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.