A deluge of fresh criticism about long lines and frustrating waits at Minnesota's precinct caucuses this week is drawing new supporters to an old fight over switching to a primary system.
DFL Gov. Mark Dayton took up the cause Thursday, breaking with the head of the party after a wave of complaints about a caucus system where voters jam into gymnasiums and classrooms to make their pick for president.
"All Minnesotans should have the opportunity to participate," said Dayton, adding that even with Tuesday's comparatively strong turnout for both parties, only a tiny fraction of Minnesota voters took part. "I think it deserves a very serious consideration."
Dayton joined a bipartisan list of politically active Minnesotans urging the switch to a presidential primary, which would allow people to vote all day, as with a conventional election.
Hours after complaints of overflowing precincts and scarce parking, state Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, said that he will introduce a bill in the upcoming legislative session to switch to a primary.
"This is the first time that I've seen the caucuses just fundamentally break down to where people were systematically prohibited from voting because of logistics," Garofalo said Thursday. "This needs to happen."
Minnesota has toggled between primaries and caucuses for a century, repealing its primary law in 1957 and re-establishing the system more than 30 years later. It was short-lived: Residents last voted in a presidential primary in 1992. The state suspended the primary for the next election cycle and repealed it outright in 1999.
Political scientist Eric Ostermeier said the debate turns on what state and party leaders want: better control over the process or higher voter participation.