Caucus? (San Antonio, Bowie, Anton: city hall, neighborhoods, live in)

[movingtohouston]

Being new to Texas, came someone explain to me what the caucus is tonight? I voted in the primary and they said we need to return tonight? I have never lived in a state that does this. Does anyone have any info?Thanks.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by movingtohouston

Being new to Texas, came someone explain to me what the caucus is tonight? I voted in the primary and they said we need to return tonight? I have never lived in a state that does this. Does anyone have any info?Thanks.

Well even us here in Texas have not been able to really make a difference to even do the Caucus. Yes, you need to go again tonight to your NORMAL polling location. Most early voting locations are at the city hall for the enter city but the day of voting is more localized. Find out your precinct number and see where you need to go. I know most of the news stations have a link up for it and each political party has a website w/ informaion on where to go and when.

Now, the caucus can not start until 7:15 OR the LAST person has voted (which I'm sure is going to be what happens so it will be later than 7:15). We are still going to the location at 7 just to be safe. Anyone standing in line to cast their vote for the primary STILL gets to vote and then after THEY are done the caucus can begin.

As for how they will take the votes for the caucus I don't really now. I don't know if we will have a ballot, petition, show of hands or what. I was reading on one of the polictical party sites and it had a bunch of forms but it seemed those were for the ones doing the caucus.

You can ONLY vote in the party that you voted for in the primary. If you voted Democrat in the primary you go to the Democratic Caucus. If you voted Republican you do the Republican Caucus.

[movingtohouston]

Thank you I had never heard of such a thing before. If you get there after it starts will they let you in?

[bostoner]

I doubt it... doors close at 7:15 p.m., regardless of when the last person has voted, from what I understand.

[Bowie]

Originally Posted by movingtohouston

I have never lived in a state that does this.

That's because there is no other state that does this.

Local media in San Antonio expects some of the caucus sites to be rowdy free-for-alls. Many here will have a police presence to prevent disruptive behavior.

I suspect that parking will be at an absolute premium at some polling places, so either get there early for the caucus or expect a long walk.

[movingtohouston]

Originally Posted by Bowie

That's because there is no other state that does this.

I wondered about that. I was thinking that it was just another name for a primary.

[momof2dfw]

Here are the links to each parties state website to find more info and phone numbers to call and get more detailed info. From what they were showing on the news last night their phones were BUSY answering calls people wanting to know how it works.

http://www.txdemocrats.org

Republican Party of Texas:
http://www.texasgop.org/site/DocServ...pdf?docID=3581

****A lot of people must be trying to pull up the info on the Texas Democratic website for tonights convention/caucus. When the page of question & answer opens I'll post it so that maybe that will help out.

[movingtohouston]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Here are the links to each parties state website to find more info and phone numbers to call and get more detailed info. From what they were showing on the news last night their phones were BUSY answering calls people wanting to know how it works.

http://www.txdemocrats.org

Republican Party of Texas:
http://www.texasgop.org/site/DocServ...pdf?docID=3581

****A lot of people must be trying to pull up the info on the Texas Democratic website for tonights convention/caucus. When the page of question & answer opens I'll post it so that maybe that will help out.

Wow, thanks. That was really helpful. I had a heck of a time just finding out where to go vote this morning as it was in a different place than where we voted in November. I appreciate all the help.

[momof2dfw]

Okay, I'm going to try and copy some of the pertinent info from the Q&A page of the Texas Democratic website since it is VERY SLOW!!!!!

I'll add this though since this question is asked in many different forms on there.

Who can Vote in the Convention/Caucus?
ANYONE who voted early be it by mail, in person, whatever.

What if you lost your receipt, voters registration card, don't have it, etc?
YOUR name WILL be on the Voters Roll Sheet so you DO NOT need it. Just a positive id.

What is a Precinct Convention?

A meeting held at 7:15pm on March 4, right after the primary election polls close at 7pm or after the last person in line casts their ballot, whichever occurs later. The attendees at the convention “caucus” to elect delegates to the County Convention – or, in large counties, to the Senatorial District Convention - who support their preference for Presidential candidate (or uncommitted preference). Participants also conduct official party business, propose resolutions, etc.

Who can participate in the Precinct Convention?

