Volunteer appreciation
Before I describe the actual events of caucus day, I want to express my appreciation to everyone who volunteered in any way with the caucus. I’ve heard democracy is messy and chaotic, and the caucus bore that out, but none of it could have happened without many Democrats giving freely of their time and effort. I want to personally thank them all.
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Becoming a caucus Precinct Chair
Last September, a representative of the Nevada State Democratic Party (NSDP) at a Human Rights Campaign event asked for volunteers to be Temporary Precinct Chairs (TPCs) at the (now recent) caucus in Nevada. The only requirement for the “job” was to be a registered Democrat.
For all my adult life, I have been registered to vote as “Party: unaffiliated,” but that day, I signed a “commit to chair” form as well as a new voter registration form. I declared myself officially a Democrat.
About six weeks later, the NSDP sent an email inviting me to attend a training session for TPCs at the newly-opened party headquarters in Las Vegas. Before the caucus last Saturday, I attended at least ten (hour-long) training sessions with the state party. Training covered caucus processes, procedures, math, potential anomalies, and delegate reporting. At every session I attended, the trainer emphasized the NSDP’s requirement that each of us approach the caucus as a representative of the NSDP, not the representative of any candidate.
Other people involved
Each caucus location was to have a “Site Lead” to perform consolidated tasks (like marking “end of line” at noon), assist with setup, coordinate volunteers (including TPCs) to post signs, check in attendees with the party’s electronic system, direct attendees to precinct-specific areas, etc. Site Leads would provide materials we needed in common (signs, tape approved by the schools for posting signs and caucus process sheets on the walls, markers for those sheets, etc.) The party would provide at least three laptops to each location. We were asked to supplement with our own laptops, tablets, etc, if possible.
Each caucus location would also have Precinct Captains from each campaign to confirm the legitimacy and accuracy of the caucus process as well as speak (when appropriate) for the candidate.
Observers (media and otherwise) would also be welcomed at each site. Party rules dictated that observers may not mingle with, speak with, or touch in any way, any attendee.
Arriving at the caucus location
The NSDP asked volunteers for any part of the caucus process to arrive by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the caucus. The materials I had received during training included a schedule for the day, along with estimates of the time each task should happen. (i.e.: 9:00, arrival; 9:15, text code to NSDP to open caucus location; 9:30-10:00, place signs to identify precinct locations and directions within the property; be available by 10:00 a.m. to begin checking in early arrivals, etc.)
From the outset, that schedule fell apart.
Including the Site Lead, TPCs, and other volunteers, the number of people in the room was barely more than the number of precincts assigned to our location. (I state the following simply as fact, with no intention to laud or disparage volunteers for either campaign.) Most of the people there at 9:00 that morning were Precinct Captains for the Clinton campaign. The Precinct Captains for the Sanders campaign arrived between 10:30 and 10:45 and met with the Site Lead separately.
The NSDP had apparently not been able to secure TPCs for multiple precincts that would caucus at our location that day — which is how I ended up running the caucus for two precincts simultaneously. I believe at least one other TPC also ran two caucus groups. Some of the Precinct Captains for the Clinton campaign agreed to forego campaign activities for the day and become TPCs.
Preparing for the caucus
While the Site Lead worked with others present to cover TPC needs, I and a Clinton campaign Precinct Captain worked out the logistics for keeping two precincts separated in the room to which we were assigned. We hung signs, placed a table in the center of the room for me to use, and discussed the NSDP’s policy of “no food, no water” at the site.
Checking in attendees
Caucus attendees had begun to arrive at the site location by 9:45 that morning. We can all be grateful for a beautiful Las Vegas day, because attendees had to stay outside until the laptops were set up and ready to begin the check-in process.
When check-in tables and laptops had been arranged, we discovered no one knew either which wifi we could use, or the password to access it. Someone located the school’s onsite representative and obtained both of those pieces of information. We opened the doors at 11:30.
