Caucus countdown: 2 weeks to go, less for “absentee” form

Will West Seattle go for Obama? Edwards? Clinton? Romney? Paul? McCain? Or? Here’s another reminder that Washington caucuses are two weeks from today, 1 pm on Saturday 2/9, various WS locations for Democrats, Southwest Community Center for WS Republicans. The caucus results will count for all the Democratic presidential-candidate nomination process in our state, and half the Republican process (the GOP’s other half will come from the Feb. 19 WA primary). Tons of info links in previous WSB coverage (here, here, here) and on the websites of the 34th District Democrats and King County Republicans. Plus, a reader e-mailed WSB tonight (thank you!) to point out that February 1st is the deadline for the Democratic Party to receive the equivalent of an “absentee ballot” — it’s an affidavit that can be filed by those who say they can’t make the caucuses because of religious observance, disability challenges, or military service. You can download the form here (the second page of the PDF includes the three options for sending it in — postal mail, e-mail, or fax). P.S. Caucus talk is under way in the WSB Forums, too.

John Commeree January 26, 2008 (11:14 pm)

However, those of us who work on the weekend and cannot attend a Demo caucus do not qualify for a proxy and are left with no direct voice, given that the primary to occur later in the month is totally discounted by the Democratic Party. Ah, how I miss the blanket primaries of old.

Praying Man-tis-i January 27, 2008 (7:34 am)

Obama and Clinton intrigue me very much. This is shaping up to be an interesting election.

Ken January 27, 2008 (9:24 am)

A note on the process of the Dem caucus.

This week I called the caucus hot line for clarification on the age of participation issue. I remember in 04 there was mention of 17 year olds being able to caucus but it was pretty much a moot point since I could not even get any of the 18 to 25 set to show up at 9 am on a Saturday no matter what kind of game they talked…

But this year we are seeing a serious increase in the youth turnout in many places across the country.

One aspect of the Dem caucus being used exclusively to choose the delegates rather than the state sponsored primary, is that the parties make the rules. The Republicans seem to be following the state primary rules for the caucus since they are using both for delegates.

The Dems are free to accept caucus input and even votes from those who are 17 now but will be 18 on or before the November general election.

Question 5 of the FAQ makes it semi clear that 17 year olds that will be able to register to vote by November, will be able to vote at the caucus.

Who can participate in their caucus? All registered voters and those who will be 18 at the time of the presidential election can vote at their caucus. You can register to vote at the caucus location and vote in the caucus. Others who are not registered can participate but can not vote.

Those I have talked to at the caucus hot line are interpreting the above somewhat ambiguous language to allow 17 year olds (who according to the Sec of State CANNOT register until they are 18) to fully participate in the caucus.

So If you know any one who will be 18 and a precinct resident and otherwise eligible to vote in November, make sure and bring them along to the caucus

Faq page:
http://www.wa-democrats.org/index.php?page=display&id=266

ivan January 27, 2008 (10:19 am)

The blanket primaries of old that John misses so much were unconstitutional. The courts have ruled, again and again and again, until there can be no doubt about it, that the nominating process belongs to the parties and their members, period.

Thet means I can’t do what I did under the blanket primary — I voted for Ellen Craswell so that the Republicans would be embarrassed in the general election — and that is exactly how things turned out.

I’m sure the Republicans did not appreciate that, any more than I would appreciate them crossing over to vote for a Democratic no-hoper in *our* primary.

So I’m sorry, John, that you have to work on weekends and can’t attend our caucus, but every system has its tradeoffs. The tradeoff in this case is that our caucuses are entirely self-funded and do not cost one nickel of taxpayer money, unlike our state’s “beauty contest” primary, which selects no delegates for the Democrats (which the Democrats decided in an open, democratic vote), and half for the GOP.

People get to vote in November. No nominating process that anyone selects willl please everybody.

Jeff January 27, 2008 (2:52 pm)

To the party activists: don’t play these silly games of exclusion and then wonder why voter apathy is so high, especially among the younger crowd. Go ahead and pick Hillary, dems. Even if you win you still lose. You’re on track to picking the worst one of the bunch just like you did in ’04. Repubs: you seem to have given up on the “tough love” platform and are taking a surprising new approach: “tough hate”. What a bizarre election year already. I can’t wait to see what The Parties in their infinite wisdom will decide is best for us Americans.

