Caucus Connection

Well now that we are in an election year, it is time for me to start up my favorite broken record.  What got the record out (besides the fact that precinct caucuses are 2 months away) was this story in the Trib.

The U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday released estimates of the voting-age population of each state — showing 1.94 million Utahns are old enough to vote this year.

Meanwhile, records maintained by Lt. Gov. Greg Bell’s office show that 1.47 million Utahns are registered to vote, or just 76 percent of all adults in the state.

One out of every 4 people in this state who are old enough to vote are NOT registered to vote.  Now realize that not every single person in this state that is voting age is eligible to vote.  Convicted felons, non-citizens and non-residents are counted in the Census but they are not eligible to vote.  That is a small portion of the population though...and that does make this a troubling issue for both parties.

“That is really troubling, and improving it should be a No. 1 priority for both parties,” said Utah Republican Party Chairman Thomas Wright. Utah Democratic Party Executive Director Matt Lyon added, “That’s awful. We’re hugely concerned.”

But what is really troubling is this stat...

Also of note in 2010 elections, only one of three Utahns old enough to vote actually did — the second-lowest turnout among the states.

The Trib (of course) turns to the usual suspects for the usual excuse.

Kirk Jowers, who headed the Governor’s Commission on Strengthening Democracy set up by former Gov. Jon Huntsman to increase voter turnout, says many Utahns fail to vote or register because they feel their vote does not matter — in part because the caucus and convention system here avoids most primaries, and the big-majority GOP easily wins most elections.

Here is a hot tip for Jowers, the Trib and the rest of the caucus convention system haters...Minnesota has caucus convention system JUST LIKE UTAH'S and their voter participation rate in an OFF YEAR election is usually in the 70% range.  In the last Presidential race, while Utah could barely muster 56 turn out, almost 78% of Minnesotan's turned out to vote. So clearly the problem is not the much maligned caucus/convention system.   It's the voters.

There really is one very simple solution to Utah's poor voter turn out...increase participation in the caucus/convention system.  If the voters felt like they have ownership of the caucus/convention system (like the people of Minnesota do), then you will automatically have higher participation.  There is no mystery to it at all.  You show up at caucuses, you nominate yourself as a delegate for the county or state conventions and a vote is held.  You may not make it the first time you go (I didn't) but you continue to show up and your neighbors will realize that you are motivated to be there and will eventually.  Then you too can have a say in who comes out of convention.  Don't like the moderate Democrats?  Get to caucus and help get someone else nominated.  Don't like the Patrick Henry Caucus types?  Same advise - get to caucus, become a convention delegate and have your say! It really is that simple!

If you really want to change the system, the first thing you have to do is get your butt off of the couch.  Then register - not as an "Independent" but register with one of the two parties.  Then circle March 13 (if you are a Democrat) and March 15 (if you are a Republican).  Those are the 2012 Neighborhood Caucus dates.  The state parties will have location finders on their websites.  Make 2012 the year that you insert yourself into the candidate decision making process.  Make this year YOUR YEAR to get involved.