Slog - Comments on Re: Busy Signals, Full Voice Mail, and the Unregistered Catch-22

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 14:41:53 -0800

Has it occurred to them that a process that requires 20 staffers to bust their asses and still not get to all of the calls is a broken process?

You shouldn't have to make a call to find out where and how to vote. Paper ballots, and fuck the caucuses next time, and forever.

Even though they favor my candidate.

Comment by Cato the Younger Younger

Cato the Younger Younger — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 14:55:34 -0800

I can help out if they need it!! Pick me!!! ((holding hand up))

Comment by Democra-what-ic party?

Democra-what-ic party? — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:02:59 -0800

I'm not sure I'd go so far as to call it a "tremendous interest in the caucus process" so much as "democratic voters are pissed because we just found out a couple of days before the primaries that our votes wouldn't matter and now we're scrambling."

Comment by SpookyCat

SpookyCat — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:03:48 -0800

If you aren't registered, then try a neighbor's name; everyone should be going to the same place, right?

Comment by Will in Seattle

Will in Seattle — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:12:54 -0800

@1 - that's why this year you can look it up on the web - which they've been trying to add as fast as they can - it's way worse outside of our state apparently.

Good point, SpookyCat.

Want to help out? Show up at the caucus location at Noon (or 12:30) and volunteer to help - people for the info table, locating precincts, and helping with voter reg in person are going to be in short supply.

Comment by josh

josh — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:13:55 -0800

@3, we've known for many years that the primary would be meaningless.

Comment by Andy Niable

Andy Niable — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:21:56 -0800

@6 amen to that--there was plenty of chatter about it back when there was a push to eliminate the primary altogether, am i right? oh, that's right, that means you would have had to be paying attention to your government BEFORE Horserace 2008 got into high gear...

Comment by kate

kate — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:31:09 -0800

A few of my coworkers who have recently moved to Seattle are using this site instead to figure out their caucus site.

http://41dems.org/gmap/caucus.html

Comment by Charlie

Charlie — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:48:01 -0800

I was about to post the site that Kate did too. I tried it out. It works. Read the warnings if you type in your address. Basically the say that it is important to make sure Google Maps places your address just right, esp. if you are near a precinct border.

But it's real easy and works well.

Comment by Jiberish

Jiberish — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:50:53 -0800

thanks for the phone numbers...i just found out that my new voter card was issued to me feb 1st after i changed my address back in november

Comment by Mickymse

Mickymse — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:27:27 -0800

Have you considered that the parties don't want you choosing the candidates if you weren't aware that the primary is meaningless and don't know where your precinct caucus is being held?

If you only participate in democracy once or twice every four years, what makes you think you're entitled to influence who the candidates are?

Comment by N in Seattle

N in Seattle — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:45:50 -0800

The 43rd Dems website has a link on its caucus-info page to what looks like a really cool tool that can be used by people who aren't registered. Clicking on By Address under the "Find your precinct" header takes you to a tool that must have been produced by the Democratic Chairs group. It's a Google map on which you can zoom in to the location of your house (use "hybrid", and maybe you'll even see your own roof). Once you're looking at the right place, click the location and it'll tell you which precinct you're in and where it caucuses.

Did you know that the crater of Mt. Rainier is in precinct 02-058, and that like all of the 2nd LD it caucuses at Graham-Kapowsin High School? I found that using the above-mentioned tool.

Comment by bellevue & belmont

bellevue & belmont — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:52:46 -0800

There is no more catch 22!

* http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/walookup (you can enter in garbage for your phone number and email, there's no error checking)
* http://41dems.org/gmap/caucus.html (enter your address in at the bottom of the page, the address of the caucus site is shown in the upper right hand corner)

Both of these sites help unregistered voters

Comment by George

George — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:56:53 -0800

I have heard that the http://41dems.org/gmap/caucus.html does NOT have the most recent precinct info. (It changed very recently.) Can anyone confirm that?

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:06:48 -0800

Mickeymse @11 -- the, uh, constitution?