I hate the Iowa Caucus

[RandySF]

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Christopher Cadelago
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“I just want to start out by telling Ms. Harris that I, too, like hot sauce on my greens,” a woman in Ankeny, Iowa, offers before moving onto her question.

[question everything]

1. As you should

Not only do caucuses disenfranchise voters who cannot be at a specific time at a specific place for long hours. In the winter in many cases. In Iowa you have to stand up and be counted. Your neighbors, your family members, perhaps your boss and co workers will know your preferences.

A story that I posted here before: a friend's son was active in the Obama campaign, so the friend cast the vote for Obama. But in the general elections voted for McCain.

[BannonsLiver]

2. caucuses

If someone went into a lab and decided to create the most inefficient way to hold an election the caucus is what they would have come up with. And it’s also completely undemocratic as well. There are no redeeming qualities.

[Garrett78]

3. On top of that, Iowa (like NH) is not reflective of our electorate.

We should start with IL and AZ or MD and FL. Not IA and NH.

[Cha]

4. Yeah, Iowa and NH are old news

in today's Diverse America.

[Garrett78]

6. They might be fine for a party that doesn't give a damn about diversity.

But an argument can be made that both parties should follow more or less the same schedule, which I tried to address in this post: https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=4499

[Cha]

7. Oh yeah, Iowa and NH are

fine for repubs who treat Diversity with disdain.

Thanks for the link, Garrett.

[question everything]

10. Right. Some years back several Secretaries of States wanted rotating regional

primaries. But, I suppose, it was so 20th Century..

[Cha]

5. Who doesn't like hot sauce on

their greens?!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

12. Trump. What's a "green"? nt

[Joe Bacon]

8. They ought to allow people who can't attend to cast a preferential ballot

People who have to work at night or swing shift aren't able to attend the caucus and their voices currently don't count. They should be allowed to cast a preferential ballot showing their ranked choices to meet the threshold and if their preferences don't meet the threshold they should be placed in the uncommitted group.

[Garrett78]

9. The DNC is now requiring caucus states (of which there are fewer and fewer)...

...to accept absentee ballots. That's a big step in the right direction, but I would still rather every caucus state simply go to a primary system, as a number of states already have.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

13. How would absentee ballots work?

I thought the caucus system involved one group trying to get people from another group to join them. That won't work with paper ballots: you can yell at them all day, and they just sit there, unchanging. What fun is that?

Or, just go to a primary system, as you said.

[Garrett78]

15. Here are a couple of articles about it:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2017/12/09/major-reform-2020-iowa-caucuses-include-absentee-voting-public-vote-totals/934913001/

Here's a more recent article, which, admittedly, I have not read in full: https://www.commondreams.org/views/2019/01/14/big-changes-are-coming-iowas-2020-caucuses

It seems it's not yet clear exactly how the process will play out. It would be so much simpler if they would just go to a primary system.

Traditions, such as always starting with Iowa, never go down without a fight, it seems. Even when those traditions make little sense.

[Joe Bacon]

21. Preferential ballots would let people who can't take off work to participate.

If their first choice doesn't meet the threshold then the proxy would go to the second choice. Same would apply if the second choice didn't meet the threshold.

This gives people who can't take off work their right to be heard in the caucus.

[SharonClark]

11. You don't really get it

1. The Democrats who attend Democratic caucuses are diverse even if the state as a whole isn't.
2. Iowa allows candidates to hone their message and get their feet under them.
3. Iowans take this seriously, they meet candidates multiple times, often in small settings. Iowans have the opportunity to meet 3 - 4 candidates a week up front and personal.
4. Big primary states are all about fundraising and large media buys, Iowa is about talking with candidates about big and small issues.
5. Iowa Democratic Precinct Causues have been changed this year to allow remote call-in participation.
6. Precinct caucuses in Iowa aren't intended to replace the big state primaries that follow. Iowans know their spot in the process is to kick off the race, not to be the torch bearer at the end of the race.
7. The caucuses attract those who care the most about policy and candidates. It requires a couple of hours of time to discuss candidates and party platform in an often hectic but envigorating environment. It attracts the people who actually do the work on the street to elect Dems.
8. No one attends caucuses because they've been inundated by TV ads.

I love the caucuses because they are hands on and personal but I understand why many don't like them. The caucuses really do reflect the opinion of activists and not average voters. For Democrats and Iowa, that generally works out well.

That all said, it would be more fair if 'first in the nation' rotated among smaller states.

[MrsCoffee]

14. Caucuses disenfranchise voters.

It’s a block party that not everyone can attend. Instead of just voting and then going about your business it is an event. Low-income, minorities and young people are less likely to attend, meaning there are more older, white wealthy attendees. Younger voters and people of color tend to be more progressive on things like climate change.

What is wrong with letting everyone vote? Isn’t that what democracy is supposed to be about?

Anyway, that’s why I don’t like caucuses.

[SharonClark]

16. You're falling for sterotypes

"It’s a block party that not everyone can attend. Instead of just voting and then going about your business it is an event."

It isn't a block party, it is a serious activity and is treated as such. Attendees are generally more informed and more involved than the average voter. They are less influenced by misleading teevee ads because they know the issues. How is this bad?

"Low-income, minorities and young people are less likely to attend, meaning there are more older, white wealthy attendees".

They are less likely to attend only if they are less likely to vote in general.
Young people can dominate the caucuses because they may be more passionate about a candidate or a specific issue. That is what candidates like Sanders bet on.
You must be thinking of older white wealthy repugs and they don't attend the Democratic caucuses. The older white wealthy Dems who attend the caucuses are generally as progressive as the rest of the caucus.
Besides, this is Iowa in early February, what older person prefers to go out at night in the cold and wind when they can stay home?

"Younger voters and people of color tend to be more progressive on things like climate change."

Really? You haven't been to a Democratic Caucus in Iowa or you'd know that's not true. Iowa Demcoratics are united about climate change, regardless of age.

"What is wrong with letting everyone vote? Isn’t that what democracy is supposed to be about?"

Intra-party activities are not "about Democracy", only Democrats vote in the Democratic primaries or caucuses (in most states).

Anyway, that’s why I don’t like caucuses.

[Garrett78]

22. There're undoubtedly many who are not willing or able to take part in a very long and public process

Romanticization of caucuses aside, they disenfranchise people.

[Gothmog]

17. Some changes in the procedures for the Iowa caucuses should help

Link to tweet

[Bettie]

20. Personally, I'd still prefer that we went to a primary

having live in primary states previous to this, but this is a start in that direction.

[brooklynite]

18. And what does this comment have to do with the Iowa Caucus?

The same phrase could have been made at any town hall in any State.

Of course, we could just skip town halls and go to the big budget TV advertising that will required to win California....

[Bettie]

19. This question was not at a caucus

it was at a Harris event. So, do you really just hate the fact that there are humans in Iowa who are going to Democratic candidate events?