Just a Reminder of the fact that Caucuses are a relic of an agrarian past based in wealth.

[Zolorp]

It was originally designed for wealthy plantation owners so they could control who would show up and who could cast votes for candidates. Without a secret ballot, the plantation owners could control how all free white employees would vote in such events. Delegates eventually came down to how the richest white plantation owners wanted them to come out. This process moved to Iowa during western expansion.

[5X]

1. they need to be ended. Period.

I attended one once for our district, having worked up from the county. Vowed never again,
the whole thing was a setup and rigged. But, that was rural Oklahoma.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Actually, they were designed for farmers, laborers and other "commoners."

At least that was the history in my state (we stopped having caucuses last year). When Minnesota first became a state, candidate selection was up to political professionals, according to the Citizen's League study. Around 1900, reforms made the process more accessible to common voters. Before the caucus system arose in the 19th century, political decisions and the choice of candidates were made by party elites in closed sessions. Caucuses made it possible for citizens to participate.

Caucuses were also cheaper to run than elections. There was no need to buy expensive voting machines, rent a space all day or pay many workers; the parties just needed a room and a few volunteers for a few hours.

However, the advantages of caucuses have pretty much disappeared with changes in demographics and procedures. They make it too difficult to attend for people who aren't available on a week night for any number of reasons. I hope Iowa gets rid of its first in the nation caucus, but that's not likely to happen because the attention brings a lot of business and money into the state.

[fierywoman]

3. I've only been to one caucus (2008 in WA state) but I was struck by how

primordial it felt.

[maynard]

4. We Caucus in Nevada

Too time consuming. I did it once and I won't ever do it again. There needs to be a better way. I went to the precinct caucus. That was good because Hillary showed up outside and I got some great pictures. Again, too many people who did not know what they were doing because it is only done every 4 years. Time consuming. By default, I was able to go to the county caucus...on a different day. Too many people who did not know what they were doing. People were impatient and tried to take over. Only one vendor selling food. Line was long and they ran out of food. A lot of people left. People were passionate about their candidates and tempers flared. One whole day of my life that I was never going to get back. Time to go back to primaries. One person, one vote. done and recorded.