Caucuses really do disenfranchise the handicapped--like ME.

[tblue37]

I missed the caucus deadline by 4 minutes because I couldn't find nearby parking, had to park 4 blocks away, and then couldn't walk fast enough to get there on time. It took me nearly 45 minutes to get from my parking spot to the caucus site, because I couldn't walk fast, despite pushing hard past the excruciating pain in my back, hip, and thigh.

Our caucus is being held at a middle school in a residential district, with very little parking nearby. I walk with a cane, and often walking, standing, and sitting are very, very painful--and sometimes even impossible (bulging discs, severe arthritis in hips and knees, sciatica).

I spent extra time last night grading papers to free up a few hours today to caucus. Having caucused in 2008 in another revolutionary election, I knew it could tie me up for hours, so I wanted to get a bit caught up on my grading.

I reached the site by car with an hour to spare. I meant to get down there earlier, but my left hip and lower back locked up painfully today, perhaps because of hours of grading last night, especially since this is a busy time of the semester, so I have been putting in a lot of time on student papers. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to tolerate the caucus process if I didn't do something about the pain and immobility, so I took some medicine and tried a bunch of different methods--hot bath, sports cream, stretching, heating pad--to try to loosen things up a bit. Unfortunately, the stretching caused my right thigh to cramp up, so I ended up worse off rather than better.

But I really wanted to participate, so I decided to go anyway.

I was finally able to get out to the car and drive a few minutes before 2:00, but I live just a couple of minutes from the site (by car), so I got there by 2:00 (caucus registration was to close at 3:00). The line was extremely long, and there was no place to park anywhere near the site, so I drove around for a few minutes hoping to find something within a couple of blocks. No luck.

I finally drove down to the courthouse, which is on 11th Street. (The caucus site is on 15th.) Four blocks doesn't sound too bad to most people, but when you can barely walk at all, so it is both painful and very slow going, 4 blocks might as well be 4 miles. It took me nearly 45 minutes to make it to the site, but the guys with the "caucus closed" signs were already there at the end of the line (which still reached pretty far outside the building), because it was 4 minutes past the 3:00 registration closing time.

The school is in a residential district, a few blocks from our main downtown street. The insufficiency of parking, especially handicapped parking, was entirely predictable, because a huge turnout was expected (after all, Lawrence is a college town).

In 2008 we held our caucus at the Douglas County Fairgrounds (where there was a huge, comfortably accommodated Bernie rally just 2 days ago). I had no trouble finding parking in 2008, because the fairgrounds are designed for large crowds. The middle school and its parking arrangements are not.

Caucuses are from a time when communities were much smaller. They are simply not suited to elections where thousands of people show up to participate, and of course they render it impossible for everyone who wants to participate to have a chance to be heard.

I know Bernie will probably take all the delegates from our caucus, so my absence won't make any difference--except to me. I suffered more pain than you can imagine trying to get to the caucus site, only to be closed out anyway. I am 65 years old, and I have always participated (in primaries when we had them, and in caucuses)--until today. I feel frustrated, angry, and disenfranchised.

Fortunately, A nice woman heard me talking to the young man holding the "caucus closed" sign, so she and her husband gave me a ride back to my car. If they had not, I am not at all sure I would have made it in less than another 60-90 minutes, because every tiny step was sheer agony.

[Agschmid]

1. Caucuses need to end.

Sorry about this.

[tblue37]

3. I agree. I think you and I support different candidates, but on this we certainly agree.

Kansas used to have a primary. It was easy to participate then. Now it is a nightmare. It discourages new voters, too.

Actually, despite being politically aware myself, I had trouble even finding out where my caucus location was today. The page that should have shown it said no information was available, just as it said every day this week when I checked.

It took me a while to find out for sure what my congressional district is, since it had been changed and then changed again because of the 2010 gerrymandering. IOW, even finding out which district I was in took a while. Imagine a confused newcomer to the process who is not willing to spend time trying to find the information. Considering the roadblocks set up to prevent participation, it is amazing that so many turned out to caucus anyway.

[artislife]

13. At least 2 states have provisions in place.

See my post below about WA. There is another OP that shows that KS also has provisions in place.

