By ROGER FULTON
Editor’s note: Both the Democratic and Republican party caucuses will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9. The Democratic caucus for all Vashon precincts will take place at the McMurray Middle School gym. The Republican caucus for Vashon precincts will be at the Southwest Community Center in West Seattle, with other precincts from the 34th legislative district. The following piece is about the Democratic Party caucuses on Vashon.
Remember the excitement of the Democratic caucuses in 2004? Remember the challenge of squeezing all of us into the high school? Remember listening to your friends and neighbors as we debated the merits of the candidates?
If you weren’t there in 2004, you missed a wonderful example of democracy in action. Next month, Island residents will have another opportunity to experience this for themselves.
Within the context of political parties, caucuses are one of the most fundamental, grassroots ways of participating in the political process. In a presidential election year, the main purpose of caucusing is to elect delegates for presidential candidates. Ultimately, delegates will gather at the national convention for the party and elect a candidate. In 2008, the Democratic National Convention will be held in Denver, Aug. 25 to 28.
The other method that states use to choose delegates is by holding a primary election, which is very much like the general election, except that voters are choosing the presidential candidate for their party rather than voting for the president. For example, Iowa uses the caucus process, while New Hampshire uses a primary.
There is much controversy as to the merits of each process. Advocates of caucuses often point to the excitement of the one-on-one, hash-it-out-with-your-neighbors aspects of caucusing, whereas those in favor of primaries frequently extol the fact that it’s open to greater participation (through absentee voting, etc.). Another distinction is that caucuses are funded by the parties, whereas primaries are funded by taxpayers.
This year, many states chose to move their caucuses or primaries up very early in the year. On Feb. 5, so-called “Super Tuesday,” 22 states will choose delegates, including large states such as New York and California. With this in mind, I had assumed that by the time our caucuses rolled around on Feb. 9, it would be obvious who the nominee of the Democratic Party would be. However, there will likely be an exciting race-to-the-finish this year, because there are several strong candidates, which means Washington state Democrats will likely have a voice in who is chosen as our nominee.
Before Washington state Democrats hold their state convention, there will be other levels of caucusing at which delegates will be elected. The caucuses we have on Vashon are the first level — precinct caucuses, the smallest geographical division that political parties use. There are 19 precincts on Vashon. At our caucuses, we will break up into our precincts and elect precinct delegates to represent presidential candidates. These precinct delegates will go on to the next tier, to elect the next level of delegates.
If you attended the 2004 caucuses, you will remember how crowded and noisy they were. A lot of effort has been expended to mitigate that problem this time around.
One of the most significant changes this year is how resolutions are handled. In the past, resolutions could be introduced, discussed and voted on at the precinct caucuses either when we were broken up into precincts or came back together as a group. This year, the only process for introducing a resolution will be to turn it in to your precinct chair (or the designated precinct secretary). There will be no discussion of and no voting on resolutions at any point during these caucuses. The resolution you turn in at the precinct level will be forwarded to the county convention.
So who can attend the caucuses? Anyone can come and observe. Who can vote for delegates at the caucuses? Any registered voter who will be 18 or older by Nov. 4, 2008. If you are not registered now, you will be able to register at the caucuses, at which point you will be eligible to vote for delegates. As part of signing in, you will be declaring that you are a Democrat. Since we don’t register by party affiliation in Washington, no proof of this declaration is required.
— Roger Fulton is president of the Vashon-Maury Island Democratic Club.
Caucus details
To make your experience at the caucuses go smoothly, it’s important to know which precinct you live in prior to arriving at the caucus. Look on your voter registration card to find out. Or use the “precinct caucus finder” tool at wa‑demchairs.org/2008/caucuslocations.php.
Many ask whether one can vote by proxy. The answer is no; you have to attend to vote. There are, however, three exceptions. If you want to participate but cannot attend because of a religious observation, military service or disability, you can participate by submitting a surrogate affidavit form, which you can download from http://tinyurl.com/2l644o. A copy of this form properly completed and signed must be sent by mail, fax or e-mail (as a scanned pdf) to the State Democratic Party headquarters by 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1.
If you have any questions about the Democratic caucuses, contact your precinct committee officer, who you can find at http://tinyurl.com/2tvn9l.
For information about the Republican caucus, visit www.kcgop.org/.
If you’re a Democrat, participate in the Democratic caucuses, from which all of the delegates will be elected. If you’re a Republican, participate in both the Republican caucuses and the state primary on Feb. 19; each process will determine 50 percent of the elected delegates.
