Comments about ‘Letter: Political middle ground’

No, the process does not exclude voters, although many voters may exclude THEMSELVES by not making the effort to PARTICIPATE in the process. Of course, you must be a member of a party in order to have a voice in choosing that party's candidate, but this only makes sense. If you decide to not participate, or you want to create your own party, you are free to make those choices. But the current caucus system should continue as is. It works.

Or you could just support an unaffiliated candidate by signing a petition and getting their names on the ballot. The process Utah has selected doesn't exclude anyone instead it allows those who wish to use the political party method to do so yet you are alienated?

Let me quote "Candidates who do not wish to affiliate with a ballot-approved political party may appear on the ballot by submitting a petition. Candidates for the office of President or US Senator must submit a petition with the signatures of at least 1,000 registered Utah voters. Candidates for the US House of Representatives must submit a petition with the signatures of at least 300 registered voters residing within the political division or at least 5% of the registered voters residing within a political division, whichever is less, when the nomination is for an office to be filled by the voters of any political division smaller than the state."

If you don't like that you only need 2,000 registered voters to start a political party who agrees with Democrats on economic issues and Republicans on social issues. If so many agree with you your party will be successful.

The writer said, "This means that the process Utah has selected to choose candidates for political office excludes the majority of voters."

He missed the point entirely. Each PARTY selects candidates to represent their PARTY. Surely the writer knows that each candidate on a ballot is identified by his political affiliation. Why does the letter writer want to give non-Republicans the right to select which Republicans will represent the Republican Party?

If 55% of the people are not affiliated with any party in Utah, then why aren't independant candidates elected to office?

Those calling for a change in the system seem to totally misunderstand how the system works and they seem to totally misunderstand the meaning of "representative democracy".

You do not have to be a registered Democrat to attend the Democratic caucus.

Somebody who loves political parties, please explain how parties are in people's best interest. I would love to see them stripped of all official status and power. Make them truly private entities. Don't let the state track party registration. Don't give parties the power to put candidates on the general election ballot. Don't allow party names anywhere on a ballot.

@Roland Kayser,

Likewise, you do not have to be a registered Republican to attend the Republican caucus. You just cannot vote in the caucus (or in a Republican Primary) unless you are a registered Republican.

Only Republicans choose the candidates to appear as the eventual nominees on the General Election ballot for ALL voters to consider as legally authorized per Utah Code 20A-8-401 (2) (c). We do not allow non-Republicans to choose the nominees because the vast majority of Republicans do not believe in allowing "mob rule" (non-Republicans) to swamp out Republican's legal right to choose their own nominees for the General Election. Don't like our nominees, then don't vote for them.

Not true.

I attended 3 of the 4 major party caucuses.

The Republican Caucuses was the only one closed to non-members.
Every other party – like a good Mormon Church - allowed anyone in, visitors welcome.

True, I was allowed to vote – but I was welcomed to attend and listen.

Ironically, only the heavily Mormonated Republican party was exclusive.

I couldn't even go in [until hours later, when I was able to sneek in the back, as someone else was coming out].

I wonder how the Utah Mormons will react when the GOP finally drops the whole Roe v. Wade issue?
As far as I can see, it's the Red-herring issue the GOP uses time and again to get their votes.

What one poster said about being kept out of a Republican caucus was totally false. We had several people attend our precinct's caucus who were not registered Republicans. They had the right to attend. They had the right to listen. They were NOT allowed to speak before the precinct and they were NOT allowed to vote.

Anyone who read the rules published by the Republican Party BEFORE the caucuses knew that non-Republicans were welcome at the caucus and that non-Republicans did not have to "sneak" in.

The rules state: "Each individual caucus shall be open to any Utah citizen who resides in the precinct. . . The State Party, through its Bylaws, may restrict participation and voting in the precinct in the precinct caucuses based on party affiliation."

The rules also stated: "These rules . . . cannot be suspended or changed at the caucus under any circumstances."

Furthermore, anyone who wished to register as a Republican could register that evening when signing in.