[Kalidurga]

2. I have thought long and hard about this....

There are pros and cons for both sides of the issue. The pros for caucuses are huge, it is a way to get people involved in politics on the local level. The cons are also huge it does make it harder if you have a disability, if you must work, or you don't have transportation and you live way out in the sticks. I have a disability so I know it makes it very difficult to get to some polling places. The four block walk to the place not so big a deal. The 17 block walk home because buses pretty much stop running after 7 pm well that was a huge deal, I am still paying for that.

I propose and this will make a lot of people angry that want instant results. But here goes. I suggest we have more than one scheduled time to caucus. The states that do it do it to save money, they will still save some. People will still have a chance to get out and be a part of the process. It will still leave some people out though, but it will make it more doable for a lot more. They could do say a 7am session and a 7pm session. Yeah we will have to wait all freaking day long to know the results, but we aren't five anymore.

[MaggieD]

4. Agreed - caucuses are anti-democratic

[tblue37]

5. I wish we had vote by mail for all elections--primaries and GE; local, state, and national. nt

[MaggieD]

9. Yes, that's the best way, IMO

[Bluenorthwest]

10. That's how we do it in Oregon.

Other States refuse due to excessive ease, equity and participation.

[tblue37]

6. I am not sure yet, but this photo from another thread sure looks like my

caucus site:



Here is the thread--with some other photos:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511419908#post2

[tblue37]

7. Someone on the other thread replied to my question and said that this *is* the Lawrence

caucus crowd waiting outside the site.

[stuffmatters]

8. Caucuses flatly deny voters the right to vote

Isn't secret vote a constitutional right. Isn't there a law against "campaigning" near (or in!) a polling place against the law. Isn't voter suppression anticonstitutional ... like allowing only those with easy access and hours to participate in a "caucus."

I looked in on the caucuses in Iowa. It wasn't just a "counting" fiasco , it was appalling how many people were being worked over
by louder voices within(!) the polling place. And no protection of secrecy, imagine the courage it takes voting against your boss' or union's preference in front of them.

[LisaM]

11. Agree! Our 2008 caucus was horrible.

Lots of bullying and yelling, feelings were hurt. It made me mad at my neighbor because she turned out to be kind of mean, shouting out about "the blue dress" (seriously). The two-hour window strongly favors certain demographics such as students and works against people in service jobs, home caregivers, the disabled, etc. This year they've scheduled our caucus for Easter weekend, which is really annoying.

[stuffmatters]

18. Kennedy would have lost to Nixon if there was no right to secret vote in that election

I'm old enough to remember how many wives voted Kennedy against their husband's Nixon vote. My mom was one of the millions of 50's housewives whose voting right of secrecy was protected.

There is still a fairly strong paternalistic system in this country and many women are simply afraid to vote publicly "against" their husband. .Forcing people to publicly declare their vote, even in a primary caucus, violates a fundamental civil right.

[artislife]

12. In WA you can have a surrogate vote

Proxy voting is not permitted at Precinct Caucuses. However, those who are unable to
attend due to religious observance, military service, disability, illness or work schedule
may submit a “surrogate affidavit” form prior to the Precinct Caucus. Official surrogate
affidavit forms may be downloaded from the State Party website (wademocrats.org)
starting in early 2016, or acquired in person from State Party office
located at 615 – 2nd Ave. #580, Seattle, WA 98103. Surrogate affidavit forms must be
received by the State Party no later than Friday, March 18, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.
Comments are disabled.

https://vimeo.com/153382464?ref=fb-share

I would check with your state. Obviously, Kansas allowed these votes. There were a lot from Hillary voters

[Agschmid]

14. I'm glad some states do this.

[lunamagica]

15. I've said it over, and over again! Caucuses favor the young, the wealthy the healthy.

They are UNDEMOCRATIC and should disappear.

I'm sorry this happened to you.

[Arazi]

16. I am sick of these caucus stories. Everyone who wants to vote should be able to do so

I am so sorry. Thank you for trying

[dana_b]

17. I'm sorry that this happened to you too

I also have very bad back problems and cannot stand/walk for long. They really need to address this or, preferably, get rid of the caucus system.