First, I promise I didn't let my kids play with the Iowa Caucus smartphone app which is now apparently not functioning. I didn't even let them color all over the paper backup ballots. Even with a stack of mangled tech in our family closet, this one's not on us.
That said, I don't think a smartphone app fail is the end of the Iowa Caucus, or is really such a terrible, horrible thing. It's sort of a tempest in a teapot. Or even perhaps a good thing. This year we had paper ballots as a backup, and they'll get counted and sorted out eventually. I was present last night to see each viable candidate's precinct captain certify the final count, and I don't think there was any conspiracy or cheating. Also, I'd rather see tech fail for a state caucus with paper backups, than in the general election. It keeps us humble.
I think it's also helpful for each of the candidates, because they can move on to New Hampshire with some extra unusual buzz in the air. Usually, today's the day someone has dropped out after a poor showing in Iowa, and I'm glad that hasn't happened yet this time around. There's quite a few good folks running, and I'd like to see each of them go further.
My little effort to move family-friendly caucuses has touched other hearts and minds, and there's a bit more media attention to this issue, as noted by a columnist in the Cedar Rapids Gazette, NPR, and in Warren's effort to provide childcare at caucuses. I want that momentum to continue to grow.
My own kids enjoyed our little caucus, and came home with a fair amount of campaign swag--stickers, pins, and posters. They also got to schmooze with campaign organizers and caucus-goers, and mostly enjoyed the evening. Stay tuned, they may be on a ticket someday.
I enjoyed the night. I was the only one to show up for Tulsi, but I was able to give a speech on her behalf. I got to know the one person for Yang, and the one person for Steyer. I had great conversations with the precinct captains for Biden, Warren, Amy, Pete, and Bernie, as well as the caucus runners. The mood was collegial and cooperative. Because I showed up, Elizabeth Warren was able to get the one more person needed to meet viability in my precinct, and I'm now an alternate delegate for the state convention. Nobody should be forced to sit out the caucus due to parenting, caregiving, or work responsibilities, or even transportation.
Having seen the paper ballots at work and the delegate certification process, I'd like to see the following next year:
1. There should be absentee ballots/ preference cards, to be received no later than the Friday before so they can be separated into precincts and counted by the time the caucus begins Monday night. That way, anyone who simply can't make it can participate.
2. The ballots/ preference cards (both absentee and in-person) should allow people to rank their first, second, and third choices (to allow for viability re-alignments). It's useful information to candidates to know who people 'walked in the door for,' who they were willing to team up with to meet another group's viability, and who they ultimately would consider if neither their first or second choice were available. That information can help unite tickets and build broad support coalitions later on and help prevent 'burn it all down' disengagement and bitter party fractures.
3. The ballots/ preference cards should also include a spot to indicate that the person is willing to serve as a delegate, alternate delegate, or consider running in the future (options that were presented to me at my precinct.
4. The ballots/ preference cards should also have a place to support the petitions of the various candidates for state office. Unfortunately, a lot of folks missed the petitions on the table as they walked in, for both our U.S. Rep. and our Senate seat that are up this year. The participant cards for a caucus aren't anonymous anyway, so it could easily be included.
5. I'm assuming that precinct counts get reported first to the ward chair, then to the county chair, then to the state, so only 99 folks have to make the phone call to the state chair, and that there's more than one person answering phones at the state level. Or at least I hope so.
Here's my little page for supporting Family-Friendly Caucuses. I didn't get a lot of time to spend on it, as I work full-time and parent four young children mostly on my own. However, hopefully it will help others. I appreciate your input!
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