NEW: Nevada Democrats release turnout numbers as of 5 p.m. 11,800 people! In one day of early vote! (About 84,000 people total participated in the caucus in 2016, for context.) https://t.co/IgrWdQH1lL
— Megan Messerly (@meganmesserly) February 16, 2020
From commentor Schmendrick:
I promised to report back on my experience while early “voting” in the Nevada caucus, so here goes.
I arrived at the nearest early voting site at 11:00 am. It was scheduled to be open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. The line at 11:00 am appeared to have at least 200 people in it and I hadn’t moved more than a few feet after about five minutes. At that point I walked inside the school cafeteria and volunteered to help. About 8 hours later I was the final voter of the day at that voting site. In between I spent my time walking up and down the line counting people and telling them an estimate of the time it would take and explaining the process once they got to the registration table.
I have neither the time, nor the skill to weave a compelling story of my adventure, but I will list a few observations that might interest the jackaltariat.
Since this was the first ever early voting activity for a Nevada Democratic Party caucus, there are no previous turnout figures to compare with what happened yesterday. The person in charge of the voting site was competent and organized but he had a limited number of volunteers assigned. I believe he called in a few friends from previous campaigns at the last minute and a few of us volunteered spontaneously when we saw the long lines, so we ended up with about a dozen people helping throughout the day.
At the beginning of the day there was a bit of a learning process and about 75 to 90 voters per hour were completing the process. The bottleneck was the step of looking up the voter registration to verify that they would get the voting card for the correct precinct and to ensure that no one voted multiple times. By the end of the day voters were going through at a rate of about 125 an hour. I can estimate this pretty accurately because there were 128 people in line at 6:00pm when we closed the door and the last voter’s ballot (mine) went in the box at 7:02.
The longest waiting time was well over 3 hours for people who arrived in the late morning. Late afternoon arrivals probably averaged less than two. The total for this voting location was close to one thousand early votes cast.
I did not have any official information about what was happening at the other voting sites around town (Las Vegas), but there were individuals from several campaigns observing who were in touch with other campaigns volunteers at the other sites and the indirect report was that all of the other sites but one were also very busy. When the line was at its peak (about 350 people) I informed the people towards the back of this rumor and perhaps one or two dozen left to try there luck at the other site (about 7 miles away). A few people so disgruntled about the line that they called for their huff and departed in it, but it was striking to me how determined most people were to cast their vote and maintained good spirits.
During the day the party and some of the campaigns provided water and pizza and other snacks to the people waiting in line. There were a few very minor instances of asking campaign people to move a little further from the actual voting area, but from my perspective everyone was co-operative and the discussions were all in good faith. Since I was the one trying to ensure fairness, and the layout of the voting site included a sequence of gates and courtyards before the interior of the building there was room for debate about where the boundaries of the voting place were, there was some negotiation about where the campaign workers could be, but it seemed to me that there were no significant confrontations and the overall attitude was a very encouraging blend of enthusiasm for particular candidates leavened with a very healthy dose “Voting Blue, No Matter Who”.
My very unofficial assessment of people wearing buttons, shirts, hats or other indicia of preference is:
People with no outward sign of their preference more than 90%
Of the people with some sign of their preference, the most may have been Sanders, with Warren a close second. There were a few for Mayor Pete, and Biden.
In terms of campaign staff I think the largest contingent was the YangGang, followed by the Sanders and Warren people. The Biden campaign also had a representative their all day. I think the other campaigns may have been represented for part of the day, but I am not sure.
Finally, I had a celebrity sighting. I helped a certain famous Las Vegas magician update his voting registration so he could vote. He lives about a mile away from me but I had never met him in person before.
Now I need to get busy studying for my job at the caucus this Saturday.
Thank you for your service, and best luck on Saturday!
debbie
The first hour of NPR’s On Point focused on Nevada, with commentary by Jon Ralston of the Nevada Independent. It was very interesting and pretty much jibe’s with Schmendrick’s observations.
