Defender of Democracy

The Obama Campaign asked me to help with their voter protection efforts for the Texas primary/caucus on Tuesday. I caucused Republican in Iowa and my moot court partner and I have a 20 page appellate brief due this week, but I couldn't turn down the opportunity to defend democracy. Besides, even though I'm planning on staying in Texas after I graduate, it could be quite some time before there is another contest like this one.

Because of classes I couldn't be available to watch the polls, but I did observe the caucus. The precinct I was assigned to had a few people that have been participating for decades and knew the process cold. They had a great sense of community and inclusion and were committed to making sure everyone had their say.

For some people that say was that the dual primary/caucus is a bad idea. Some people are frustrated and feel that anyone who can't make both the primary and the caucus is disenfranchised.

The dual process has some challenges. Everyone at the polling place at 7 gets to vote before the caucus starts. If there is no line, the caucus can start as early as 7:15. Ours started at about 8:30. Then you have to sign in, and if your card is not stamped, you have to be verified against the book. If you're not in the book, you get to caucus provisionally, which requires the secretary to do all the math twice. I don't know how long sign-in took. It was late before I got home.

I know at least one Republican who voted for Hillary in the open primary (it's a secret ballot, but I don't doubt his claim).