CaucusIowa

47 responses so far ↓

• 1 JOHN E MURPHY // Aug 23, 2007 at 4:38 am

  Is there an IOWA law that requires the caucus to be held on a certain date, if so when was the law passed.
  Thank you

• 2 CaucusIowa // Sep 4, 2007 at 11:53 am

  John, yes Iowa law states that the Iowa Caucuses must be held at least 8 days prior to any other nominating event. I’m unsure of when this was passed into law, but I will continue researching and post the info here when I have it. ~ Janet/Concierge

• 3 Anthony // Sep 7, 2007 at 11:58 am

  Is there a filing deadline for Democratic candidates for the Iowa Caucus?

• 4 CaucusIowa // Sep 7, 2007 at 12:26 pm

  Anthony,
  A candidate does not need to file any papers to be an “official” candidate in the Iowa Caucuses.

  However, to actually be a candidate listed on the official ballot in the general election in November, the candidate must file nomination papers between July 28 and August 15, 2008.

  This information comes from a pamphlet called “Information for Candidates for President and Vice President of the United States,” published by the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office. I also called the Secretary’s office to confirm the information.

  You can download the pamphlet here: http://www.sos.state.ia.us/pdfs/elections/The%20office%20of%20President2004.pdf

  And, you can visit the election division website of the Secretary’s office here: http://www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/index.html

  Thanks for your question!
  ~ Janet/Concierge

• 5 Adam // Sep 15, 2007 at 2:51 pm

  HI! I am writing from barcelona, Spain. I am plannig a trip to Iowa to live the caucus firts-hand. I have always been interested in politics and I want to see this extraordinary process. I have read that tha caucus are going to be held on January 14th. However, somebody has adviced me not to buy the plane tickets because everybody in Iowa thinks thats the Governor is going to change the date. Is that true? When can I expect to be sure about the caucus date? Plane tickets are getting more and more expensive…
  Thank you very much!

• 6 CaucusIowa // Sep 19, 2007 at 7:39 am

  Adam, regrettably, we cannot predict the outcome here as other states continue to shuffle their dates around. We’ll of course continue to monitor the situation, but so far there has been no change in the Iowa date.

  ~ Janet/Concierge

• 7 Ryan Fleury // Sep 23, 2007 at 11:11 am

  Hello,
  My name is Ryan Fleury. I am a broadcast journalism student at Emerson College. I am also the assistant director for NEPC, which is part of our school news station. I am planning a trip for 15 Emerson students to travel to Iowa to cover the Caucus’. I have a couple questions…

  1) Where do the candidates go on Caucus night?…Do they announce where they will be going? And do they have events/rallies on the actual caucus night?

  2) I am looking at hotels.. We are sending 15 people out to Iowa from Emerson. Do you recommend going across the state to different places to report on the Caucus?…I am just not really sure how the process entirely works. Thanks -Ryan

• 8 CaucusIowa // Oct 8, 2007 at 1:31 pm

  Ryan, I believe you received a reply from someone on the CaucusIowa team staff. Please drop me an email at concierge (at) caucusiowa (dot) com if you have not. Thanks. ~ Janet/concierge

• 9 CaucusIowa // Oct 16, 2007 at 8:42 pm

  READERS PLEASE NOTE: The Iowa Republican Party has moved its Caucus to January 3, 2008. Please see our News section. ~ Janet/Concierge

• 10 Donna Hughes // Oct 17, 2007 at 6:41 pm

  What do you do if you are registered as an Independent and you want to support a particular candidate? Am I just out of luck on caucus night?

• 11 CaucusIowa // Oct 18, 2007 at 3:09 pm

  Donna, you can attend a caucus for either party as an Independent, but you cannot participate in the meeting. I believe, however, that you can change your affiliation to that party when you check in at the caucus site in order to vote for a candidate. You can always change back to Independent later for the general election. Please check with the state party office representing your candidate to be sure. You can reach www.IowaDemocrats.org at 515-244-7292 or www.IowaGOP.org at 515-282-8105. ~ Janet/Concierge

• 12 CaucusIowa // Oct 23, 2007 at 10:44 am

  This question was asked by email: “Is there any mechanism by which military personnel serving overseas may participate in the Iowa Caucuses?”

  State organizations for both major parties informed me that there is no provision for absentee participation in the caucuses - participants must be present at their caucus. Absentee ballots, of course, are available for the general election. ~ Janet/Concierge

• 13 Alex // Nov 23, 2007 at 3:43 pm

  Hello, I’m a filmmaking student, and a couple other filmmakers and I are coming to Iowa to do a film on the Caucus’. We plan on coming out about a week before the Caucus until about a week afterward and, in addition to covering the Caucus itself, are hoping to find individuals involved with the Caucus to film and interview during this timespan.