Kent
Crossing my fingers for Warren.
charon
Jon Ralston has a twitter:
(If you scroll down, there is reporting on turnout)
https://twitter.com/RalstonReports
Schmendrick
I just made some further comments on another thread (Hurry up and F*^k Up) about the Nevada Caucuses, and since Annie Laurie was so gracious as to repost my earlier remarks about my early voting experience, I thought I would repeat these other remarks here. Sort of a one-stop shop for Schmendrick’s excellent Nevada Caucus adventures. So cut from the thread below:
One important point is that four years ago the process in Nevada was a “typical” caucus system. That meant that if you could not or would not go somewhere and stand in a room and publicly declare your choice for a candidate, and then stand around and listen while others (and maybe yourself0 tried to convince other voters to switch to a “viable” candidate, then you did not get to participate in selecting the nominee. In my case, I was out of town (and the country if I remember correctly) so I did not get to influence the Nevada delegation to the convention.
In an effort to involve more people, and accommodate the many shift workers in the entertainment industry whose work schedule makes caucusing a challenge, the party came up with the new, hybrid early “sort-of-ranked-choice” voting/caucus system we are trying to pull-off as I write. Starting two days ago and until tomorrow evening there are dozens of early voting sites where voters can register or update their registration if necessary, and then list 3 to 5 preferences. In a somewhat complicated way these ballots will be used this Saturday as “virtual caucusees” (my term) to determine the number delegates for each candidate at the precinct, county, state level (and national level for delegates from Nevada.)
So they changed the system of participation a lot, to make it easier for many more people to participate. Given this major change (which I think was a step in the right direction) there was bound to be a major change in the process used to tabulate and report the results.
For those who are really curious about the nuts and bolts of the process there is a document on the NVDems.com website which details the rules for delegate selection. Using your favorite search engine on “Nevada State Delegate Selection Plan” should get you to the pdf file, if you like.
The good news, from my perspective, is that according to my training and everything I have witnessed so far in the early vote process, each step of the way includes a paper record of the vote counts. This includes how many people originally voted for each candidate, and how many ended up with each candidate, from the basic precinct level. So if I am acting as a Precinct Chair on Saturday (which is likely unless there are “extra” volunteers), part of my responsibilities will be to record the initial vote counts (both present and early voters) , to record the final vote counts after re-alignment due to non-viability, and to record the allocation of delegates based on these counts. This written record will be signed (signed by representatives of each campaign which is present, and myself) and in some manner transmitted to the state level for aggregating the results.
The purpose of the “app” was to streamline the collection of the data for faster reporting, but I am quite sure that the new scheme with the iPads is also only to expedite the data collection. The “official” results will be based on the collection and collation of the written records from each precinct.
In my case, I believe there may be about a dozen precinct caucuses held in the same building (a large local high school). As a precinct chair I will walk my results down the hall to the caucus site lead, who will package them up with the other precincts there and forward them to the state party.
Since we are in Las Vegas, where the state party is located, I would not be surprised if the site lead delivered these sealed results personally, but I have not looked in to the rules regarding that as of yet. Because I have CDO (it’s like OCD, except the letters are in alphabetical order — as they should be) I will probably look into that before I surrender my written records to my site lead. I also plan to take a picture of the results summary (as can anyone else at the caucus since the results are posted on the wall during the process for all to see.) This means that if we had a functioning system of news reporting that any organization with enough staff to have someone at each caucus site could photograph the reports, send the pictures to a central place and hav someone enter the data and with a spreadsheet pre-programmed with the formulas from the plan mentioned above, could generate the delegate counts as fast as they could transcribe the numbers from precinct reports to the spreadsheet.
If I wasn’t ten years retired (and out of coding shape – so to speak) I probably could have set up the spreadsheet myself in a day or two. Back in the day we had to write code by chiseling holes in clay punchcards, and we liked it! Now get of of my lawn!
