Editorial: Tonight, you can pick a president

We like grass-roots democracy. Meeting at a table of neighbors to pick a presidential candidate is as hometown as politics gets. We encourage readers of this editorial page, people who we believe care about our world, to attend tonight’s caucuses.

Minnesota is one of only 13 states we know of that gathers at caucus meetings discuss and pick candidates. These caucus meetings are organized by party. For example, if you’re a resident of Hutchinson and vote Republican, you’ll go to the Hutchinson Event Center tonight. Democrats go to Hutchinson High School.

Among the 24 states selecting presidential hopefuls for today’s “Super Tuesday,” only seven will have caucus meetings. In the other 17 states, citizens show up, vote and go home – just like a general election day. Minnesotans used to vote in primary elections.

We like elections better for several reasons. Voters turn out in higher numbers at primary elections. More voters mean more citizens participating in our democracy. It also requires candidates to make their appeal to voters directly. And because they’re not atending long caucus meetings, voters don’t need a babysitter.

Why does Minnesota use less popular caucus meetings instead of primary elections? Politics is the short answer. The situation in Michigan this year helps explain how politics can influence a state’s choice on how to nominate.

Michigan’s Republican Party chair, Saul Anuzis, agreed to switch from a caucus to a primary this year and move it up to Jan. 15, if Democrats went along. This earlier date was thought to increase Michigan’s visibility in the national campaign.

Some Michigan Democrats were skeptical. Unions in Michigan can be influential at caucuses. Switching to a primary opens it up to voters, who might pick someone other than the union’s preferred candidate, Sen. John Edwards. Michigan lawmakers of both parties agreed to make the switch, and voted in primaries Jan. 15.

Like Michigan Democrats in 2008, Minnesota Republicans were surprised by the near victory of Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1952 primary. And Minnesota Democrats were surprised by voters’ support of Carey E. Kefauver. Minnesota switched to caucuses after these unruly primary votes.

Fifty years later, a popular Minnesota Republican who publishes the online magazine Politics in Minnesota believes it is time to switch back to primary elections. Sarah Janecek told us, “Today’s caucus doesn’t fit today’s Minnesota family busy with soccer practice.” The time commitment to sit at the meeting is something Ms. Janecek believes families don’t have, and “Many people are uncomfortable sharing politics with neighbors.” She believes primary elections are more “inclusive.”

We wholeheartedly agree. The concept and even the word caucus is old-fashioned. The babysitters’ union might be responsible.

The primary advantage
USA Today reported during the Iowa caucuses: “Most states have direct vote primaries at usual voting precincts which are fairly constant from election to election. States with caucuses are usually held in few locations and voters must travel to them.”

Primary types
Closed: Registered Republicans and Democrats vote in their party’s primary.
Semi-closed: Registered Independents can vote in either the Republican or Democratic primary.
Open: Republicans can vote in the Democratic primary and vice versa creating spoiler voting in some cases.