Totally baffled...

[pugetres]

I'm hoping somebody can explain the Washington caucus system to me.

This has been my first experience with a caucus. Prior to this year, I lived in Missouri and the primary was pretty straight forward. I went to the precinct caucus in March. I went as a county delegate to the 21st LD caucus in April. I skipped the county convention earlier this month because of illness.

I figured that all was done in regards to caucus/primary actions for me. But, my husband and I each received paper mail-in presidential primary ballots today. What gives? Why both a caucus process *AND* a paper primary ballot?

[Mike__M]

1. Blame the Republicans

They wanted to have a primary this time instead of caucus. So, since there is a primary now, and since Washington likes to pretend that there are no parties, everybody gets a ballot! Republicans vote on their side, and it matters. Democrats vote on our side and it doesn't matter: it's just another straw poll, no delegates are determined from the result. Except, of course it looks good to whoever "wins" it.

[Kilgore]

2. This link should demistify it for you

http://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/2016-presidential-primary.aspx

Lays it out pretty clearly.

[pugetres]

3. Thank you both for

The info and the link.

We'll fill them out and mail them in even though they don't count towards anything. It's a shame that caucuses occur in a state that already has the infrastructure to handle a primary and is willing to foot the costs.

[eridani]

4. It has no effect on Dem delegates. But voting for Sanders is good publicity

Particularly as 17 year olds who were old enough to participate in the caucus because they would be 18 in November are not 18 now, and can't vote.