Utah's March 15 Caucus: To go, or not to go...

Today, with the Utah caucus finally within site (it’s on Thursday at 7 PM if you’re Republican, Tuesday if you’re a Democrat…find out where to attend here), many are still questioning whether we should even have a caucus.

Why not just hold a primary? Why do we have to sit in a room with our neighbors and elect someone else to be our delegate? Wouldn’t it be easier to just hold a primary?

It’s relevant. If there’s one thing that matters in a liberal democracy (or republic or constitutional republic or whatever the heck you want to label the American governmental system), it’s how we select our leaders. It moves from relevant to important, though, when we see how many people don’t participate. Today’s Deseret News carried the story:

The majority of Utah voters, 60 percent, have never attended a political caucus meeting and half said they will not this year either, according to a new Deseret News/KSL poll.

The poll by Dan Jones & Associates also found that 65 percent of Utah voters didn’t know what days the caucus meetings were scheduled — and even more, 72 percent, didn’t know where the meetings were being held.

Let me say, again: if you don’t know where to attend your caucus, click here.

Beyond statistics, I’ve spoken with several people in the last week who have turned to me and said: “Why do we do this? Why does Utah hold caucuses?”

Caucuses have a host of arguments both for and against them. In Utah, the caucus is the primary method that we select our candidates for public office. Delegates, at both state and county level, are selected to attend a either a state or county convention where they will vote on the candidates. They are expected to learn about those candidates in the weeks between caucus and convention so that they can make an informed decision. Most take this responsibility seriously. Some do not.

One of the great benefits of the system is that it brings politicians close to the people they represent. Because of the relatively low cost to earn a party nomination, you don’t need big bucks to run an expensive TV and print media campaign in a primary. Almost anyone can afford to meet the delegates of a legislative or school board district.

Just ask Orrin Hatch. In 1976, he ran a dark horse campaign on a relative shoe string, beat out well-known politicians for the Republican nomination, and talked voters into calling home 18-year incumbent Frank Moss. Senator Hatch has gone on to a distinguished career of 36 years as Utah’s senator…all because Utah’s caucus system allowed an underdog the same chance as a well entrenched politician with deep pockets. (I won’t mention the irony of the campaign to remove him with that history). Delegates meet the candidate, face-to-face, and make an informed decision.

Criticisms include complaints that caucuses are not well attended. With sixty percent of Utah voters having never attended one, that’s alarming. Voting in a primary is far easier and faster and have a higher rate of participation.

Which ever you think is the best method to select nominees for the ballot, right now the only way to change it is the caucus. And you might find you enjoy it. My mother attended her first caucus in Washington State just over a week ago. Her experience discussing the issues and the candidates invigorated her interest in our system and in our country.

And should I be surprised? Engagement has that effect. It’s going to the soup kitchen will warm your heart a lot more than clicking “Like” on a Kony video. When you show up, you become a part of the change, and the change becomes a part of you.

Again, March 15 at 7 PM. Look up your location, get a babysitter for the kids, and go find out how it works. You can complain about the process, but until you show up, you can’t really do much about it.

[Deseret News]