Anyone who lives in the precinct and voted in the 2008 Democratic Primary can participate, including those who voted early, voted by mail (absentee ballot) or voted on Election Day, March 4th.

What is a caucus?

It is the meeting of those attending the precinct convention (i.e. convention attendees) who have signed in for their presidential preference. Each caucus will elect the number of delegates and alternates to the County/Senatorial District convention proportional to the number of convention attendees favoring each candidate/preference.

Why do we do we have a primary and precinct convention?

The hybrid system ensures that we allocate delegates to the respective presidential candidates based on both the choices of Primary voters and the participation of grassroots Democrats who meet in their neighborhoods and communities at their precinct convention (“caucuses”). 75% of the delegates to National Convention from Texas are based on the results of the Primary and the rest are allocated based on the results of the sign-ins for each presidential preference at the State Convention.

When does the Precinct Convention start?

The Precinct Conventions begin at 7:15 pm, or when the last person in line has cast their ballot - whichever occurs later. Under the Texas Election Code, you may not begin the precinct convention until the last person in line before the polls close at 7 pm has voted. (See Texas Election Code §174.022)

Where is the Precinct Convention held?

Your precinct convention location will be held at your precinct’s Election Day polling location. If the Precinct Convention is moved to another location (e.g. due to lack of space), a sign will be posted at the original location directing you where to go to participate.

I voted early and want to participate in my Precinct Convention. Do I go where I voted or to my regular polling place?

You will go to your precinct’s Election Day polling/voting location (i.e. the polling location you would have gone to had you voted on March 4th).

How do I become a delegate?

At the precinct convention caucus, you (or a friend, spouse, etc., if you cannot attend on March 4th) will submit your name for consideration as a delegate to the County Convention. An election is held and the highest vote-getters will be elected as delegates, and the next highest will be alternates to the County/Senatorial District Convention.

Why should I attend my Precinct Convention?

Attending your precinct convention has a direct impact on the number of delegates your presidential candidate will have at the national convention. The delegates and alternates the precinct sends to the County/Senatorial District Convention will determine who becomes a delegate to the State Convention, where 67 delegates (more than all the delegates in many states) are allocated to the presidential candidates based on the results of the sign-ins. Precinct Convention attendees also facilitate the business of the party by presenting resolutions at the convention and voting on whether to pass those resolutions onto the County/Senatorial District convention for consideration.

I cannot come to the precinct convention tonight, can I still be a delegate?

Yes. You do not have to be present to be elected as a delegate. You can have another person submit your name to your precinct convention’s attendees to be considered for election as a delegate or alternate to the County Convention.

What if I cannot be there at 7:15? Can I still come to the precinct convention?

Yes, but you can not change anything that has already happened. For instance, if the number of delegates awarded to each candidate has already been announced by the time you arrive, your attendance will not have an effect on that number.

got to my precinct convention and it started before 7:15 and/or before the last person in line had voted. What should I do?

You should call to the attention of the person running the convention that the rules of the TDP are not being followed and ask that you be allowed to participate in every aspect of the convention. If you are not allowed to participate, document your situation and contact the TDP on the toll-free helpline so the problem can be addressed.

I went to my precinct convention and there is no one at my precinct. What should I do?

Check with your Election Judge to see if the precinct convention packet has been picked up or if the convention has been moved to another location (for example, if the venue is too small to hold everyone). If neither of these applies, you can pick up the packet and conduct your own precinct convention. You will need to fill out the required forms, call the results in and send in the paperwork at the end of the convention.

Do I have to fill out the demographic information?

Yes. The Texas Democratic Party has Diversity Goals built into our Delegate Selection Plan. We are required by the Democratic National Committee to try to meet our representational goals. The demographic information helps us do this.

*** FYI - it even asks if you are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgendered. ???

What is the next step after the caucus on March 4th?

The County/Senatorial District Convention on March 29th.

There is more than one precinct at my polling location. Do we need to have separate caucuses?

Yes, you need to have a separate precinct convention for each precinct. Only people who live in that precinct (and who have voted in the Democratic Primary) may participate in that precinct’s convention.

[Spree]

This is all very interesting. I wonder if my 17 yo son could tag along to the caucus, would be a learning experience for him.