated tomorrow, but she has not read it yet (no read receipt).

I realize that 4 delegates out of several hundreds (or whatever) doesn't mean much statistically even, but I still feel like I volunteered and want to be seated and wanted to run for delegate to go to the state convention. Yuk. I feel yucky.

I deeply apologize to POC reading this and to young college students for not working more passionately for voting rights in the past. Talk about learning a lesson about how it FEELS to think you may be disenfranchised.

[Lizzie Poppet]

1. If you aren't seated, contact a lawyer.

No fucking mercy.

[mythology]

2. Good luck tomorrow and hopefully this is a mix up of some sort

It would be unacceptable if it wasn't made right (whether due to an accident, or otherwise).

[rhett o rick]

3. Help me understand. You were elected as a delegate to represent Sanders for your

precinct? Do you then go to a higher level caucus to be counted? In Wash the State we elect delegates from each precinct that will personally go to the next level (Leg Dist) caucus to be counted.

You should have some documentation as to who was elected as delegates. Do you have copies of the minutes of the caucus?

[Turn CO Blue]

6. Trying to find the right words to explain.

There is the precinct level caucus, and 3011 precincts and some 9,000 delegates or something get picked from that.

Then those delegates go to their appropriate County Convention (which is the next level caucus) when then they proportion out to the state convention. Denver is the City and the County, so it's huge and will be in the Convention Center tomorrow.

Then just like on caucus night, delegates either volunteer or run a campaign to get elected to represent Bernie as a delegate at the next level -- meaning that instead of the hundreds in Denver, there will only be dozens at the next level.

Then at state the delegates run to be a national delegate -- and I think I recall that Colorado sends 79 delegates to Philly this time.

Okay, I think it's a puddle of mud, but maybe you get me. LOL.

[rhett o rick]

22. I don't. How many people were in your precinct? How many delegates were

allotted to your precinct? Did you get elected to be a delegate for Sen Sanders? If so did your name get on a document turned in to the party?

[Turn CO Blue]

26. Yes, I was elected to be a delegate.

I went to the caucus, there were 47 voters, 29 for Bernie, 18 for Hillary.

That meant 4 delegates for Bernie, 3 for Hillary.

Then we also got 4 alternate volunteers (just in case).

I was one of the four delegates for Bernie.

I kept a duplicate list and phone numbers of our delegates and alternates, so I don't have to remember, I can see the handwritten list we made that night.

I went to the Denver Dems site to see the map on parking tomorrow, and noticed that they have a pdf form that anyone can pull up to check whether you are a delegate or an alternate. I sent out a group email to the delegates and alternates in our little precinct and included some links from the site - parking, delegate list, etc.

One woman wrote back immediate and said she wasn't on the list either for the convention (presidential, plus one other) or for the assembly (which is some other races, don't remember off the top of my head, district attorney, CU regent). Both meetings are held at the same place, back to back.

So I went back to the Denver Dems site, and found that my name was NOT there as a delegate, nor as an alternate for the Convention (for Bernie) - but it was there for assembly (as it should be, I was elected to be a delegate for both).

None of the four of us are showing as delegates - there are other names for our precinct number. Names that were not on the Bernie side of the room.

It was suggested downthread that PERHAPS they changed the makeup of the delegation because the rules state it has to be gender and race balanced, but with such a small number how could they tell. And why wouldn't they CALL US?

Hope that explains it a little better.

Anyway, all the Bernie and Hillary delegates show up for Convention, and the number (however many hundreds) vote for delegates to represent them at the next level (state), and the proportion SHOULD stay roughly the same. Although in Iowa, the proportion does NOT have to stay the same.

But we will see tomorrow, if I can get seated. I'm hoping the other delegates and the handwritten list will be convincing, and also I would like to see the form that was turned in, and also I want to speak to the district chair (who would have filled out the names) to ask her what happened.

Okay, running very late, hate to post and run, but gotta go.

[rhett o rick]

31. I would insist on being seated. Best of luck. nm

[Kittycat]

4. Does the Sanders campaign have contact info for the delegates

To make sure they are notified and prepared tomorrow?

