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Caucus chaos in Grayson Co. Save Email Print
Posted: 6:56 PM Mar 5, 2008
Last Updated: 6:56 PM Mar 5, 2008
Reporter: Emi FitzGerald
Email Address: emi.fitzgerald@kxii.com

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GRAYSON COUNTY, Tex. -- Nearly 24 hours after polls closed, caucus votes are still being counted in Texas. It caused some confusion here in Grayson County. Emi FitzGerald reports from the Sherman Municipal Airport.

The airport was just one of several polling places across Grayson County. For some, the Democratic Caucus process was confusing from the start, but some voters say what happened here added to the chaos.

"As bad as it was, I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up in the trash," voter Sandra Gabriel says. It’s a frustrating statement after what Gabriel calls a frustrating night. Gabriel came to the Sherman Municipal Airport, voted in the Democratic Primary, and then returned Tuesday night for the party caucus.

"We had to go through this door to outside to the patio area, I’ll call it the patio because it had picnic tables."

Gabriel says at least fifty people sat outside while judges were wrapping up the regular voting. She says someone who looked like an official asked if they knew what to do, and even asked for volunteers to help figure out the process while voters stood outside, in the cold, watching a few people inside.

"He told us we were being rude and needed to stop being rude, being disorderly, to do everything in order. At that time we were wondering if he was talking to us, because nobody had been out of order. And really, considering the circumstances, we could have been, but we weren’t. We were waiting to do our business and go home."

In other parts of Grayson County, caucuses were packed full of people, an unusual site for a presidential primary. In December party leaders decided to combine all of Grayson County's precincts into groups of three, with each group voting in one location, which made for a crowded caucus.

"The different precincts are trying to caucus with a large number of people in each instance. I'm sure it made it very awkward," National Democratic Party member and super delegate Bob Slagle said.

Gabriel says the voters at the airport finally cast their ballots writing on picnic tables or a window ledge.

"I don't know if they can even understand what names are on that paperwork. And at this point, I wouldn't even trust that the paperwork went in the right hands."

Grayson County Democratic Party chair Tony Beaverson says he mailed each precinct judge detailed instructions for the caucus weeks ago, and there was a communication breakdown between Republican and Democratic judges here, but all agree it's exciting to see so many people performing their civic duty.

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Posted by: Bettye Location: Savannah, Georgia on Mar 9, 2008 at 09:21 PM
Well from what I read, I see why Hillary won in Texas. The Clinton's, who are both Liars/Lawyers, lied not once, but twice to get into the White House, and lied again on their way out, and Texas is trying to send them back a third time. I pity the fool!

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 7, 2008 at 08:56 PM
But being black doesn't have anything to do with it. Would it be worth mentioning if the handful of people interviewed had been only male? Or older than thirty? Or wearing coats? No. But if they're black, that obviously relates to dissatisfaction over the Texas Democratic primary caucus. You're being ignorant, even if not on purpose.

Posted by: TX Location: Texas on Mar 7, 2008 at 12:19 PM
Im not making a joke or being mean.

Posted by: TX Location: Texas on Mar 7, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Thats all the people I saw.

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 7, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Yes! It's the black people! Brilliant!

Posted by: TX Location: Texas on Mar 7, 2008 at 09:31 AM
On KXII and the Dallas Stations, the only people I saw complaining where black people.

Posted by: Mork Location: Ork on Mar 6, 2008 at 10:41 PM
I think we had a dangling chad issue. I hate it when my chad dangles!!

Posted by: Ralph Location: Denison on Mar 6, 2008 at 11:39 AM
To Voter(r)...Next to the word "whiner" in the dictionary is a picture of one of your own, Rush Limbaugh.

Posted by: John Pack Location: Sherman, TX on Mar 6, 2008 at 10:44 AM
It was much the same at the "caucus" I attended. The was no prior voting verification and over 50 people stood around not knowing what to do with no guidance whatsoever. This system has to go. Really though, if us Democrats were seriously organized would we look like Republicans?

Posted by: Voter(r) Location: Sherman on Mar 6, 2008 at 10:34 AM
Isn't it interesting that the only ones whining to the media were the DEMS? GOP folks worked out the problems and moved forward. DEMS want to blame everyone else instead of taking personal responsibility. Maybe it's just my imagination.

Posted by: Ralph Location: Denison on Mar 6, 2008 at 12:02 AM
Texas needs to dump the caucus. I have voted in several Presidential primaries over the years , but this was my first caucus. It was virtual chaos. About 50 people caucused in my precinct, and no one verified that any of the 50 voted in the primary, let alone had their card stamped with the correct political party. From what I have read, caucuses throughout the state were characterized by the same or worse.

Posted by: Larry Chaplin Location: Sherman, TX on Mar 5, 2008 at 08:36 PM
Caucauses without organization invite chaos. As for those that live far from their voting site there is early voting AND those that are age 65 and over OR are disabled should vote absentee through the mail as I have for many years.

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 5, 2008 at 08:01 PM
call me dumb, i don't care, but what the heck is a caucus?

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