Nebraska Caucus Sarpy County notes: not everybody got to vote

Marta and I just got home from the caucus. We arrived early to do our volunteer duties and the line was out the door already. We expected 1000 and got an estimated 5,000 plus. Last I heard was about 1 in 5 changed affiliation to become Democrats. It was a mad house. We were swamped. We made history. People stood for hours in line while waiting to register to participate. The line circled the entire high school and still they came. We ran out of everything including forms for those that wanted to change party affiliation, or register for the first time. I was told it was the county sheriff the blocked off access from the highway. I only saw La Vista police so I'm not sure who did it. People were turned away for lack of access and were becoming a danger in traffic. The decision was made to drop registration and send people straight to their area. We were on the honor system. We started well over an hour late. There was no chance to re-aline. I was interviewed by the AP while doing crowd control and mentioned the good old DU. Marta and I rocked with with Obama fans in the gym at the end. More notes after I have dinner, relax a bit, and catch up on events.

that's going to be a busy day, too.

Its good to see people are fed up and want to get involved again. I pity any Dem who gets elected president then tries to tell them we're not getting out of Iraq or backtracks on their domestic agenda. It will be pitchforks and torches time.

They cheat. It's a campaign value. They try to deceive and limit the inclusion of Obama supporters, and it's happening all over the state today.

If our party does not overcome these lying, cheating DINOS, we will lose in November. Again.

The turnout is is INSANELY awesome, but voting should be much easier than this.

Our location in Omaha was over-run this morning (Buffett Middle School in northwest Omaha).. and all I could think about was ONE location in all of Sarpy County. WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING!

I already posted my story... so I won't rehash. Here it is:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4503818&mesg_id=4503818

Looking forward to hearing more from you after you get some food!

Marta and I we so busy I didn't think of pictures.

More about Sarpy county form the Omaha World Herald: http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2835&u_sid=10254663

Thousands of people turned out today for Democratic caucuses in Douglas and Sarpy Counties, the crowds sometimes overwhelming caucus organizers.

Caucuses began nearly two hours behind schedule at Sarpy County's only site, Papillion-La Vista South High School, when thousands of voters flooded the school's hallways and crammed its parking lots.

About 3,000 caucusgoers came to the high school, taxing officials who were trying to register and direct voters to the right part of the caucus.

For hours, cars stretched for about a half-mile down Highway 370, trying to enter the school's parking lots.

Eventually, organizers moved hundreds of caucus-goers to the school's gymnasium, leaving the rest crammed into a cafeteria. Caucusing was still ongoing by about 2:15 p.m.

With the large turnout the Democrats seem to be pulling all over the country I think the party really needs to be prepared before November. The allotment of voting machines and number of ballots printed is usually calculated by looking at prior elections. If we feel that this election is going to have a turnout the is much larger than normal we need to start pushing from the national level down to each district that they anticipate this large turnout and be prepared for it long before November. I don't want to hear any of these stories about not enough ballots or not enough machines. It is obvious right now that at least the Democrats are geared up to turn out in large numbers so there will be no excuses for not be prepared. Vote Democrat no matter who the nominee is!!!

I'm not saying what I know until ALL the counties are done. No undue influence from me.

I was just asking because over a DKos there is a thread giving all the results also on OpenLeft, just wanted the info if you had it.

Great to hear!!!

We were at Norris Middle School, legislative district #9. And I have to say...those volunteers (the party volunteers as well as all the volunteers from both campaigns) did a FABULOUS job! They ran out of preference cards and quickly made photocopies. We had a huge turn-out (about 1400) and we were still completely done in about an hour and 15 minutes. The volunteers knew what they were doing, and they communicated well with the crowd and kept everything running smoothly. Considering it was our first time caucusing in Nebraska, I'm hugely impressed.

I wrote my story, with pictures, here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=388x2225