[Turn CO Blue]

12. Nope, but on my own I sent a reminder email to them all this a.m. One of them noticed

noticed that her name was not on the list at all. And it went on from there, researching, contacting people.

They have access to the database, and have their own database.

The organizer said that Denver Dems are far more organized than most as far as the database and organization.


We will see.

[Kittycat]

30. Good work

This is a real mess, and someone should be held to account for it, with corrections made. By hook or crook, from all directions, I swear. But we know that won't happen. I think many of our younger/new party members are getting a crash course in what is going to be asked of them in the coming years, regardless who gets in. It's clear we're going to have to stay organized and a step ahead.

[Kip Humphrey]

5. Those misappropriated delegates represent a whole lot of peoples votes & hopes.

Do not give up, do not give in. And MAKE LOTS OF NOISE!!!

[Turn CO Blue]

7. Welp, believe me, my whole life people have told me that I should have been a lawyer.

I have a look about me that is mousy, sweet, and I am a friendly person, but my former boss told me that it was never fair to have to go up against me on varying proposals in a meeting, because it was like they had foam sticks and I had a nuclear arsenal.

I am not a rude person, and I wouldn't yell, and yes, I know all about honey/vinegar. But I am the type of person who always gets to see the manager when I want to see the manager.

[KoKo]

8. Then..you will keep at it...and make enough fuss to be heard!

I don't know enough about CO to help you...but, if ever there was a time to protest...it is now before dirty tricks get validated! Here's hoping it was a glitch of some kind...but, if not. Sounds like you will keep at it!

[Kip Humphrey]

9. Give 'em hell (only if you have to)!

Thanks for being there (& here).

[CentralMass]

10. If it walks like a duck...

[Turn CO Blue]

15. Well, when I went to one of the breakfasts

not long ago, all of the leadership there had Hillary buttons and shirts, and they had brought in some guests, and they were all Hillary. There were only 3 Bernie people in the room out of about 70.

And Diana DeGette came to speak (our Congress Rep), and she has some amazing things she is working on (she is great at gathering research) -- so I really like her, but she was asked about TPP, and she was saying there were a lot of great things in there, but she hadn't made up her mind on it yet. And I just couldn't believe it. Blech.

It just seems the party leadership should try to be more neutral.

However, on the night of the caucus, it seemed to me that overall (before we broke out) that it was about 60 Bernie and 30 Hillary (we were a "supersite", and had five precincts there).

Our own was 47, broken out 29/18 which was 62%/38% and gave 4/3 delegates

[monmouth4]

11. Strange (not really) how it always works in her favor....Ugh..n/t

[srobert]

13. Probably Just Incompetence.

I'm A Sanders delegate also in Las Vegas, Nevada. I was told at the precinct caucus in February that the county convention would be on April 4th. I didn't hear anything from them so I checked on my own, and it turns out that it will be on April 2nd. I've registered and will be there on April 2nd. I'm hesitant to attribute to malice what might be better explained by incompetence. The Clinton people couldn't actually be that evil could they? I thought they were supposed to be the "lesser evil".

[Turn CO Blue]

16. Yes, Occam's Razor and all that. Clerical mistake (wrong names entered on wrong line in database)

is the most likely reason.

Result is the same - intentional or unintentional.

We will see if we get a fair hearing.

[madamesilverspurs]

14. I was a site leader at the caucus (Colorado).

Each precinct conducted a preference poll, and on that basis each precinct was allocated delegates for Clinton, Sanders, or uncommitted.

Along with several others, I submitted my name to be a Hillary Clinton delegate.

At the following county assembly, those who had submitted our names were placed on a ballot. Because "uncommitted" had not met threshold, only Clinton and Sanders had ballots for delegates. The attendees for each candidate voted to select the delegates to attend the state convention. Roughly one third of each group was 'elected'.