  We aren’t really sure where to start, but any advice you might be able to give us about who we should get in contact with, what events we should cover, and what we need to do to go about gaining permission (if we need to) to film at the Caucus’ would be very much appreciated.

  Thank you.
  -Alex

• 14 CaucusIowa // Nov 29, 2007 at 10:52 am

  Alex,
  Hello - the Greater Des Moines Film Commission should be able to help. You can contact them at:

  Becky Gruening
  Greater Des Moines Film Commission
  400 Locust, Suite 265
  Des Moines, Iowa 50309
  515-699-3439
  bgruening@desmoinescvb.com

  Also, talk with Becky about the best way to get resources statewide - our focus is really on the Des Moines region but she may have ideas for how to get out into the state for the things you’re looking for.

• 15 Amanda // Nov 29, 2007 at 5:14 pm

  Is there really no way to caucus absentee? Is that even Constitutional?? Has anyone ever challenged that before? I am an out-of-state student and won’t be able to be present, which is my choice, but what about the elderly, invalid, or military? Anyone interested in a law suit? I think I’ll contact the ACLU….

• 16 David Knutsen // Dec 2, 2007 at 7:19 pm

  I live in Scott County and would like to caucus for my preferred candidate. How do I get in touch with the appropriate people?

• 17 Steven Scharf // Dec 2, 2007 at 8:50 pm

  To answer Amanda’s question. Caucuses are meetings of private organizations, I.E political parties. The government has no control on how they operate.

  My question: how many Nat’l convention delegates does each party get?

• 18 CaucusIowa // Dec 3, 2007 at 8:41 am

  David, you would need to contact the county office for your party. They will have complete information as far as caucus locations, etc. for your area. Looks like they are:
  http://www.scottcountyrepublicans.org/ and
  http://www.scottdems.org/

  Janet/Concierge

• 19 CaucusIowa // Dec 3, 2007 at 12:45 pm

  A couple e-mail questions:
  1. What is the deadline to register to vote in order to be able to participate in the caucus? - You must be a registered R or D to caucus for your candidate. You can register to vote the night of the Caucuses, at the precinct location for the party in which your candidate is running. You will need to register as a member of that candidate’s party – you cannot register as an Independent and then caucus for an R or D party candidate.

  2. Can an independent voter declare a party the night of the caucus and participate? - YES, any voter can switch parties the night of the caucus by showing up at the correct caucus location for the desired candidate and registering with that party.

• 20 CaucusIowa // Dec 3, 2007 at 12:47 pm

  Working on David’s “number of delegates” question. More to come!

• 21 Keith // Dec 21, 2007 at 2:45 am

  Call it pre-caucus preparation, call it dumb curiosity, call it what you will, but I just want to know where my caucus location is going to be? Downtown Des Moines Democrat? Any word yet?

• 22 CaucusIowa // Dec 21, 2007 at 8:41 am

  Keith, caucus locations are determined by the County party organizations. Visit www.polkcountydemocrats.org for Democrats. Republicans can visit www.polkgop.com.

• 23 Emily // Dec 30, 2007 at 1:21 pm

  Do you have to caucus at your assigned location based on your home address?

• 24 CaucusIowa // Dec 31, 2007 at 8:39 am

  Emily, yes, you must caucus at your assigned precinct location.

  Number of delegates: Iowa Republicans send about 35 delegates to the national convention. Five from each of five congressional district, plus at-large and VIP delegates. There are also about 15 alternates, for a total of about 50 delegates. The Democrats send 57 delegates, which includes alternates.

• 25 Liana // Jan 1, 2008 at 11:39 am

  If I have moved since the last time I have voted/been registered to vote, can I update my voter registration at the caucus? Should I bring a piece of mail to verify my address?

• 26 Hawkeye // Jan 1, 2008 at 9:10 pm

  Can a non-voting/non-eligible friend watch the caucuses while I participate? I am eligible and registered but my sister wants to watch the process… how can I ‘get her in’?

• 27 Ed Morris // Jan 1, 2008 at 10:16 pm

  Is it possible and/or legal for a voter to participate in both a D and an R caucus the same day? If not, how is that enforced? May a non-resident who is not a member of the media come to observe the proceedings?

