ChatterBank1 min ago
US election Caucus stuff???
6 Answers
Can someone explain how this works:
1) What;'s the "Caucus" is that some kind of dual party conference?
2) What are the voters actually voting for, persumably they vote for their man, can a democrat voter vote for a republican and vice versa?
3) does this result count towards the "nominations" directly?
4) are Minor parties represented?
5) is this done for every state?
6) Are the voters effectively deciding on the nominations for the parties?
7) if 6 is true then can for example the republicans vote for the weakest democrat candidate and hence make the presidential election easier?
8) If the number of votes relevant or is it oinly percentage (that's what is quoted)?
9) if 8 is true and 7 is true then can one party not vote entirely for the duff candidate of the other and vice versa making a mockery of the whole process.
As you can see I don't really get it! Thanks
1) What;'s the "Caucus" is that some kind of dual party conference?
2) What are the voters actually voting for, persumably they vote for their man, can a democrat voter vote for a republican and vice versa?
3) does this result count towards the "nominations" directly?
4) are Minor parties represented?
5) is this done for every state?
6) Are the voters effectively deciding on the nominations for the parties?
7) if 6 is true then can for example the republicans vote for the weakest democrat candidate and hence make the presidential election easier?
8) If the number of votes relevant or is it oinly percentage (that's what is quoted)?
9) if 8 is true and 7 is true then can one party not vote entirely for the duff candidate of the other and vice versa making a mockery of the whole process.
As you can see I don't really get it! Thanks
Answers
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The caucus system in the State of Iowa is quite complex, but only if you are a Democrat. The Republicans (and in this process one must be registered as a Republican or Democrat) simply show up, vote for their preferred candidate, the votes are counted and that candidate becomes the Republicans choice for the Iowa delegates that are chosen to attend the national Republican Convention, probably in August or September (the national vote is in November).
The Democrats have an uneccessarily complex system that's difficult to explain here... suffice it to say that the end result is the same... a candidate of choice to be backed by the Iowa Democrats at the National Convention.
Many voters in Iowa are disenfranchised... minortiy party voters cannot caucus... but that's the way Iowans want it. Almost all of the following primaries, such as the next in New Hampshire are more straight forward and less cumbersome.
By the way, very few voters in Iowa actually participate, but, again that's a cherished way of doing it that they aren't lkely to change...
The Democrats have an uneccessarily complex system that's difficult to explain here... suffice it to say that the end result is the same... a candidate of choice to be backed by the Iowa Democrats at the National Convention.
Many voters in Iowa are disenfranchised... minortiy party voters cannot caucus... but that's the way Iowans want it. Almost all of the following primaries, such as the next in New Hampshire are more straight forward and less cumbersome.
By the way, very few voters in Iowa actually participate, but, again that's a cherished way of doing it that they aren't lkely to change...
Sorry for missing those points Loosehead...
In the caucus proceedure (and there are only a very few States that use that proceedure) one must register as a Democrat or Republican and one cannot vote for (or against) the other.
In the Democrat's version, a base percentage of 15% of the parties voters must be reached or that particular candidate is rejected entirely. The remaining candidates can actually, within the evenings caucus, campaign for or against the remaining candidates, resulting in one who has the most votes and becomes the candidate to whom their respective delegates are pledged. The delegates attend the parties National Convention later in the summer to choose the Presidential candidate.
The Republican's caucus, on the other hand, is just a straight-forward vote for a particular candidate who wins by virtue of the majority vote. His or her pledged delegates also attend the Republican National Convention... usually in August before the general election in November. Clear as mud? Yeah, me too!
In the caucus proceedure (and there are only a very few States that use that proceedure) one must register as a Democrat or Republican and one cannot vote for (or against) the other.
In the Democrat's version, a base percentage of 15% of the parties voters must be reached or that particular candidate is rejected entirely. The remaining candidates can actually, within the evenings caucus, campaign for or against the remaining candidates, resulting in one who has the most votes and becomes the candidate to whom their respective delegates are pledged. The delegates attend the parties National Convention later in the summer to choose the Presidential candidate.
The Republican's caucus, on the other hand, is just a straight-forward vote for a particular candidate who wins by virtue of the majority vote. His or her pledged delegates also attend the Republican National Convention... usually in August before the general election in November. Clear as mud? Yeah, me too!
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