image: democraticstuff.comIn Texas we get to vote for 14 days prior to the actual voting day (at the grocery store). This is very convenient.
But your vote only counts as 2/3 and not 1 whole vote. Until you vote in the caucus. (this is how it seems to me, please correct me if I am wrong)
But in order to vote in the caucus you must have your voter registration card "stamped". In order to get a stamp you also must say out loud (in front of the entire line of voters) what party you are voting for (this was odd for me, since in NY this information is very private). So you get your card stamped and vote.
What is a Caucus?
I really don't understand it....but I lived it tonight. In order for a candidate to win a primary in the state of Texas...2/3 of their delegates are decided by popular vote and 1/3 is decided by caucus delegates. So I interpret this as.....Our vote only counts for 2/3 of a vote. Yes, two thirds. In order to have our vote count as one whole vote we must attend our district caucus. Mike and I attended our precinct convention or caucus tonight.
In order to caucus you must show up at your poling place before 7:15 but no earlier than 7:00. You must stand at least 100 feet from the door. After the last person votes (which last night was about 7:30) and after the ballot machines have been removed from the building (The ballot machines have left the building) than we were invited in. We all took our seats (for 30 seconds). Then they called all of the Obama supporters to get up and sit on one side of the room. Then they asked all of the Hillary supporters to sit on the other side of the room. The master of ceremonies gave us some instructions (blah, Whah, whah, whah). We were told to complete the caucus form (piece of paper filled in with a pen). We were asked to provide our names, our voter id #, address, email, phone, candidate, gender, age, whether we were lesbian or gay and some other private information.
We could than leave, if we wanted to. If we cared to stay we could be chosen as a delegate, who is someone who travels to the state convention and than maybe the national convention. As well as vote on other bills and amendments or bills.
Bill Clinton summed it up nicely when he said, "It's the only place in the country where you can vote twice in the same election and not get in trouble for doing it. So you might as well take advantage of it."
I really adore the Clinton's but I think Obama has a better chance of winning the presidential election against Mc Cain. I think people have a love hate relationship with Hillary. My main concern is that it is a democrat in the White House next year. I will be satisfied with Obama or Clinton as long as it is not McCain.
Just my confused 2 cents.
