At the 2016 caucuses, the leader had the nerve to begin the caucuses

[pnwmom]

by asking everyone to DONATE to defray the cost of the caucuses.

I raised my hand and asked why we should do that, when we had passed a referendum years ago to REPLACE the caucuses with a primary, and the primary was run by the state and was FREE? (The Republican party accepted the will of the voters but the Democrats went to court to demand their right to continue the caucuses, and won.)

I don't remember their answer except they weren't thrilled with my question.

I'm so happy that we'll be voting in a primary for the first time.

[Demsrule86]

1. Excellent question and point. I hate caucuses.

[George II]

2. What state are you in?

[pnwmom]

4. WA.

[rurallib]

3. Asking for money to pay for the caucus is job #1 for the caucus chair

IIRC.
Most of the folks leading the caucuses are just local schlubs like me trying to do what they are told
If Iowa ever becomes some kind of primary state - which is essentially what the repute do we will lose that coveted #1 spot.

[pnwmom]

5. The majority of the caucuses in place in 2016 have been replaced by primaries.

There is only a handful of holdouts now, like Iowa.

[pnwmom]

6. Why can't you run a primary on the same day you've been holding your initial caucuses? n/t

[IADEMO2004]

7. New Hampshire gets first primary

[pnwmom]

8. Why?

[IADEMO2004]

9. National Dem Party sets the calendar

and has punished calendar jumpers.

Michigan and Florida 2008

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/24905193/ns/politics-decision_08/t/party-seats-florida-michigan-delegations/#.XjgaQiN7mUk

[pnwmom]

12. Uh-huh. It's completely arbitrary and there's no reason NH couldn't be the second primary

instead of the first, or that neither NH or Iowa needs to be at the head of the line.

[madville]

11. It's New Hampshire state law for one thing

They will automatically move their date ahead of any state that tries go before them.

The DNC could always chose to not recognize their delegates as leverage to change that like they did to Florida a few years ago when they tried to make their primary earlier.

[pnwmom]

13. And what if Iowa had the same law? What is to prevent any state from doing that?

[IADEMO2004]

15. We're Nice

In the 70's Presidential preference was added to caucuses to get bigger turnout, interest, and publicity. Caucus not a primary avoids national party rule breaking.

Jimmy Carter did his magic in 1975-6 and made them famous.

[octoberlib]

10. Caucuses need to be banned , period.

They’re undemocratic. One person, one vote.

[LongtimeAZDem]

14. +∞

[tritsofme]

16. Caucuses are exclusionary and inherently undemocratic. They are a wholly indefensible method

of selecting delegates.

Every voter should have the right to a secret ballot.