Many turned away in Minnesota due to running out of time and ballots

[electron_blue]

On a good note - I *did* make it to the caucus. We went as soon as it opened at 6:30 pm and it took us 45 minutes to go through the process. When we left, the parking lot was packed with more cars on the streets waiting to park so they could go in and vote. I really wish that Minnesota had arranged for more than a mere 90 minutes for people to vote today.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/02/05/caucus08/

It was great to be a part of it, nonetheless!!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Wasn't that awesome?

I went early, at 6:30 (I've been to these before, and early is good), and there was already a long line, and most of them were people who were signing in as new caucus-goers. I couldn't stay all evening and by the time I left at about 7:00 there was a line snaking out the door and halfway down the block. They were already making ballots out of cut-up squares of scratch paper; they said the turnout was at least three times what they expected. And that was *before* the huge crowd started showing up. I don't know who will win and I'm not sure I even care because it was so good to see such a huge turnout for the Democrats. No matter who wins, we win.

[electron_blue]

2. Yes, I was totally psyched.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

3. In Eagan ...

I live less than two miles from the caucus site (Eagan High School) and left home at 6:45. At 7:25, I gave up and parked my car at a different parking lot and joined a number of people who were walking the final half-mile or so in order to get there before it closed. When I got back to my car around 8:00, there was still a line of cars cued up to enter the high school parking lot that stretched back to the parking lot where I had left my car (again, a half-mile away in one direction).

Incredible turn out. Once in the door, the process was quick and smooth. Great volunteers.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. I was on the phone with my brother this evening, and his caucus in

Bloomington was also packed, with long lines.

"Looks like the Democrats will take Minnesota," I commented.

"And if the Republicans try to win Minnesota by choosing Pawlenty as their vice-presidential candidate," he added,"we can just remind everyone that Carol Molnau would then become governor." :-)

[dflprincess]

5. I'm in SD 40 which is split between Bloomington & Burnsville

The Bloomington precincts were at Kennedy High was your brother there or at Olson Middle School with SD 41?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. He said "junior high," so I assume the middle school

:hi:

[indigo32]

8. I'm in SD 41

I was at Olson Middle School. You could barely get into the parking lot

[dflprincess]

11. We had parking problems at Kennedy High School as well.

One of the problems was that, with both the DFL & Republicans moving the caucuses from the statutory date (March 5), the school districts didn't cancel Community Ed classes or other school events (I believe there was a basketball game at JFK) so caucus attendees were competing for parking with people going to the school for other reasons.

[Kilroy003]

13. Is that why Jefferson was so busy then? A basketball game?

I heard from a fellow caucus goer that the streets around Jefferson were packed with cars.

[dflprincess]

14. I was at Kennedy so I don't know what else was going on at Jefferson

I'm pretty sure that's where the SD40 Republicans were caucusing. There could have been Communtiy Ed classes going on there last night as well as other school activities.

This is one reason I thought moving the caucus date up was a bad idea. Normally the schools avoid scheduling other events on caucus night.

[Randomthought]

7. Negative Experience

I did get to vote but was told by a caucus "official" that the rest of the caucus was for "party regulars". I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I moved to this this area in October of 2006 from 6-2 in 61A were I had held a couple of party offices. When I protested he asked if I would like to talk to the precinct chair?
I was so taken aback I actually left.
I'm kicking myself this morning for not making a bigger fuss.

[dflprincess]

10. I wish you had made a fuss

because whoever told you that was totally out of line - and I say that as a party hack. Geez, we need more people to get involved and you were turned away?

Please give some thought to contacting the state office and let them know about this. You can email them by going to the website http://www.dfl.org or call them at: Minnesota DFL: 651-293-1200 (metro) or 1-800-999-7457 (toll free).

[csorman]

12. Do you have the name of this person?

I'm sure the DFL would like to know who it is - that is NOT an appropriate thing to tell anyone, especially since one of the biggest goals is to bring new people into the process! I'm appalled.

[Randomthought]

15. I was in shock

I didn't get a name or any info. I was just so surprised. I did ask if I was at the DFL caucus since this guy was acting like a republican.
I'm not very confrontational so I just went home and told my SO that I loved him and I loved our house but I really wished I still lived back in the old neighborhood.
I was actually planning to try to be a delegate to the district convention. I may show up anyway and see if there are enough no shows for me to be seated.

[dflprincess]

18. If you want to be a delgate, contact the state office

or the Senate District chair now (the state can tell who that is if you don't know) as you may have file some kind of appeal with the credentials committee at your district convention. As you really weren't allowed to participate at the caucus I would think you have a case.

Odds are there will be plenty of open delegate or alternate slots at the district level and the appeal won't really be a confrontational thing - just a formality to explain why you're being seated.

[Protonator]

17. I didn't get to vote either

I live in rural northern MN and looked up the caucus location online on both the secretary of state and dfl websites. Both sent me to the wrong precinct. By the time I got home to make calls it was already 8:00 and too late to do anything about it.
I emailed the SD5 chairwoman, very accommodating and prompt btw, she said the state DFL didn't put in the correct locations and it was supposed to be fixed two weeks ago. Nice. She did not appear to be happy about the whole situation.
I wonder if there were others who just didn't go because of the improperly designated caucus location. It was a ways away out in the sticks. It had crossed my mind that is was a bit far but how am I supposed to know how the precincts are drawn in rural MN? One just goes where one is directed by the powers that be in these situations.

