Our Primary Responsibility
By Wes Hessel
We Have A Choice To Make
The run up to the presidential election, this year on November 3rd is two tiered. The last pair of events in the process are the conventions of the two main political parties, where they nominate their candidates for president. Interestingly, the delegates to those conventions are chosen by a system of state primaries and caucuses.
Primarily Choosing Or, Caucus Talk-ups
To clarify the nominating process; most states hold primary elections, a few others hold caucuses. Presidential primary elections are held by the states that have them, with primary elections for state, county or municipal offices. Caucuses however, are “private” events, run by the party whose delegates are being chosen.
The Presidential Conventions
Back to the political presidential conventions. Each party sets the number of delegates who represent a given state. Most states have either a primary election or caucus process which is binding (via state government or party rules).
Winning Is Worth It
Most of a state’s delegates, are promised to the candidate that wins the majority of votes. Or, divvied up proportionally based on the ratio of votes received by each candidate. In some states, there is a threshold that must be met before delegates can be awarded, such as the 15% requirement in delegate rich California.
Party Affiliation May or May Not Matter
In any primary, whatever the process, a voter can only vote for a candidate of one party affiliation. In some states you can only vote within the party you are registered to. If you are registered as an Independent in some states, you can choose which party you vote with. Still other states have ‘open primaries’ where it is left up to the voter to decide which party they will choose a candidate from.
The Most Important Choice
The Democratic candidates are battling it out on the debate stage, and on the ground from the Carolinas to California. The Democratic presidential nomination at this time is wide open. The Republican Party candidate is, unfortunately, a given – incumbent Donald Trump.
Our Part
Where our part comes in, is in the choice of the candidate for the Democratic Party who can beat Trump. If we do our job right, we will pick a candidate that can take back the White House for all people. So please consider not only the positions and platforms of those vying for the nomination, but just as importantly, the one you believe can beat Donald Trump in the general election.
Of, By, and For
In both cases, the most important choice we have is, TO VOTE. Whether your state has a primary or a caucus system, take part, make your voice heard. In the upcoming general election, we as Americans must show we are still a “government of the people, by the people, for the people”.
https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2019/02/12/efforts-curtail-voting-rights/