My name was not among those elected delegates, and the same could be said for many longtime, very active Democrats. In Colorado, Democrats require that delegations are gender-balanced; hence, many of the seated delegates are first-timers. The irony is this: in our county 90% of the boots-on-the-ground work is done by women, but our delegation will be largely comprised of men we've never seen before; many of the women who have for years organized the caucus and assembly won't be seated, thanks to the gender rule. Our task, now, is to convince those newbies to stick around and help after the conventions.

Disappointed? Heck yes! But I've put my name on the list to volunteer at the convention; there's plenty of work to be done, at least I'll be there.

[Turn CO Blue]

17. Yes, I will definitely be sticking around to help the local party, go to chili fundraisers LOL.

Although for activism, I am considering pouring myself into the universal healthcare initiative on our ballot.

I'm so sorry you didn't get seated. I know Convention is not exactly as "exciting" like the Philly convention would be but still, political wonks like us WANT to be there!

[Turn CO Blue]

18. Maybe they changed all the names after the fact, if they didn't think it was

representative of gender and race.

I don't though. Only four - two women, two men. Plus our alternates were two women/two men, (two of them Latino).

But wouldn't somebody contact us to say that our balance wasn't right, and that we were alternates now, or something?

I don't know.

Anyway, I'm headed out for the evening, late already .

[liberal_at_heart]

21. Are you saying that a vote can be changed because there aren't enough of one particular

gender? Geez. This is why I hate caucuses. I will never understand why we can't have one person, one vote in this country. I want my vote to go to who I vote for. I don't think my vote should ever be allowed to be changed for any reason. This is why I like mail in ballot primaries. One person, one vote. You fill out your ballot, mail it in, and viola your vote goes for the person you voted for. I am an Independent now and cannot see myself continuing to vote for Democrats even if they are as great as Bernie if my vote can be changed for any number of reasons.

[madamesilverspurs]

23. No vote is changed.

The vote remains, it will be cast by an elected delegate.

[liberal_at_heart]

24. But TurnCoBlue just said that all the delegates ended up being for Hillary.

Is a Hillary delegate going to caste a vote for Bernie? I hate caucuses.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

45. Makes no sense to me, either.

[roody]

19. Wishing you patience and success.

[joshcryer]

20. But caucases are harder to cheat!

[Turn CO Blue]

27. ?? I never made a pronouncement like that either way.

The only thing I've written critical caucuses, and you were in that discussion, is that they take up all night, are VERY tedious, and too much business crammed into the time. Reading through the platform line by line is unbelievable!

And the tediousness was even more true this one I went to the other night. And it was so hot where we were on a stage in a school, I thought people would pass out.

I just think that mail-in ballot (like we do in the Generals) would be so much more convenient, although the party has come to rely on this method for new platform suggestions, etc.

Anyway, I don't think it is cheating, I don't know. I don't even know what to think. I'm just going to show my list, and hope the other people in the room that night will come along and help me plead.

Suggested downthread that maybe they changed people up because our four were not gender/race balanced. But we had two women (one is me) and two men), and two of our alternates Latino.

[jillan]

25. There has to be someone you can contact. Your election board? Sec or State? Co Dem Party?

This smells like bullshit.

[LiberalFighter]

28. It was a bit confusing.

Not knowing which Congressional District you are in I can't be more specific. And the fact your state does it differently.

In our state, people run to be state convention delegates at the same time the primary is run. So many delegates are allotted to congressional district and further allotted by county. We don't run as delegates supporting one candidate or the other at that time. There is no gender splitting at this level.

The winners go to the state convention and there are district caucuses that vote on the national delegates based on the primary results. Our district selects 5 delegates, 2 males and 3 females. If one candidate receives 60% of the votes and the other 40% then candidate A will have 1 male and 2 females while candidate B has 1 male and 1 female. Only those that have filed and declared the candidate they support will run as a national delegate.

All of the state convention delegates in a district vote for national delegates that will represent that district. State convention delegates have to pick the ballot to vote for national delegates for candidate A or B. They can't do both. The people running as national delegates that declared for candidate A will all be on one ballot. In the scenario above they can only vote up to 3 delegates. And it can't be more than 1 male or 2 females. While the ballot for candidate B they can elect up to two delegates, one of each gender.

