Arguments Against Caucuses
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CAUCUSES AND THEIR IMPACT ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONSmore prevalent in caucus goers, but also mobilization (Hersh, 2011, p.691). Those who attend caucuses are also likely the citizens who volunteer for their party or end up being a selected delegate as opposed to their primary counterparts. This also suggests that caucus goers are a large part of the voice and activists who are willing to go above and beyond within a political party. There are many criticisms against caucuses and some would go as far to say that caucuses should be gotten rid of all together. One of the biggest arguments against caucuses is that in the general presidential election, these methods are not used. Why be inconsistent with our methodology (Hersh, 2011, p. 690)? …show more content…
425). Voter turnout is also a main reason why many do not feel as though caucuses are a legitimate means of selecting candidates. In the 2008 presidential election,
1.1 million votes were cast across Texas’ caucuses, who is a unique “two-step” state that holds both primaries and caucuses. Almost three times as many (2.9 million) voters turned out for the primary voting. This number is likely due to the complicated nature of caucuses as discussed below (Panagopoulos, 2010, p. 425).
Another major criticism against caucuses is that they are too time consuming for some or that their structure in general has little logic behind it or is outdated. Some claim that arcane rules and demands of the caucus will discourage voters, especially new voters, from attending and participating. A caucus is held at a certain place at a certain time on a specified date. This does not leave much room for error when it comes to people’s regular lives and schedules and it is likely that the designated time and dates do not work for many voters (Panagopoulos, 2010, 427).
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CAUCUSES AND THEIR IMPACT ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONSThis also helps to explain why voter turnout is smaller than that of primaries: primaries are
CAUCUSES AND THEIR IMPACT ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONSmore prevalent in caucus goers, but also mobilization (Hersh, 2011, p.691). Those who attend caucuses are also likely the citizens who volunteer for their party or end up being a selected delegate as opposed to their primary counterparts. This also suggests that caucus goers are a large part of the voice and activists who are willing to go above and beyond within a political party. There are many criticisms against caucuses and some would go as far to say that caucuses should be gotten rid of all together. One of the biggest arguments against caucuses is that in the general presidential election, these methods are not used. Why be inconsistent with our methodology (Hersh, 2011, p. 690)? …show more content…
425). Voter turnout is also a main reason why many do not feel as though caucuses are a legitimate means of selecting candidates. In the 2008 presidential election,
1.1 million votes were cast across Texas’ caucuses, who is a unique “two-step” state that holds both primaries and caucuses. Almost three times as many (2.9 million) voters turned out for the primary voting. This number is likely due to the complicated nature of caucuses as discussed below (Panagopoulos, 2010, p. 425).
Another major criticism against caucuses is that they are too time consuming for some or that their structure in general has little logic behind it or is outdated. Some claim that arcane rules and demands of the caucus will discourage voters, especially new voters, from attending and participating. A caucus is held at a certain place at a certain time on a specified date. This does not leave much room for error when it comes to people’s regular lives and schedules and it is likely that the designated time and dates do not work for many voters (Panagopoulos, 2010, 427).
8
CAUCUSES AND THEIR IMPACT ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONSThis also helps to explain why voter turnout is smaller than that of primaries: primaries are