TaMara (HFG)
I have questions, but first, how terrific was it for you jump in and volunteer! Kudos for seeing the problem and being part of the solution.
I am fascinated by all of this and very curious.
How does early voting work for a caucus? Do you get to pick 1-2-3 choices? What makes it different than a primary if you’re not in a room being herded into groups? Does it just mean you can vote, but you are around to pick the delegates on the 22nd? The NVDems.com FAQs were less than helpful.And nevermind, because while I was typing, @Schmendrick: answered my questions. Thanks!!
Baud
@Schmendrick:
Thanks for the reporting.
Betty Cracker
@Schmendrick: Thank you not only for reporting but also for doing this work. Very civic-minded of you!
Baud
@Betty Cracker: You always gotta one up me.
:-\
BGinCHI
Doing yeoman’s work there, Schmendrick.
Happy to see that Ralston is doing the debate moderating. Not sure who he’s doing it with, but guessing it will be better than that war-mongering shitstain from ABC they got last time.
Go Warren!!
Dorothy A. Winsor
I have my fingers crossed that all this goes smoothly (and that my choice, Warren, does well).
Marcopolo
@Schmendrick:Thanks for being involved in the sausage making! I’m hoping that BJers posting about how they are involved in the elections this year and working for campaigns will spur on further involvement by others on the blog.
This is a little more related to the thread below on Warren/BB & redlining but yesterday while I was at a friends with 8 other people a paid Bloomberg canvasser came by. While we told him we were happy he had a paid election year job we also let him know that Bloomberg was no one’s choice (like unless he was the last candidate standing). I think in all my time in the various states I’ve lived in (but never an early voting state) I have never before seen a paid canvasser for a D presidential primary.
We’ll be voting March 10 where I currently live.
Also too, anyone remember the guy who used to write about all of JEB’s “Brinks trucks filled with cash” and how that was going to win the GOP primary for him? He really should be here now talking about Bloomberg.
Off to grocery shop, everyone have a nice day.
sdhays
@Schmendrick: This is fascinating. It almost sounds like a backdoor primary in a caucus.
pamelabrown53
@Marcopolo:
How did Bloomberg’s paid canvasser respond?
Gin & Tonic
@Baud: Brevity is only sometimes the soul of wit.
Schmendrick
I feel as though I may be getting more credit than I deserve for my efforts here, but a long time ago a wise person told me this (getting more credit than one deserves) will happen occasionally — and when it does, just graciously accept it– because sooner or later you will get the blame for something you didn’t do; so it all evens out.
Since I have a corner of the soapbox for a few minutes I would like to share a bit more. I became politically involved to a much greater degree after 9/11. Since my son was a soldier assigned to a SOG at Ft. Bragg at the time I had a vested interest in whether or not we invaded Iraq to attack the enemy of Osama bin Laden. As a result I was involved in the Howard Den campaign and made phone calls and canvassed and was even his “stunt double”*. I learned how much I hated making phone call and canvassing door-to-door. I was a bit disillusioned after the whole “scream” kerfuffle and became much less involved until the orange fart cloud started inflicting his wave of corruption and inhumanity on everything most of us hold dear. So I tried again and in 2018 I stood at the shopping center and registered voters. For me, this was way more in my comfort zone. I didn’t mind talking to strangers in a public place — I just hated invading their space (either their front door or telephone). So I found something that I like to do and it gives me great satisfaction to do some little thing to feel like I am pushing back.
So if anyone out there is feeling exasperated about where things are going but don’t feel comfortable about calling or canvassing or registering voters at the mall, keep looking for a way to push back that suits your temperament.
* I am about the same size and complexion as Howard Dean, so I got to stand at the podium while they focused lights and cameras on me to prepare for a rally.
Brachiator
@Schmendrick:
Very interesting stuff. Thanks for your report.
Martin
@Marcopolo: My understanding of the escalation here is that the GOP started using PACs/SuperPACs in response to Dem unions compensating their members (to some minor degree) for canvassing. Bloomberg is reweaponizing things.
