Post
by Falcrack » Wed, 6. Mar 24, 16:30
Bit of a long story incoming, my apologies in advance.
I went to the Utah Republican caucus last night, along with my wife and father-in-law. My intention was to go, drop off my ballot for Haley, and leave. But things didn't quite turn out the way I expected.
With the caucus system, the state is divided into several precincts (about 2300). Based on the number of precincts in my city, and the population size, I estimate our precinct was ~1500 people. If we assume maybe 1200 are eligible to vote, and 50% are registered Republican, that would be about 600 people, just for my precinct. You cannot mail in your ballot, it has to be hand delivered to the precinct chief in the meeting. You can have an absentee ballot printed in advance if you wish and have someone else deliver it for you, but if you don't go yourself to deliver it or have someone drop it off for you (like a spouse), your vote will not be counted. The meeting was scheduled from 6 pm to 9 pm. Whichever candidate wins the majority of votes in the precinct, that precinct vote goes toward that candidate.
Of my estimate of maybe 600 people that could have attended this meeting, there were about 30 people. Between absentee ballots and people attending in person, there were 35 votes counted. Not a great representation of democracy. If everyone who could have gone did go, we would have filled the whole school. But of course, attending is inconvenient, it is time consuming. Many obstacles in the way of all but the most committed to vote. It certainly was not widely advertised when and how people could attend this meeting. I should mention though that there were quite a few different precincts meeting at the school.
Beside the "presidential preference poll", the purpose of the meeting was to select the precinct chair, vice-chair, treasurer, secretary, and state delegates (2 per precinct) and county delegates (3 per precinct). You see, there is not actually a primary where all eligible voters get to choose the Republican candidates (which in this state is functionally equivalent to picking the winner). Only the delegates get to actually vote on who the nominees are, at the convention in Salt Lake City on April 27th. State delegates select nominees for state and federal office (like Senator, congress, and state legislature), and county delegates select nominees for county level office. From what I understand, the various candidates will contact and attempt to win over the delegates so they can become the nominees.
We showed up at 6 pm, and were alone in that classroom for the next half hour. Then slowly, others arrived. Most were familiar faces from my church. It felt like a church meeting just based on who I saw there. Most seemed to be, from their comments, supporters of Haley. The precinct chair finally showed up at 7 pm. There was an opening prayer, the pledge of allegiance, and then the Utah Republican platform was read. Then, there was the selection of the different precinct offices.
I didn't come into the meeting intending for this, but when it came time to ask who would be a nominee for state delegates, I raised my hand. I then gave an impromptu speech, where I indicated that my most important qualifications for a candidate was their honesty, integrity, thoughtfulness, virtue, and character. I also said that I was I was appalled at what had become of the Republican party over the last several years, with all the anger and contention and divisiveness. I didn't name Trump or Haley by name, however. I think most people there could deduce where I stood based on what I said.
There were 3 people in that meeting who were voted on for state delegate. Myself and another person I know from my church (I strongly suspect he is a Trump supporter) won the vote. So that means I will go to the convention in April, and along with about 4000 other delegates, select the Republican nominees for Utah.
At the end of the meeting, the final vote was counted up. 21 votes for Haley, 14 votes for Trump. Trump will still win Utah, but it felt good knowing that at least in my little corner of the state, among people I know and associate with, Trump was rejected in favor of someone with far greater sense and good character.
Pick your 
