I don't remember this from Civics...

[mrv3000]

Caucus vs. Primary. Help me out.

From what I was able to find, the difference seems to be that with a Caucus you'll probably get milk and cookies before you vote. Or something. California's always been a Primary state (from what I can remember) and there've been no milk and cookies.

(However, my voting place is at a Fire Station this year, WHICH INTERESTS ME GREATLY. To, um, see the spotted dog. Yes. The spotted dog. Absentee ballot? Pffft. Yeah, right.)

Also, didn't California have an open Primary the last time around? I've got Nonpartisan status (Eeek! I'm a wildcard! You don't know what I might do!) and I don't remember having to ask for a party ballot last time. Kinda funny, but the only options available to me this go-round are the American Independent Party and the Democratic Party. So I guess I can't go McCain-wild or anything.

HA! An honest-to-God candidate for the American Independent Party is "Mad Max Riekse." Wonder if Mad Max would give me milk and cookies if I voted for him. Or her...

Comments

[ginamak.livejournal.com]

Mmmmmmm, firemen.

Sorry. I have nothing of substance to add to the discussion.

[ivydoor.livejournal.com]

I am intrigued by your ideas and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Substance enough, I think.

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

Primaries are just votes, fill in the ballot and whoever has the biggest % gets the delegates... or the delegates are broken down by %. I think it depends on the state.

Caucuses are different by party. GOP - you show up to someone's rec room or a gym or a library, you discuss the candidates, you cast a vote, whoever has the most votes 'wins' that caucus and whoever wins the most caucuses is sitting pretty. Dems - you show up, you discuss, you declare your candidate, but if your candidate has less than 15% you have to find a new one. And people argue and debate and try to win you over to their side. That was why some of the second and third tier candidates were telling people who they wanted them to pick as a second choice.

[earenwe.livejournal.com]

I was going to comment, but you've got it covered. :o)

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

Finally something comes of my rabid news-watching!

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Huh. That caucus thing is a bit wild - can't imagine Californians all getting together for a chat. :D

Thanks for the info!

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

Californians are either too lazy - they wouldn't bother to go to all that trouble - or too crazy - someone would end up getting shot.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking the shot thing.

[allisnow.livejournal.com]

Probably a mix of both, really.

[nandamai]

In a caucus you don't get the little booth with the little curtain so you can't lie afterwards about who(m) you voted for. And you have to stick around a while. And there's milk and cookies.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

In a caucus you don't get the little booth with the little curtain so you can't lie afterwards about who(m) you voted for.

But the booths are the best part!

And you have to stick around a while.

Ugh. Small talk.

And there's milk and cookies.

I KNEW IT!

[intrikate88.livejournal.com]

All I know about caucuses, I learned from Alice in Wonderland. Cause I didn't pay that much attention in Political Science class. But caucus races! With dodos! Much better system!

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

A dodo race seems very apt... :D

[vegmb.livejournal.com]

Oh so very true!

[javabreeze.livejournal.com]

I just re-registered. WA State primary is in February. The last time I voted was four years ago. Sigh.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I admit I've skipped a couple here and there. The ones that were only about proposals I didn't really feel that strongly on. Or ones where I didn't like any of the candidates.

[solielle.livejournal.com]

Being an Independent in California, all I know is that I don't get any sort of ballot until November. That's a little sad. It means I'll never have a chance to vote for Edwards.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I swear the last one was an open Primary. Or maybe it was the one before. I like those.

[poohmusings.livejournal.com]

I think it was the first time open primaries were available in CA, so all parties opted in. But now that novelty's worn off, apparently the Republicans don't like the idea of having non-partisans potentially mucking up the works, so they didn't opt in this year.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Pfffft!

[poohmusings.livejournal.com]

Not all political parties have to allow non-partisans to vote in their primaries. That's why our only choices are the Dems and Am. Independents this year.

I've heard a caucus is quite a hoot to watch, especially the Iowa one. My ex-coworker used to work the Iowa ones when she was working towards her PhD in Poli Sci. She always tells me I have to check one out, but going to Iowa in January? Yeah, I think I'll pass. :P

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Not all political parties have to allow non-partisans to vote in their primaries. That's why our only choices are the Dems and Am. Independents this year.

You'd think they'd be interested in what non-party members lean towards, for strategy purposes.

I've heard a caucus is quite a hoot to watch, especially the Iowa one. My ex-coworker used to work the Iowa ones when she was working towards her PhD in Poli Sci. She always tells me I have to check one out, but going to Iowa in January? Yeah, I think I'll pass. :P

Damn! It should have been Wienercon 2008!

Karen: Well, that's done. What the fuck do we do now?

nanda: *has found a clutch of people to canoodle with*

Jojo: *is not present to begin with, so doesn't give a shit*

Dia: I know this corn field...

Julie: We could do a Bruce Campbell marathon!

Michelle: Or a Doctor Who marathon! I brought disks. Doctor/Rose 4 eva!

Elis: I wanna say that I'm hungry, cold, and I hate you all. Except maybe Karen.