Oy. Vey.
2024 is a busy election year. Here on the high desert plains of Northwestern Nevada nothing would do but to change the way things have been done for decades. Out with the old, in with the new, which is really old. If one election day is good, two will be even better, right?
Last Tuesday, Nevada held the state Primary. Thursday, we caucused. At each event, only one viable candidate running. Party delegates would be awarded to the winner of the Caucus, only. The winner of the state-run primary would receive nothing.
Registered voters would report to the Senior center to cast their ballot. After verifying proper ID, their vote, handwritten on a piece of paper, would be accepted. In theory, this is a great idea. No arguments about faulty election machines. Just old school paper, pencil, and ID’s. What could possibly go wrong? Again, Oy. Vey.
Sometimes very smart people make very dumb decisions. Our little town on a dusty wide spot in the road right off the interstate is home to more than 20,000 residents. Half are conservatives. Now, if half of those want to vote in this important election, you get the number 5,000. If half of those brave the cold and carpool, two to a car, you have the potential for over a thousand cars to roll into a snowy, ice-filled parking lot that holds 100 cars on a good day.
To make matters worse, the hours of the Caucus were from 5:00 – 7:30 PM. Anyone in line at closing could still vote. Can you begin to see a few problems brewing?
One week prior to the caucus, I got a call asking if we’d volunteer to help. Truly, we might’ve considered except that Hubba-Hubba-Husband and I had big plans the next day. Sorry, already booked.
I got another plea to help two days just two days before caucusing. The three “required training dates” had already passed. Just days before caucusing, they’d take anyone who showed up to help.
That very cold evening, HHH and I did attempt to vote. Turning into the midst of a long line of cars, we saw overflow parking in a muddy lot. Stuck in that huge sea of cars, we could be trapped for hours. With skillful maneuvering, HHH turned around and left, escaping potential disaster.
Enjoying a delicious Chinese dinner, we were thankful we’d managed to avoid a complicated evening. Two hours later, we joined our friends at Bible Study.
One of the sweetest women in the group is 91 years young. She drives herself everywhere, keeping a very busy social life. It was no surprise that she’d arrived to caucus two hours early and found a place in line. While waiting, she began chatting with a young couple who’d been married three years. After a little more conversation, it turned out they’d been married by our pastor.
With snow on the ground and the evening desert air quite frigid, the couple sandwiched this little lady right between them to keep her warm. And there, they waited an hour outside in a line that wrapped all the way around the building on that very crazy night.
Another friend was asked to stay and help after waiting in the long line. With not much else on her schedule, she did just that. They got their volunteers one way or another and caucus-ed on.
Oy.
Vey.
As for the State Primary held two days prior, the one viable candidate lost to “None of the Above” by over 30%. I heard her speak the next day. “Nevada wasn’t important to us.” Nothing to see in Nevada, I guess. What a way to insult the population of an entire state.
Elections are such a minor part of life. That’s a good thing.
Whatever you do today, practice a little patience. It’s tough to wait in line when our minds race ahead. Be thankful you have the strength to stand and wait. Smile at someone new. They just might warm your heart.
More tomorrow.