• 28 CaucusIowa // Jan 2, 2008 at 8:31 am

  Liana, yes you can update your registration at the caucus location for your current precinct. Bring a utility bill or other piece of mail to verify your address, and be sure to allow a few extra minutes to update your records. ~ Janet/Concierge

• 29 CaucusIowa // Jan 2, 2008 at 8:39 am

  Hawkeye & Ed, I contacted both state parties and got a slightly different answer for each. The Iowa Democratic Party told me that yes, guests can go and observe though they will likely be asked to sit in a separate section. The Republicans said that whether guests are allowed is up to the individual precinct captains, so your guest would just need to show up and ask permission. If there are a lot of people, they may not be able to stay. If they do stay, they likely will sit in separate section.

  And Ed, you can only participate in one party’s caucus. That’s a rule, and it’s also logistically impossible to do both as the D & R caucuses in your precinct start at the same time in separate locations.

  ~ Janet/Concierge

• 30 Dylan Davis // Jan 2, 2008 at 5:01 pm

  I am registered to vote in a county that i will not be in on caucus night, can i attend the caucus at a caucus site other than where i am registered to vote?

• 31 party planner // Jan 2, 2008 at 9:51 pm

  when will the Iowa caucus results be known? do they trickle out, is there one big announcement at 9pm or something, or do the networks call it from exit polling?

• 32 mitzy // Jan 2, 2008 at 10:11 pm

  I am 17 years old. I am wondering the criteria for participation in the caucus. I will not be able to vote at the time of election.
  ~mitzy

• 33 CaucusIowa // Jan 3, 2008 at 8:31 am

  Mitzy, if you will not be eligible to vote on Election Day 2008 then unfortunately you will not be able to participate in your caucus. However, I do believe you can attend as an observer. Simply go to your party’s precinct caucus location and ask to attend as a guest. You will likely be seated in a separate area, but you will be able to learn how the process works.

  Party Planner, results will trickle in and will likely be reported over the course of the evening by the local and national news media.

  Dylan, unfortunately no - you must attend the precinct caucus in the precinct in which you are registered to vote. If you will not be in your home precinct on caucus night, you will not be able to caucus. You may be able to attend an out-of-precinct caucus meeting as an observer, but you won’t be able to participate.

• 34 Barbara // Jan 3, 2008 at 10:35 am

  What time tonight will we have the causus results?

• 35 CaucusIowa // Jan 3, 2008 at 10:40 am

  Barbara, results will be reported to the media reporting center as the precinct meetings are concluded, so the local and national news media will likely be reporting/updating throughout the evening.

• 36 Tamara // Jan 3, 2008 at 12:19 pm

  I am from Illinois and am so unfamiliar with the Iowa Caucuses. I thought every state voted the same way, the primary and then the general. Please explain the differences here and why? Also for our primaries, we vote privately in on an election ballot. Please explain the caucus process.

• 37 Sarah // Jan 3, 2008 at 12:56 pm

  My husband and I have a 4 month old baby and no baby-sitter. Can we take her with us or are we out of luck? How long does it typically last? Are you required to stay the entire time?

• 38 CaucusIowa // Jan 3, 2008 at 1:21 pm

  Sarah, contact your state party office (Iowa Democrats: 244-7292; Republicans: 282-8105.

  Failing that, try the headquarters office for the candidate you’re supporting - I read today that several candidates’ offices are providing babysitting services. Here are those lists:
  Republicans: http://www.caucusiowa.com/pdfs/republicanHQ2008.pdf
  Democrats: http://www.caucusiowa.com/pdfs/democratHQ2008.pdf

  The caucus meetings themselves are really not set up to accommodate children as far as I know, but do try the state party offices to ask the question.

• 39 CaucusIowa // Jan 3, 2008 at 1:27 pm

  Tamara, these excerpts from an article by Des Moines Register columnist David Yepsen might be helpful:

  1.
  What is a caucus?

  It’s a gathering of neighbors. A caucus is different than a primary or a general election. In a general election, Iowans go to the polls to elect people to public office. In a primary, Republicans and Democrats go to the polls to nominate candidates for office.

  At a caucus, party activists go to a meeting where they start the process of nominating presidential candidates by expressing an initial preference for a candidate. Any registered Democrat or Republican can be a party activist and attend a caucus. In Iowa, caucus-goers elect delegates to county conventions, who, in turn, elect delegates to district and state conventions where national convention delegates are selected. That makes these meetings of local party leaders and activists an important first step in picking presidents.

  2. What happens at a caucus?

  Caucuses are held by both the Republican and Democratic parties every two years. Neighbors gather to talk about local politics, discuss what they want to see in the party platform and elect people to the party’s county central committee, which governs local party affairs. They also elect delegates to the county conventions in the spring.

  In a presidential year, caucus participants also express a preference for presidential nominees. Those preferences are the first in the nation and are much-watched by national observers and political leaders for how well or poorly candidates are doing with grassroots Americans.

