Letter: Iowa’s caucus was confusing, chaotic

This year's caucus in Iowa was my first and it could well be my last. The caucus site was at City High School cafeteria in Iowa City, with barely enough room to walk between the rows of tables with benches. People caucusing for Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were in this same space, which I understand is needed to pull candidates back and forth - if a person could even move. In addition, there were 'housekeeping issues” about who was running for what in local politics. This took place before the actual caucus began.

We were given little pieces of poster board to use for stating our choice. It took quite a while to collect them to count and recount. All this time, it was q noisy, with people calling back and forth to find out what the chairwoman was saying, etc. Compared to going to an actual polling place, this seemed like utter chaos.

I thought, 'If a fire would break out in here, or someone needed quick medical care, there would be no way to get the people out or for EMTs to enter to help someone who'd become ill.” Last week at a class at our senior center, folks spoke of the same issues at their sites.

Before moving to this great town, we lived in Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Wisconsin and Georgia. We voted in every election and it was a quick, safe, simple process. I think it's time for Iowa to go to a presidential primary election.

Bobbie Paxton

Iowa City