By Kamryn Sannicks/ Gator Galaxy Staff Editor
In 2008, the Nebraska Democratic Party (NDP) switched from a primary system to a caucus system. Since the primary is so late, this gave Nebraska a chance to be a more viable ground for National candidates.
Since the Nebraska Republican Party wouldn’t agree to move the primary up, the NDP found this to be the best way to make Nebraskan votes matter more. On Saturday, March 5 the state of Nebraska held caucuses in all 93 counties.
Turnout among Democratic voters was up in all corners of the state. It followed recent trends in other early voting states. In Scottsbluff and Kearney, they were turning several would-be caucusers away due to space restrictions and meeting time limits.
The process to caucus is relatively easy. The Democratic Party allows you to re-register the day of the caucus and participate, because you must be a Democrat to caucus. There are two rounds of voting where people take the side of the candidate they want or could still be undecided. The candidate must have 15 percent of eligible voters to be viable. In between, voters can switch any time before the final realignment. Then delegates are awarded based on total number of voters per group.
In the week before the election, several big name politicians stopped by the state of Nebraska. Hillary Clinton sent her daughter, Chelsea Clinton twice and her husband former President Bill Clinton.
Sen. Bernie Sanders also made a visit to the state of Nebraska. The event, held at the Lied Center, allowed for an audience of 2,300. People started lining up the night before to get into the event. So many people attended that more than 1,500 people did not get into the building.
The Nebraska Republican Party has taken notice. State Sen. John Murante of Omaha has started the discussion of moving the primary up to March to compete with the Democratic Party.
Overall, caucusing went very well across the state of Nebraska. With the massive turnout Sen. Sanders did win the state of Nebraska and received the 15 of the total 25 delegates.