Six of us sat ready to welcome attendees — four with electronic devices, two with voter registration forms for either new voters or those changing party affiliation. The (understandably) by now very impatient crowd numbered (at minimum) in the hundreds.
While I had received extensive training on the electronic system the NSDP planned to use that day, for most of the volunteers (including TPCs) who checked people in, using the system was their introduction to it. (Fortunately, it was simple and straightforward, so after just a few people had come through the line, all could use it easily.)
Some confusion occurred despite the well-designed electronic system because not everyone checking people in initially understood the need to write the person’s precinct number on her/his candidate preference card. Several people had to come back to the tables so we could add that information.
While I was busy checking people in, a very upset young woman approached me and demanded to know if I were a TPC. (The card on a lanyard around my neck said I was.) I acknowledged that I was. She was angry that Precinct Captains for the Sanders campaign had brought cases of water and snacks into one of the precinct rooms nearby. She asked for my name, and I gave it to her. I went to that room and loudly insisted all food and drink be removed immediately. I did not stay there to make sure that happened; I returned to my check-in duties.
Ready to caucus
A couple of hours later than planned, all attendees had finally been processed in, and we were ready to begin the caucus.
Before addressing the precincts in my caucus room, I spoke with the Precinct Captains from both campaigns. I asked for their assistance. I wanted counts done at each level by at least three people: me and one Precinct Captain from each campaign — my count would be the official one, but before recording any count, mine must match theirs. I also wanted at least one of them from each campaign to verify each of my calculations when determining viability numbers and delegate allocation.
I explained to both precincts in the room that my only goal at the caucus was to make sure delegates were allocated correctly based on their preferences. I asked each precinct separately to elect me as the Permanent Precinct Chair and one (non-campaign-affiliated) volunteer as Caucus Secretary to assist me with paperwork on behalf of the NSDP. Both precincts agreed.
I advised the attendees that, due to our late start, I would not read any of the (multiple) very nice letters from our elected representatives, but would ask a Precinct Captain from each campaign to read the candidate statements. The cheers that arose assured me they all approved of my decision.
The actual count, math, and candidate allotment proceeded smoothly. I moved back and forth between the two groups for each step in the process. Everyone was cooperative and helpful. We had a good time.
I distributed to each candidate’s Precinct Captains the correct number of delegate forms and asked the attendees to elect delegates and alternates to the county convention from among themselves, advising those chosen to complete the appropriate forms.
Reporting the results of the caucus
The NSDP’s system for reporting delegate counts was as well-designed as all other aspects of the process, but it didn’t work well for me for two reasons:
1. I should have been able to report results from my non-smart phone via an electronic voice system, so I gathered Precinct Captains from both campaigns to listen on speaker while I did that. Unfortunately, the cell signal was not strong enough in that part of the city for me to maintain a clear connection. I asked a Precinct Captain to use his smart phone to report the numbers so we could all witness it. The system accepted the first precinct report quickly.
2. The system failed to recognize the different precinct code number when he tried to submit the report from the second precinct. Apparently, the system was looking for a different phone number reporting as well as a different precinct code. Another Precinct Captain agreed to report from his smart phone for the second precinct. That time the system accepted the report.
Precinct Captains from both campaigns observed/verified the reports from both precincts.
Will I do it again?
By 2020, if I am still around, and the NV legislators do not change to a primary, I will participate again.
Next time, however, I will (try to) participate earlier. I will encourage the NSDP to begin volunteer recruitment and training earlier in the year. I will try to be involved in both of those processes.
Had the site been adequately staffed with volunteers, had more of us in a leadership capacity (both NSDP and campaign Precinct Captains) attended a significant number of training sessions and followed the NSDP’s rules more precisely, had the logistics on-site been better organized, I think the experience would have been much better for all involved.
After cleaning up the room and restoring to the precinct envelopes all paperwork for each, I turned in both envelopes to the Site Lead. I arrived home completely exhausted, feeling like I had been beaten with a stick.
