Are my husband and I the only people in Washington State with a mail-in ballot? Did we miss the boat? My understanding is that these ballots are due by February 19th. I've been listening to all the hooplah surrounding recent caucuses and the ensuing "miscount", wondering why we're not hearing any mention, with the Republican race so close, about these mail-in ballots that may not even have been mailed yet, like ours. Not only did the Washington State Republican Poobah declare McCain the winner prematurely during the caucus count, he/they have not so much as mentioned MORE votes that should be expected by the 19th! Maybe YOU can explain to me (and everyone else holding onto their mail-in vote) why we should spend a stamp!!

Linda,
the Washington state republican party has two processes to choose delegates. The caucus and the primary election. The ballot you are referring to is for the primary electon. 19 of the 37 delegates from washington will be based on the results of the primary. 18 of the 37 will be based on the caucuses. 3 will be the superdelegates from the state republican officers. The washington caucus on saturday was to choose those delegates which will go to the county conventions, where delegates will be chosen to attend the state convention, where delegates will be chosen to attend the national convention. So by spending a stamp, you have the ability to influence 19 of the delegates from washington state. Had you attended your local caucus, you could have also had a hand in choosing those delegates who are going to the county convention. I hope this helps.

Would have been hard to face a class action lawsuit with too many people having attended the caucus and not had their votes counted.

(Luke Esser was 27 and still working his colleges' newspaper -- some wondered when he'd get a real job. Has his work cut out for him.)

I find it ironic (and funny), after the last gubernatorial race, the Republicans vehemently criticized the voting process and now face the same criticism within their own party.

Let's hope this doesn't deter any future participation in the voting process.

I went to my precinct caucus on Saturday and was one of the people asked to sign in and put a preference. No one seemed to know what needed to be done when it came to electing delegates and whether there should be a discussion on their preference prior to selection. Fortunately, there were a few people who had been through the caucus process in previous years that could help steer a bit, but it was all volunteers trying to read packets of information that was vague. I don't fault the volunteers at the local GOP office for this either, they just follow what the state GOP gives them. I did get elected at the precinct level as a delegate for our county level caucus and believed that I would participate in selecting our county GOP delegates for the State Caucus. What confuses me is the news stories where Luke Esser declared John McCain as the winner of the Washington State Republican Caucus when the process is clearly a long way from being finished (sometime in May I believe). If it was close between McCain and Huckabee within 2% and we haven't even elected the county delegates yet, how can you make any prediction on what the preferences of the delegates will be coming to the State Caucus level. If the caucuses will only determine 18 of 37 delegates, what correlation would the caucus precinct results have on the outcome of the 37 GOP delegates. Seems like the pressure to wrap up a McCain nomination as the GOP candidate is getting to everyone.

Having never attended one, this is my understanding of the caucus system. First, the caucus is held before the primary, (the primary requires that you be a REGISTERED voter and they check to verify) The caucus has you sign a paper saying you are a registered voter. Does anyone check? No, unless challenged. Does anyone challenge? Probably not. At the caucus, campaign as much as you like for your chosen candidate (hang signs, pass out buttons, spread unfounded rumors and speculation, do your best to convince others that your choice is the correct one. (No campaigning at the primary, and, after you vote, you cannot opt to change your vote) At the caucus, after all this "discussion", you may change your vote. Delegates are selected. They do not carry the selection of the registered voter of the State of Washington, how could they, the primary has not been held. Yet, the choice of the Democratic party is announced. The Republicans have the courtesy to wait and allow a part of their count to be made by the primary. The elite vote of the super delegates appalls me. When the Iraqui people risked their lives to stand in line to vote and proudly displayed an inked finger, I'm sure they believed "this is what democracy is all about". Wouldn't they be disappointed to find how shadowy our voting process is--I know I am and I was born here.

I don't know what a url is and I have tried several times to make a comment!!!!!!!!
So far no luck

I find the entire thing an on-going and embarassing joke. Washington elections, both local, state, and federal, are never without scandal, without legal challenges and without a lack of trust. When is Washington going to catch up with the rest of the country and do something right when it comes to voting? Washington is a JOKE!!!!

Well, I have to agree washington's voting method is a joke! Stop and think about it though, does your vote really count or are the powers that be hoping you are so ignorant of the method that they can fool you into thinking you actually make a differance? I believe the fathers of our country meant that when you voted it counted, and the majority would always be the winner. I can accept that. If my candidate loses that's fine I still had my voice by voting. Not by delegates (regular or SUPER) who let us know who we really wanted. I am for a vote is a vote and popular vote determines the winner not delegates. It is time to change the rules and return to basics as I feel was the intention in the beginning. But I am afraid that those in power will not give up their power because the people say so. We have too many sheep in our system to buck those in power and who go along with the flow in order to look like they are really concerned and are too stupid to realize how brain washed they are!

No you have to believe in the system for what it is. (In my opinion) It starts with voting for a woman, or black to get off the good old boy gold standard. Sure, Esser was hanging around writing in a youngins paper when he was getting old. But you just have to hold his feet to the hire. :) He took the first job he could get. (Those were the days when we the democratic ranks were full.)You remember the 70s, don't you? Scoop Jackson, Dixie Lee Ray.

(You just have to keep after them, that's all. Its our system At least, Esser is employed. -I'll leave it at that.-)

What in the blazes has happened to my right to choose a presidential candidate? Half the delegates are chosen at a caucus and the other half are chosen at another vote, and then I am told that if I had attended the Caucus I would have been able to vote for the first half of the delegates????? what the blazes is an absentee ballot for?? I cannot physically get to the voting booths anymore, I cannot get to the Caucuses, I cannot afford the outrageous parking fees in most of the cities around here, and opted for absentee balloting because of the afore mentioned reasons. AND NOW they are telling me it is my fault I did not get the candidate I wanted because I did not attend the caucus's??? How moronic can the politicians in washington be?? If I cannot get out to vote at the regular polling place, how in HEQQ can I get out to attend a caucus??? My vote has been effectively deleted, No wonder the other absentee ballots came in with disgruntled writing on them. Had I known that my vote would have counted virtually for NOTHING, I would have written nasty notes on it also. I am a very unhappy senior citizen, who is sick and tired of being taken advantage of, and put into a position where my opinions do not count, and now my vote no longer counts?? so why do I pay taxes? Either revamp the delegate relegations to include absentee voters who cannot attend caucuses or eliminate the blasted caucuses altogether. EVERY PERSONS VOTE SHOULD COUNT TOWARDS EVERY SINGLE DELEGATES COMMITMENT. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE TO REPRESENT ME AS WELL AS THE YOUNGER AND MORE AGILE VOTERS!