First of all, the ONLY requirement to caucus here, is that you must have lived in Iowa for 10 days. You do NOT need to show ID, you do NOT need to show proof of residency upon registering at the caucus site. How many of you knew this? It is strictly an honor system. Your signature is an afidavit and if you are falsely signing in, there is a fine of several thousand dollars. However, this is virtually unenforcable. As a result, especially in the chaos of the huge Jan 3rd turnout, people caucused who should not have. It's easy. For example, visit a friend or relative for Christmas (more than 10 days before 01/03) and stay to caucus. We've lived in our neighborhood 10 years and I grew up here. We've been canvassing for months. (In other words, we are familiar with most folks in our neighborhood.) 2004 saw a record turnout in our tiny precinct of 60 some people, this year 139. Of the 61 Obama supporters at our caucus, 47 were unregistered, 15 had no ID with them (not required, remember) and 2 of them talked openly with each other about being from California and Wisconsin. And before anyone calls me a racist, almost all of us present at the caucus, including Obama supporters, were of the same color. The caucus chair called the Iowa Democratic Party hotline with concerns about lots of people with no ID that did not appear to be from the neighborhood - again, NOT BASED ON COLOR - and was told that chaos was happening all over the state and that there was basically nothing to be done. Does Obama deserve credit for having a phenomenal grassroots organization? Absolutely, yes. Did his campaign have non-Iowans caucusing? I believe, yes. Were there enough to determine the outcome? We'll never know. The national Democratic party should become involved in figuring out a fair way to regulate the Iowa caucuses. How about a 30 day residency requirement with proof of residency required at caucus site (like a utility bill)? With Iowa wielding this much power, this problem cannot be ignored.
First of all, you need to remember that caucus chairs are not officers of the law. We (I was one) are not employees of the county auditor's office, we aren't cops, we are unpaid volunteers who are running a PARTY FUNCTION (as opposed to a state-run election) designed to build the party and choose our nominee. By filling out a new voter registration card the person is filling out a sworn affadavit and if filled out fraudulently the fine is about $7500.. I don't see how you would expect anyone to actual verify residency without disenfranchising new voters. We allow homeless to caucus, what utility bill would they have? What if my room mate had the utilities in their name? What if I was a recent resident and I didnt have an in-state ID? Should we tell them that they don't count? Sure, we could set up registration deadlines similar to those used in some elections, but Iowa would rather build our party and trust our party members to abide by the law, not 2nd guess every newcomer.
And what's with all the defensive crap about being of the same color?
was an Edwards volunteer and observer at a precinct. The caucus chair didn't let anyone get up to speak on behalf of their candidates. I was beyond appalled when I learned that no ID or proof of residence in that precinct was required, and that students from anywhere could caucus if they "went to school in Iowa", and that there's nothing to stop them from voting again in their home state. Numerous other participants in other precincts had horror stories- Obama got one third of the space when 8 candidate contingents were present. Illinois license plates abounded in parking lots of caucus locations. One precinct captain said Obama people literally walled in undecideds with their bodies to "persuade" them. The Obama people had no clue about the math calculations and would raise objections until the chairs pointed out that this was how it worked. The county our precinct was in had expressly forbidden food to be brought in- then Clinton and Obama camps brought food and no one did anything.
The caucus chair didn't let people speak? The caucus chair doesn't have to do anything but follow the rules in the caucus guide. As my precinct's caucus chair I did ask the captains of each campaign (and for those without captains, the designated 'Leader') and they weren't interested. Perhaps this anonymous writer was at my precinct?
There IS something to stop them from voting in their "home state", its called the law! What the hell keeps me from doing anything illegal?
"numerous other participants in other precinct had horror stories".. sure ok, more anonymous BS.
Obama got a third of the space? OBAMA GOT A THIRD OF THE FREAKIN VOTE TOO! Of COURSE we'd have to make room for his supporters, that's a complete non-issue and leads me to believe that the person writing this doesn't even care to understand the process.
Illinois license plates in the parking lot? I guess I am assuming this observer from Ohio has a Ohio license plate on their car? What the hell does that have to do with anything? Perhaps Obama had an observer or two as well? Perhaps students originally from neighboring Illinois haven't changed their registration? Another non-issue.
I bet that food made a difference though, maybe you are on to something. The Edwards camp brought cookies, those bastards, and got 3 of my precinct's 7 delegates! I knew they were up to something!
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