Today Ryan and I participated in our precinct caucus for the 2008 Presidential election. It was the first time both of us participated in a caucus and we enjoyed the experience. When we first showed up, the line for signing in was out the door of the church, through a parking lot, and around the corner. Thankfully, the line moved quickly and we shuffled through the crowd to get into a packed sanctuary.
People were energized and we met a few of our neighbors. The precinct chair tallied the votes and calculated how many delegates went to each candidate. In our precinct, Obama got 7 delegates and Hillary got 2. Then individuals got up to speak on behalf of their preferred candidate in an attempt to sway votes/delegates. Next, delegates were selected to represent each candidate at a state Democratic party meeting where national delegates are selected.
On my way to the caucus, I complained about the outdated nature of the caucus system. After going through a caucus, my opinion completely changed. It was a cool experience and a good way to meet our neighbors. Contemporary urban living often means that you don't talk to the people who live next to you and you get stuck in your own life. However, it's nice to challenge yourself to get together with your community to talk about something that matters.
Sorry I don't have any pictures to share. I wanted to take my camera but wasn't sure if that was allowed. A few highlights included a woman with a Hillary T-shirt that said, "Just vote for the bitch"; an "actor" who volunteered to read the instructions on behalf of the Democratic party representative; and extensive use of "spirit fingers" instead of clapping because the room was so packed with voters from other caucuses.
Happy Election Year!
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