Praying Man-tis-i January 27, 2008 (5:15 pm)

Gee, Jeff, you seem to have the miracle candidate. Care to share?

Ken January 27, 2008 (7:58 pm)

So Jeff. What are these games of exclusion you speak of? I find excluding those who think there is no difference between the parties is quite productive from the partisan standpoint. Kinda weeds out those who are proudly ignorant and /or not interested in Democratic ideals or policies.

Independents are welcome to start their own party just as soon as they can agree on a framework of policy that is convincing and rational even to other independents. We will wait.

Those who profess to vote for the “man not the party” are just a different brand of authoritarian follower as far as I can tell.
Here is a link for those interested in scientific info on authoritarian followers.

http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/

History buffs will notice this is one of those rare years that pop up in a cycle. After Republicans claim government does not work and are given total control of the government. They proceed to prove that theory in a spectacular fashion to the point where any rational person has to see that it is Republican Government that doesn’t work and the cycle shifts back.

The current Dem nominee will be riding that cycle. So the nominees are not charismatic or war heros or statesmen. They don’t exactly face the cream of the crop. The Republicans have a line-up of serial liars, fearmongers and theocrats to choose from. They are deeply unhappy with their choices.

acemotel January 27, 2008 (9:29 pm)

I know a few 18 yr olds and they clamored to register as soon as they could. All the young kids I know are looking forward to attending their caucuses. Things are so bad that the young ones want to step in, and thank god, they might be just what we need for the future. Our generation did a piss poor job of it.

WSB January 27, 2008 (10:35 pm)

Hey, I clamored to register the second I could … my joke is that I actually voted at age 12 (that’s when I found out my mother, then 34, had never voted, and I told her if she would just go ahead and register, I’d tell her who to vote for! but she eventually caught on – within a decade she belatedly graduated from college as valedictorian, with a degree in political science). — TR

Tonya January 28, 2008 (2:56 pm)

Boy, the “moonbats on both end of the spectrum need to settle down here and not make a habit of attacking someone simply because they don’t agree with your stand point.

Praying Man-tis-i January 28, 2008 (6:52 pm)

Calling them moonbats on both end of the spectrum ought to help, Tonya.

Tonya January 29, 2008 (3:05 pm)

Hey Man-tis-i

I call it like I see it, just like I do with all toddlers that throw fits.
:)

Ken January 31, 2008 (10:53 am)

Way to address the issues.

Answer the questions if you have an answer, reference baseless smears if you don’t.

Praying Man-tis-i February 3, 2008 (8:03 am)

Tonya, my point was that you’re no different.

Russell February 6, 2008 (8:11 pm)

My family and I are going to the Democratic caucus on Saturday (at Gatewood Elementary). We’re an Obama family and we are VERY! excited. This will be the first time that I can remember that we will actually have a chance to influence who our party nominates. Can’t wait.

Lisa February 7, 2008 (9:38 am)

Hi folks, I need help figuring out what location to go to on Sat. I live in Delridge in Westwood, can anyone shed some light for me? The links I’ve tried to use and the emails to the local dem caucus aren’t working for me.

Thanks!

amnesiak February 7, 2008 (9:50 am)

Russell, ditto. We always get left out of important decisions in Washington, it seems. I feel like this is the first time I have a real opportunity to influence a presidential election.

WSB February 7, 2008 (9:59 am)

Lisa – finding your location is a two-step process.
First, find your precinct number.
This can be done at the Voters Guide page on the King County site. Put your name and address in here
https://www.metrokc.gov/elections/pollingplace/voterlookup.aspx

Look for a six-digit number with a dash after the first two digits. IGNORE the subsequent “polling/voting place” info – that is NOT where you caucus.
With your precinct number, get the list from the 34th Dist. Dems’ page
http://34dems.org/news_caucus-2008-locations.htm
and find the location where your precinct meets. If that’s still confusing, send me your precinct number (editor@westseattleblog.com) and I’ll find out for you.

Lisa February 7, 2008 (10:41 am)

Thanks for the help, but it’s not showing that I have an active registration (one of the reasons I want to go to the caucus). Any other ideas? :)

Thanks again

WSB February 7, 2008 (10:44 am)

Aha. You can register there. But you need to know where to go. Hang on, we’ll see if we can find the precinct maps.

Lisa February 7, 2008 (12:04 pm)

I found out I’m in Precinct 34-3266 which meets at Chief Sealth High School – of course, that’s right behind my apartment complex. Thanks for your help!