Super Fat Tuesday: The school was bursting at the seams.

After having to work a little late, we got to our caucus a little later than we had planned. By 6:30 when the event was set to start, the cars were backed up about 3 blocks away from the school. Chaos. David knowing the neighborhood well, went around the traffic and got us a sweet parking spot in a back lot. After walking around the school to the main entrance after trying unsuccessfully to gain access through a couple side doors, we got to the front and encountered a long line. More chaos. Knowing our ward and precinct ahead of time allowed us to bypass the line of people waiting to learn what their's was. We made our way to the classroom and even more chaos. There was no sense of order. Blank pieces of post-it note like paper used for the ballots were being handed out to anyone who walked in the door without verification that the voters even lived in our precinct. Eventually, a couple people took over and made a sign-in sheet that had to be filled out before any ballots were exchanged. Chaos settled.

It was obvious that no one had predicted the turn out would be so enormous. Most of the classrooms were standing- room only with lines of people waiting outside the door for a chance to cast their presidential preference ballots and/or participate in the caucusing. Even David was impressed with the turnout. Having experienced the caucus 4 years ago, which he had expected to be just as much if not more popular, he was surprised to see well over double the turnout. People in the hallways running the show were exclaiming as much. I overheard comments such as "this is amazing, unbelievable, and exhilerating."

This experience motivated me after a 4 year hiatus to want to become an election judge again. When I get my invitation letter this year, this time I will accept rather than decline.