Are the Republicans and Democrats both holding caucuses in Iowa?
The presidential race kicks off, with the caucus process in Iowa starting the primary season. The two parties will hold the event with different objectives.
The race to the US presidency is on, with Iowa kicking it off with the caucus process. The Republican meeting that begins the primary season is causing more buzz, as the event’s outcome will have a more significant effect on the presidential election.
GOP members in Iowa will get the chance to indicate who they wish to run as the Republican candidate for the presidential race. The outcome of this vote will decide the number of convention delegates each candidate will receive out of the 40 that the state is entitled to.
The aspirants garner national convention delegates proportionate to the percentage of the vote that they are able to win.
READ ALSO: A look back at the Iowa caucus winners from years past
Iowa Democrats change their caucus process in 2024
The Democrats’ voting schedule has changed in 2024 and is vastly different from past election timetables. They will also hold a caucus in Iowa on the same day as the Republicans, but this will have no effect on the presidential election. They will simply discuss administrative matters and begin the process of selecting their delegates to the national convention.
Democrats in Iowa will communicate who they wish to become their presidential candidate via a mail-in election procedure. The outcome of this vote will be determined in March.
READ ALSO: Caucus vs Primary: What are the major differences?
What is a caucus?
In US politics, a caucus refers to a meeting or gathering of members of a political party. During a caucus, members can discuss and select their preferred candidates for an upcoming election, as well as address other party-related matters.
A party caucus takes place at different levels of government and is not limited to the presidential nomination process. It may be held at the local or state level and involve members making decisions on various party-related issues, endorsing candidates for local offices, and selecting delegates for higher-level party conventions.
The difference between primaries and caucuses
During a primary election, voters cast secret ballots to indicate their preferred candidate for the party nomination. The results determine the allocation of delegates to each candidate, and these later participate in the party’s national convention, where the official nominee is formally chosen.
The candidate who secures the majority of delegates during the primary season is usually the one who clinches the party’s nomination for the general election.
Meanwhile, the caucus system is not the same across all states or political parties in the country. Some states use a primary election system instead of caucuses to determine their preferences for party nominees. Whereas in a primary, voters cast their ballots in secret, in a caucus, party members openly express their preferences through discussions and group activities.