Randomthought, that caucus official needs to be hunted down and stripped of any position he/she holds. The party is not an exclusive club by any stretch of the imagination. Shame on him/her. Are you sure you weren't at the Republican caucus?lol

[SnowCritter]

9. We didn't turn anyone away

but it was a bit dicey at the start.

I arrived at 6:00 PM to help set up for our precinct and, when I saw how many sign-in sheets and ballots we were given, sounded the "alarm" - we didn't have anywhere near enough. More ballots and sign-in sheets didn't arrive until after 7:00, but the vast majority of attendees were patient and understanding (I don't think anyone left, but I can't say for sure). In the end everyone had signed-in and had filled out their ballot. The final tally showed that we had about 5 times the number of attendees as compared to the last caucus.

Somewhere along the line I was elected Precinct Chair. :hippie:

[IronLionZion]

16. What ballots?

Dude, it was so awesome. In Bloomington it was packed full. Nobody checked voter registration or utility bills or anything. I had to park at a Burger King and walk a bit. There were no ballots, I wrote my candidate's name on a piece of paper.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

19. No ID required for caucuses in Minnesota

No ID, no proof of address, voter registration card, etc.

These are not elections, but rather party caucuses, run by the state parties. All required for a DFL caucus is:

- that you live in your precinct;
- that you will only participate in one party caucus
- that you are not an active member of another political party
- that you will be 18 years of age at the time of the general election in November

By signing in, you are agreeing to these party principles.

source: http://www.dfl.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={706860E3-E626-481D-8392-D71C210C9D46}

Actually, in Minnesota you don't need I.D. of any kind for the general elections unless you are "same-day" registering to vote (although a registered voter may vouch for you as well) or if you get there to vote and learn that you've been "caged" (someone has disputed your registration and you've been removed from the voter list) and you have to prove that the dispute was incorrect. A certain political party has taken caging to an art form in the past, oh, eight years.

source: http://www.slate.com/id/2167284/

[dflprincess]

20. Were you at Kennedy?

And, if so, are you in SD 40 or 63?

I was the harried woman at the SD 40 table trying to direct people to the correct rooms (you'd know me by the "Hey Coleman, You're Next" sweatshirt I was wearing).

[IronLionZion]

21. Yup I was at Kennedy and I think I might have seen you

and yes I am totally in district 40. "harried woman" :rofl: Just about everyone there was harried. It was cool to meet Al Franken's daughter Thomasin and Ashwin Madia's wife. I'm surprised they came down to the great city of Bloomington.

I don't know how to describe my appearance other than I'm a young Indian man with my very short Hmong girlfriend holding my hand.

Coleman has to go down bad. I can't stand hearing him speak. Nelson-Pallmeyer would be my first choice but I'd gladly support Franken too. His daughter is cute. I'm pulling for Madia but any DFLer would do.

[dflprincess]

22. I missed Franken's daughter

and I believe that was Ashwin Madia's sister - I'm sure he has said he's single.

I'm afraid I don't remember you, but there were so many people crowding around the table all the faces began to blue together. Will you be going to the District convention?

[cynthia]

23. Anyone who was in line at 8 pm was allowed to vote

There were no official ballots, everyone just got a piece of paper. So how can you run out of ballots????

When my caucus finished, I went to visit a friend at her caucus location and it was 9:15 before they got everyone signed in and voting. All of those people had been in line at 8, and someone ran back along the line and assured them that they would be allowed to vote, so they stayed until they worked their way up the line.

Everyone seemed to be relaxed, hanging out and chatting in the lines, not grumpy or complaining about waiting.

[USA_1]

24. But Will This Be The Case In November???

In 2004 I stood on line for an hour and one half in order to vote in the West Side. Will we be forced to stand in order to vote in this November's election?

As an arthritic, I cannot stand for that long. If it is too crowded and the line moves slowly, I will not be able to vote as I simply cannot stand for that long. In fact, several people (notably women who had to take their kids to school) left and did not vote because of time constraints.

Please be very sure that there will be enough voting booths and attendants so that the line will move quickly --- just as it was in the suburban districts in 2004.

[dflprincess]

25. My mom is arthritic and can't stand for long periods

the last couple elections I've taken her over to Bloomington City Hall to vote early. It's nice because she's never had to wait and she prefers to vote that way rather than mail in her absentee ballot. However, you can request an absentee ballot be mailed to your home and you can mail it back.

You may want to contact the Secretary of State's office about your concerns.

[USA_1]

26. Absentee Ballot

I have requested one from the Secretary of State.

Don't know how to use one but it may be a good idea.

Thanks for your advice --- but let's hope that the voting booth problem will be settled before Election Day.

[dflprincess]

27. I really doubt that there will be enough voting machines anywhere that would make the wait short

enough for Mom to be comfortable on election day.

Perhaps we could encourage the SOS to put out some guidelines asking people to be more considerate of the elderly and others who may have a hard time standing too long - at the very least ask the polling places to provide chairs. Of course, he might also want to ask that those who can vote during normal business hours vote between 8 & 5 and not at the time most of us consider "before" and "after" work. In 2006 there were a lot of elderly couples at my polling place before 8 and that does slow things down for people on their way to work.