Overall for our state for district delegates we have 28 males and 28 female delegates.

[SheilaT]

29. I've been through that process in CO,

quite a while back and I know exactly how it works.

Absolutely go to the county convention tomorrow. Make sure the other Bernie delegates go also. Bring along any documentation, any copies you have of the results at your local caucus. Do NOT let the Hillary people pull a fast one here. This is not an innocent clerical error. This was deliberate.

And if you can, go to the State convention. Back when I did it, we were getting ready to move from Jefferson County to Boulder County, and I felt as if I couldn't in good conscience continue to represent a county I'd no longer be in.

At the time I had two young children, and the Democrats provided free babysitting for the kids. I hope they are still doing that.

[RJMastronardi]

32. I am CD7/State Delegate running for National

I was in Precinct 106, Adams County, CD7. We were given slips of paper at caucus to turn in at County Convention & Assembly to receive County Delegate credentials. Did your County not do slips?

[Turn CO Blue]

35. Hmmm. No slips, but I will keep that in mind for procedural questioning. nt

[Tarc]

33. Usually the Sanders camp waits until after the election to start the cries of "fraud!"

Is this like pre-boarding? Getting on the plane before you get on the plane?

[Turn CO Blue]

34. I am not the "Sanders Camp". And if you want to dehumanize someone

you'd better pick someone else, because I have never written ONE SINGLE THING on this board to deserve this bullshit response from you or to deserve this impugning of MY CHARACTER. Can you say the same?

I simply would NOT cry fraud, in fact, I hedged a a few of times , that it's likely to have been a clerical error. But even my husband (the most apolitical and skeptical person in the entire universe) says this seems a tiny bit fishy, and that we should get to the bottom of it.

And that's what my OP is about, that I'm going to get to the bottom of it, and the other point is that it was disturbing.

I have been on this board for over 12 years, and never, ever caused or posted any drama or meta or conspiracy theories or bashing of any type -- and I've NEVER, EVER HAD A HIDE. NEVER. Can you say the same?

[senseandsensibility]

36. They don't care

You have dissed Princess.

[Tarc]

43. ...

Perhaps your energy would be spent getting your state out of the stone ages, i.e. drop the caucus system and hold an honest vote.

[think]

37. Did Hillary's campaign teach you to fight dirty or does it come natural?

[Jim Lane]

38. Only one response with a Clinton avatar, and it totally ignores the substance

Apparently the opportunity to sneer at "the Sanders camp" trumped any consideration of the actual issue raised by the OP.

Note to jury: I am using the word "trumped" in its ordinary English sense, not as a proper noun, though I will observe that the proper-noun Trump also uses the technique seen here, of disparaging opponents as a distraction.

[Uncle Joe]

44. Do you know if Hillary has spoken out against the massive voter suppression that took place

in Arizona against the poor, working class, Latinos and Hispanics yet?

Phoenix Mayor Asks Justice Department to Investigate Alleged Voter Suppression in Arizona

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton has called on the Justice Department to launch an investigation into alleged voter suppression tactics that led to excessively long lines of voters in some areas on the night of the Arizona primary. In some areas, lines stretched around several blocks and took five hours to clear after polling closed on Tuesday night.

In a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch Wednesday, Stanton described election night at polling stations throughout Maricopa County, which encompasses Phoenix, as a "fiasco." Stanton is a Democrat who endorsed Arizona primary winner Hillary Clinton.

"Throughout the county, but especially in Phoenix, thousands of citizens waited in line for three, four, and even five hours to vote," Stanton wrote. "Many more simply could not afford to wait that long, and went home. This is unacceptable anywhere in the United States, and I am angry that ounty elections officials allowed it to happen in my city."

"My request comes on the heels of consistent activity that has created a culture of voter disenfranchisement in the state," he added.

Stanton said that polling sites quickly became overwhelmed, in part because there were significantly fewer locations than in past elections. County officials cut polling locations by some 85 percent from 2008 to save money, Stanton claims, and disproportionately distributed those sites to mainly white communities while setting up fewer in areas representing higher minority populations.

