I grew up in a primary state -- Massachusetts -- and even though exercising my right to vote required merely checking a box near a candidate's name, I still felt engaged in the political process. I volunteered for candidates, canvassed door-to-door and chaired the campaign for our district's U.S. congressman in my hometown. Massachusetts is a dependably Democratic and liberal state and I am a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat.

Tuesday night was my first attempt to exercise my political franchise in Minnesota via the caucus system. I showed up at Chaska Middle School East, strode easily through the front doors and realized I was -- yikes! -- about to caucus with Republicans.

I took some time to look around. There was a large common area where earnest-looking people talked with their neighbors. About 50 people waited in line to determine their ward and precinct. It was calm and efficient but not my party, so I left to caucus with my fellow DFLers a half-mile away.

I showed up at 6:50 and found a line stretching deep down the sidewalk, through the door, down a stairwell and up a hallway, full of people trying to figure out their ward and precinct. I'm pretty good at crowd estimates and this line was at least 200 deep, topped off by a couple of volunteers at the front looking anxious and frazzled.

I made a phone call to a friend who told me that I live in Ward 2, Precinct 1. Great. I skipped the line and headed straight to the designated room.

At the door to the school library, I stood in line for 15 minutes and never moved -- literally -- before I figured out that this was not my precinct. Walking down the hallway, trying to decide where to go, I overheard six or eight people on their cell phones, calling other people for help. I tried to use my Blackberry to access the Internet and figure out my ward and precinct, but I couldn't track it down. (My bad.)

By now it was 7:30 -- just half an hour left to cast my presidential preference ballot. I went to the front entrance again and estimated the line to be at least 150 people deep, still out to the sidewalk and moving slowly.

One of my favorite quotes is Will Rogers' declaration, "I am not a member of any organized party -- I am a Democrat." I muttered that as I walked back to my car so I could drive home and watch the national results on television.

I don't buy the notion that people are more politically committed in caucus states and demonstrate their participation in the political process with more conviction. Personally, I think caucuses are confusing and impractical. I also think they're elitist and favor the affluent and educated (such as myself -- a lot of good it did me), and erect barriers to people less involved in politics or unable to attend for good and legitimate reasons.

On my way home, I again drove past the Republican caucus. The sidewalk was clear, with everyone warm and comfortable inside. I'm a lifelong Democrat and would never vote Republican, but I have to give credit where credit is due. At least they know how to run things smoothly.

Jeremiah Christopher Whitten is a writer in Chaska.