To The Editor:

I am writing to express my deep concern over the serious organizational failures that occurred at last evening's Democratic Caucus, failures that effectively disenfranchised a number of engaged, willing voters who showed up in good faith to participate in our democratic process.

The turnout at this caucus was, by all accounts, a testament to the enthusiasm and civic commitment of our community. Yet rather than celebrating that engagement, party organizers allowed it to become a barrier to participation. Wait times of 45 minutes or more to complete the check-in and voter ID process were not only unreasonable — they were foreseeable.

Large crowds at a contested caucus should never come as a surprise to those responsible for running it. Assuming it would be like the one 10 years ago should not have been the only data point used for planning. There was herculean effort put in by the Registrar of Voters, but were they made aware of the forecasted number of voters? Or was that a planning and preparedness issue of the organizers?

What makes this situation even more troubling is what occurred once the caucus formally got underway. Approximately 30 percent of attendees remained outside the caucus room, unable to enter. These were not latecomers or disinterested bystanders — they were voters who had done everything right.

They arrived, they waited, they stood in line. And yet, through no fault of their own, they were denied the opportunity to hear the candidates, witness the proceedings, and fully participate in the process they came to be a part of. Many brought their children who wanted to experience this event and were told at the door no entry for anyone under 18 not a registered voter.

Disenfranchisement does not only happen through discriminatory laws or suppressive legislation. It also happens when the people entrusted with organizing democratic events fail to ensure that those events are accessible, orderly, and inclusive.

I urge party leadership to conduct a thorough review of what went wrong, issue a public accounting of the failures that occurred, and commit to concrete changes before the next caucus, even if that is an unknown date and election cycle. At a minimum, this must include adequate staffing for check-in, a proactive voter ID management plan that anticipates high turnout, and — above all — a guarantee that no caucus proceedings will begin until all registered attendees have been given the opportunity to enter and take their rightful place in the room.

The Democratic Party frequently and rightly speaks about protecting voting rights and expanding access to democracy. It is past time to apply those same principles to our own internal processes. The voters who were left standing outside deserve nothing less.

In closing my congratulations to both candidates and to Ms. Embree Ku for her win and a sincere thank you to the Registrar of Voters he did a very good job especially at counting the votes!

Christine McAndrew

Newtown