The Texas primary and caucus took place this evening. Some call it the Texas Two Step because for your vote to count you've got to caucus as well as vote. I don't quite understand it and apparently not many do.
My district has a very large African-American presence and is in a fairly low income neighborhood. And unlike years before (so I've heard) there was a huge voter turn out.
When you go to vote, they tell you right then and there that the polls close promptly at 7 pm and that it is very important to come back at 7:15p.m. to caucus. That was really hard for a lot of people and I was surprised by the turnout. Hundreds of people were there, all prompt, all ready to do their part and get home. At 7:30 they told us they were still waiting for the paperwork. At 7:45 they were still waiting. They split the group up and had half of us go to the school library to make the crowd more manageable. The line to get into the library was slow and it bottle-necked at the entrance. It was just not moving at all. And as an aside, it created a bizarre division, almost like "The Others" on Lost but instead there were the Library People and The Cafeteria People.
I decided to get back to the school cafeteria where I had originally been and when I walked in people eagerly asked what was happening at the library. I told them that it was worse over there. At 8:15 there was still no sign of us being able to caucus. People were tired and wanted to go home. Several people tried to get answers and apparently put the person in charge on the defensive. They were told that the police would be called and arrests would be made. At 8:30, still nothing.
By then, the precinct captain was on the phone with the lawyers from the Obama camp. We were told that what was happening was illegal and it was similar to what happened in Florida years before. By 9pm we were told that the Library People had gone home. Someone had them sign their names and the candidate they supported on a piece of copy paper, just a blank sheet of paper. I don't think that counts for anything. You need to caucus on a notarized caucus form. Signing on a piece of copy paper is like voting on the back of a McDonald's receipt. It doesn't count.
Finally the forms were brought out (shortly after 9) to the people that remained. I was able to caucus at 9:15 after 2 hours of waiting. I'm glad I stayed but this can't have been right. I spoke to one gentleman who had been up since 4:30 that morning and had to do the same tomorrow. I think he left early. I am so tired right now and hardly articulate. I just thought I should put down my experience regarding my first Texas primary. Must close eyes. Must sleep.