  3. How is the voting done?

  The two parties are different. When there is a race to be decided, everyone at a Republican meeting drops a name of a candidate in a hat, and the results are tabulated in Des Moines and reported to the media.

  The Democrats’ process is more complicated. While Republicans have one-person, one-vote, Democrats vote for delegates for each candidate. At 7 p.m., Democrats will break into what are called “preference groups,” where participants’ preferences for a candidate become public. All the supporters of Hillary Clinton will go to one corner, all the supporters of Barack Obama to another, etc. If a candidate doesn’t have 15 percent of the total, his or her supporters must realign with another group. Once everyone is in a group with at least 15 percent, delegates to the county convention are apportioned based on the size of the preference group.

  So, for example, if the precinct sends 10 delegates to the county convention, those 10 delegates are allocated based on the percentage of people in a preference group. So if Edwards has 60 percent and Clinton has 40 percent, Edwards would get six delegates and Clinton would get four.

  4. Why are the caucuses so important?

  They’re important because they’re first. In 1972, Iowa Democrats were the first to hold caucuses and select convention delegates. National news organizations watched the results for indications of how well candidates were doing. The events have grown in importance ever since.

  Since 1972, the eventual nominee of each party has been among the top three finishers in Iowa. Sometimes, a good caucus showing can elevate a candidate from obscurity as it did with Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush or John Kerry. Often, it ends the campaigns of some candidates who finish lower than expected, because they find it difficult to raise the money needed to continue.

  Critics say too much attention is paid to the results. They argue Iowa is not typical of all states. Supporters say no state is typical. Starting in a bigger state would mean only big-money candidates could compete. They say it’s a legitimate test of how well candidates are doing with real people in the nation’s heartland who have a chance to take their measure up close. Still, other states and the critics constantly try to change the process to end or minimize the Iowa results so someday they may not be as important.

  Finally, this information from the Iowa Department of Economic Development gives a bit of history:

  “How did the Iowa caucus gain its First in the Nation status?

  In the early 1970s, the Iowa Democratic Party made several reforms to their delegate selection process. These reforms included requiring a minimum of 30 days between the precinct caucuses and the county, district and state conventions, and publicizing the events to allow more people to take part in the process. When the 1972 Democratic State Convention was set for May 20, the new rules dictated that the precinct caucus would be January 24, thereby making it the first statewide test for presidential candidates in the nation. In 1976, recognizing the increased exposure, the Republican Party of Iowa moved their caucus to the same date as the Democrats. The candidates and national media have observed the Iowa caucuses as the “First in the Nation” ever since. “

• 40 Claudelle // Jan 3, 2008 at 4:49 pm

  We heard that childcare will be available for those attending a caucus. We are supporting Barack Obama. How do we find out where the childcare will be available?

• 41 todd // Jan 3, 2008 at 9:45 pm

  how many dems. voted today?
  how many republicans?

• 42 Carlos // Jan 4, 2008 at 6:16 am

  So now that we have winners in Iowa do we also have losers? In other words is Iowa a winner take all State or do the same delegates that voted for their candidates but did not “win” still able to go to the national convention?

  And why should Iowa have their Caucus so early? It is still 10 months to the Election and people can still change their minds. And secondly, Historically Iowa is such a poor barometer of an ultimate winner that it is senseless to do it so early. Just ask Tom Harkin who had a 76% win in 1992 against Bill Clinton’s 3%.

• 43 CaucusIowa // Jan 4, 2008 at 8:11 am

  Claudelle, sorry I did not get your question answered prior to the caucus meetings last night. I believe the volunteers from individual candidate offices were helping make childcare arrangements.

• 44 CaucusIowa // Jan 4, 2008 at 11:31 am

  Todd, according to WHO-TV here in Des Moines: “The original projection for Democrat turnout was about 150,000, but final numbers show 239,000 came out to caucus. That’s compared with 124,000 in 2004. On the Republican side, 114,000 caucused last night, compared with 87,000 in 2000.”
  ~ Janet/Concierge

• 45 bente melgaard // Jan 4, 2008 at 1:31 pm

  Hello!
  Do voters vote for one of the candidates - directly - or do they vote for delegates?
  (Whose names are on the ballot?)

• 46 CaucusIowa // Jan 4, 2008 at 1:35 pm

  Voters vote for candidates; it’s the candidates’ names that are on the ballot. After a candidate has been chosen, selecting delegates is another piece of business conducted at the caucus meeting.

• 47 tamara // Mar 16, 2008 at 3:12 am

  Just have a quick question…I was wondering how many times in history has the winner in the Iowa Democratic Presidential caucuses been the actual Democratic Presidential nominee in the general election?

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