Question about absentee caucusing from Washington State

[eridani]

We allow people to send in a form only if they are disabled, in the military or can't go for religious reasons. I've just seen in other posts on GD:primaries implying that Maine lets anybody who wants to do an absentee caucus. What are the criteria? Is there registration by party in Maine? There isn't in Washington.

[NWHarkness]

1. Yes, registration by party

And you can get an absentee ballot for any reason. The only drawback for the voter is that, if they vote absentee, they can't take a second choice if their candidate comes up sort in the first go-round.

[eridani]

2. So, in order to get an absentee choice you must register as a Dem? n/t

[NWHarkness]

3. Yes

In order to vote in tha caucus at all, you have to be a registered Dem. But, you can register the same day. You can't however, change your party enrollment the same day.

[eridani]

4. Thanks--this is going straight to some WA Dems discussion groups n/t

[eridani]

5. Begging your indulgence for a couple of more questions

Our tech listserv in WA has had some vigorous discussion on this issue, and the following questions came up.

1. What percentage of your delegates vote absentee as opposed to in person?

2. Who does the data workup--the Maine Democratic Party or the state elections people?

3. How early do the absentee caucus statement have to be sent in? (days or weeks before the caucus meets)

[MaineDem]

6. Let's see if I can answer your questions

1. What percentage of your delegates vote absentee as opposed to in person?

These aren't delegates voting; it's any Democrat in Maine. This year there were roughly 5000 absentees out of a total of 44,000 total.

2. Who does the data workup--the Maine Democratic Party or the state elections people?

The entire caucus process is paid for and handled by the Maine Democratic Party.

3. How early do the absentee caucus statement have to be sent in? (days or weeks before the caucus meets)

The deadline for absentees to be returned was 5PM on the Wednesday before the Sunday caucuses - three full days in advance.

[eridani]

7. Very helpful. We have about 10x as many attendees

However, the population and the atate party are also larger.

[NWHarkness]

8. Right on all counts

If I may elaborate on the absentee deadline a little bit. The absentee ballots have to be sent to the state party, which in turn has to distribute them to the towns before the caucus. So, I don't think 4 days is unreasonable. (I spent part of Saturday driving around the county delivering them, by the way)

We did have some people who had voted absentee early show up at the caucus, and want to change their vote, as they has voted when Edwards or Kucinich were still in the race. We were not sure what to do, so we just gave them back their absentee ballots and gave them new forms.

[MaineDem]

9. There were instructions with the absentees on what to do in that situation

It said to mark the absentee form as Void and let the person vote in person.

[NWHarkness]

10. Yeah, I missed that.

It was pretty chaotic. So we figured it was best to err on the side of making the voter happy.

[eridani]

11. This has been very helpful

I've just gotten involved in a WA group which will be campaigning for a similar system. Complaints that the current system disenfranchises people who have to work really are valid. Some of us think it would work even without voter registration by party, as an absentee caucus statement that you are a Democrat would become a permanent part of the party database. People who don't like that idea probably won't caucus as Democrats.

Currently we are thinking of combining that with pre-registration, which will eliminate a great deal of data entry hassle. If someone who pre-registers for a candidate doesn't show up, that would be their absentee statement. It would eliminate a lot of confusion about which precincts people belong in as well. The only people that would have to go through signing in on the spot would be those who decided to attend without preregistration.

A couple of folks on our listserv have complained that this would really be a primary, so the state elections people should run it. I say that I find the idea of private companies owning such public data to be absolutely appalling whether you are talking primaries or general elections, and I would like Democrats to own data about Dem caucuses.

[NWHarkness]

12. Good luck1 n/t