"In Phoenix, a majority-minority city, county officials allocated one polling location for every one in 108,000 residents," he wrote. "The ratios were far more favorable in predominantly Anglo communities: in Cave Creek/Carefree, there was one polling location for 8,500 residents; in Paradise Valley, one for 13,000 residents; in Fountain Hills, one for 22,500 residents; and in Peoria, one for every 54,000 residents."

(snip)

https://news.vice.com/article/phoenix-justice-department-voter-suppression-arizona-primary

[mmonk]

39. When I was a state delegate in 2008, I and my son

were chosen by Obama to be on the delegate list. Then at the state convention, you had to run as a candidate for the national convention so you had to promote yourself.

[wildnfree]

40. I had this happen as well- You can fix this.

Hi TCOB-

I had this exact problem at my county caucus as well. I am a delegate for Chaffee county. I contacted the campaign and the lawyer for Colorado and he was able to advise me. Please send me a private message and I will provide you with his information if you still need it.

Your county caucus is essentially it's own rule making body. What we did (loudly and persistently) was stand up and explain the situation, and the error, then make a motion to be voted on, that the people who were supposed to be on the list of delegates and in the correct number were replaced with Bernies. If you are in a Bernie majority county convention, you should have no problem passing that motion. Make your own list of these people and their contact information. Make sure the secretary writes these names down and you take a picture and have the list sent to you! The lawyer for the campaign that I spoke with confirmed that this will hold up legally. Your state results should also show the proper number of delegates for each candidate- which you can also confirm with the campaign if the Denver Dems are being unhelpful. This is a legal record. When you split up into Bernie supporters and Hillary supporters during the convention, it will be obvious where those delegates stand, and you can certainly make the argument that as a democratic body, they are morally obligated to represent the people of your county and send Bernie's representatives to state. Arm yourself with your state numbers, and have all the phone numbers and contacts you need before going into convention. Try to talk with as many of the other precinct delegates as possible before hand and make them all aware of the situation and prepare them to stand up, and speak out. Elect someone to film the entire proceedings for evidence and make sure they are prepared with chargers and working equipment!

I found that not only were the Hillary supporters Bernie positive and wiling to be fair, but they also got sick of us not dropping this issue for an hour and finally gave us back our delegates so we could "just move on already!" Persistence pays off!!!! If you aren't already familiar with parliamentary procedure and Robert's Rules of Order check it out- there is a good website here http://www.robertsrules.org/


Knowing how this will be run and the correct way to make a motion, second, etc. will help you be better prepared.

Again- please contact me for any information! GOOD LUCK!

[smiley]

41. That's a great post.

Welcome to DU!

[Vinca]

42. This all sounds very Republican to me.

Why did the party decide to go to all the trouble of having "primaries?"

[Sal Giacchi]

46. We are at WAR!

Our government, our elections, the mass media, have been taken over by a corrupt coalition of elite, sinister, gangsters. Our country is dying. Our planet is dying. We must stand up to this corruption for the next generation, and the future of America. Do not accept apologies for voter suppression. Demand a re vote. March on your state capital. Picket. Sit in. Do whatever it takes. Too many brave men have died so that we can can have a free democracy as the Founders intended. If they sacrificed their lives for us, we can sacrifice an afternoon to tell those in charge of elections...this is what you get for stealing our votes. Plus, we need to remove those guilty of fraud and rigging the elections. We must not let what happened in Arizona be a rehearsal for what they plan to do in November. The RNC and the DNC are not on the side of the people. Throw the leaders out. Elect them out of office. Debbie Wasserman Schultz should be the first to go.

It is not the Democrats vs the Republicans. It's the People vs the Oligarchy. Bernie Sanders' revolution will not happen, no matter if the whole country wants him as President, if we don't punish those who prevent our votes from being counted. Hours from now the polls will open in Wisconsin. I urge every citizen to record the faces and actions of any suspicious behavior, and make sure every vote is counted. God bless America.