WE CAN VOTE TWICE?????, Texas Democrats Options

[theIncredibleEdi...]

I did not know that about Texas....Texas democrats can vote once in the primary, and then return for the caucus. Two votes for the price of one!

[Melanie]

Alright, the Precinct Convention (Caucus... whatever) accounts for 65 of the 228 alloted for Texas. 126 of the delegates are decided by the actual primary. The remainder are super delegates. Now, 65 is roughly 2 for every senate district, plus one at the end.

Just remember, if you voted in the primary, early vote or on election day, to return to your precinct on March 4th at 7:15 and partake in the precinct convention. If you are just there to caucus, its really simple. You just write your name under the candidate of your choice.

Now, you have a few ways of proving that you voted in the primary. First, your voter registration card. It will have the Democratic stamp on it. Second, when you vote in the primary with your Texas ID rather than your voter registration card, remind the election judges that are present for a certificate that you voted. They can be weird about it and say they don't know anything about a certificate. Don't worry, because there is the third way, your precinct chair, precinct convention chair... whoever it may be should have a printed off list of who voted in the primary in your precinct. Show them your Texas ID and they will be able to look you up.

[theIncredibleEdi...]

So, all I have to do is return at that time, write down my name under my candidate and I can leave? Or do I have to stay through something?

[Melanie]

I believe in Lubbock County you can just leave. Unless you want to declare yourself a nominee for the Texas Democratic Convention and subsequently for the Democratic National Convention. Which actually might be wise for you if you are still in Lubbock County. It is easier to run as a delegate in Republican run Senate Districts. We also have quotas to fill via the DNC. One of them is GLBT, another Young Adult (a new one), Native American (new one)... It is semicostly, but again, if you live in a Republican area, it is not that costly due to not many people are running to be delegates.

It goes from Precinct Convention to County Convention to State Convention (I think that's how Lubbock does it). If not it goes from Precinct to Senate District Convention, to state, to National. Its a fun process, one that I won't be running for this time around, I did when I was in Lubbock and was chosen as an alternate. I will be at DNC though, representing my boss.

But if you want to just caucus, then that only takes about 5 minutes, max. Unless your Convention Chair wants to be a dick and do all of the resolutions before. Then that sucks.

[Spectatrix]

Can't do the caucus. Prior obligations.

[theIncredibleEdi...]

Hmmm....I wanna be a delegate, or superdelegate or whatever!

I wanna help meet that GLBT quota...how can I? Does it cost me anything? Inform me!

[Melanie]

Superdelegates are chosen by the DNC. Delegates are chosen by the people :-) Its great. Well, I guess in theory Superdelegates are as well. They are Congressmen and Congresswomen, party heads... sometimes SDEC members.

But being a Delegate is very very fun. National Convention is so fast paced, it makes wall street look dull. And deals are made left and right, especially now that we have a few scramblers from Edwards.

[Melanie]

Well, it is an elected official position. It costs about $3000, in general. Which is why you have to fund raise. Use your fabulous powers and do a car wash. That's a really great way to make money. Or call up former state reps or senators from where you're from. Party heads. I know Lubbock County is really trying very hard to strengthen their party.

[theIncredibleEdi...]

Hmmm....I may just vote, and next time around when I have a better ability to plan ahead, i will try to become a delegate.

[Melanie]

Yeah, that's pretty smart. Get involved politically. It gets pretty addicting. You get sucked into the political social scene at all these events.

[Spectatrix]

And once you do, you can accuse everyone else in your age group of being apathetic towards politics!

[Melanie]

Christine, go look at the numbers. Statistically, persons aged 18-40 don't vote in the numbers they should. We register to vote, but most... and I did say most, don't vote. However, right now, we are seeing a big surge in Young Adults voting.

Its facts. Go look. Even in 2004, Texas Tech students didn't vote in the numbers they should have.

[Spectatrix]

Yet you weren't talking about general statistics. You were talking about the population of students on this forum, most of whom actively participate in political discussions here (at least until they degenerate into name-calling) and thus probably vote more than the average 18-40 year old (what kind of range is that anyway? I thought it was usually 18-24 or 18-30).

[Melanie]

They break up both groups 18-24 is college aged, 25-40 is considered young adult, depends on which polls you look at. And I meant a general you. I even went back and said it. You = general young adults. Now if I wanted to call people out on stuff, I would refer to their names. Not a you.

[Mommy]

Maybe people 18-40 would vote more if we weren't having to vote for the person we hate the least. I'm sorry, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna go vote in a primary between a yuppy like Obama and a freak like Hillary. Of the two, yeah, I would rather see Hillary in office. I blame politics...not apathy on the part of citizens.