Understand, there is no end to this escalation because there is no regulator on the system – nothing to stop it. I’m willing to bet the next incarnation is to combine doorhanging with an existing business that visits homes frequently – UPS or Doordash, etc. Basically turning the service of ‘we’ll hang your thing on a door’ into a more cost-effective service. The Jeff Bezos for President campaign is going to have this optimized to the 9s.
I’m torn wether we should continue to lurch slowly through this escalation, with both parties seeing opportunities to gain an advantage on the other, as Dems saw with unions and the GOP with PACs, or just race to the end and prove that this is fucking stupid and a massive waste of money by breaking it as aggressively as possible (in our favor).
Martin
@Schmendrick: Did you scream? I would not have been able to resist.
(((CassandraLeo)))
Thanks for this detailed report. Really great stuff.
Were there lots of Yang supporters even after he’d suspended his campaign, or is that part a bit old? If it’s more recent than his campaign suspension, I find that curious. (I also don’t think I’ve actually met a Yang supporter in person.)
Cēterum cēnseō factiōnem Rēpublicānam esse dēlendam.
mad citizen
I want to add my thanks to you Schmendrick for your work and reporting.
This is a rare work day for me where there are no meetings, calls or webinars to cover. I’m assuming due to Presidents Day. Was just thinking, this holiday should be moved to Election Day in November.
delk
Any screaming Susan Sarandon sightings?
lee
I can think of 4: The tiger bit one, the not tiger bit one, the tall one and the short one.
I can see why you referred to them so vaguely. If the tall one was caught voting in the Democratic primary it might lose him some fans bois.
lee
@delk: LOL
/internet high-five
pamelabrown53
@Schmendrick:
What a great comment! While I so admire the phone bankers and canvassers, I fear my being an introvert is a waste in that role.
In Hillary’s 2016 campaign, I housed a community organizer for a couple of months. Also, I offered my home for neighborhood staging areas.
Please know I’m not patting my self on the back: there is much more I could do going forward and would love other jackal suggestions. My point is that we introverts can provide necessary assistance.
WaterGirl
@pamelabrown53:
As someone who has gone to another state to volunteer before, I can say that housing a volunteer in your home is a big Joe Biden deal.
As is offering your your home as a staging area.
If you’re in a state where anything will be happening in the next couple of months, have you picked a candidate and offered anything like that again.
Much respect!
pamelabrown53
@WaterGirl:
Thank you for your wonderful reply: it was very encouraging.
WaterGirl
@pamelabrown53:
What would have happened if there had been no housing for that person?
Think about everything that volunteer accomplished in that 2 months.
You made that happen.
Schmendrick
@lee: I really don’t want to identify anyone in particular, but I will say that I have seen this person perform on TV many times, but never heard him speak!
Joy in FL
@Schmendrick: Thanks so much for the first-hand info. I learned a lot from your posts and from those of many of the other commenters.
I just put a Warren sign in my yard today : ) Phone banking for her on Wednesday.
debbie
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
Me too, but …
?
evinfuilt
@Schmendrick: That narrows it down 100% Pretty cool celebrity to see. He knows a conman when he see’s one (after all, he’d describe himself as an honest conman.)
rivers
@(((CassandraLeo))): Wow a passive periphrastic within an indirect statement, I’m incredibly impressed.
feebog
@Schmendrick
Love that you stepped up and volunteered the entire day. And thanks for the update. It seems like the updated caucus system is a step in the right direction as it allows far more folks to get involved. But why not just have a regular primary?
J R in WV
@feebog:
When you say “why not a regular primary?” I think the difference would be rolled up if ranked choice voting was enabled in the primary vote count.
I’m not sure 15% is the right number to eliminate a candidate, but that’s up to the local party. Some use that number, don’t know how it was derived.
charon
@J R in WV:
15% is the number the DNC mandates for primaries.
Details at the Green Papers.
https://www.thegreenpapers.com/P20/D