Editing Iowa caucuses (section)

==Process==
[[File:Iowa City Caucus.jpg|thumb|A 2008 Democratic caucus meeting in [[Iowa City, Iowa]]]]
The Iowa caucuses operate differently from the [[Partisan primary|primary election]] used by most other states (see [[U.S. presidential primary]]). The caucuses are generally defined as "gatherings of neighbors". Rather than going to [[polling station|polls]] and casting ballots, Iowans gather at a set location in each of Iowa's precincts. Typically, these meetings occur in schools, churches, public libraries, or even individuals' houses. Caucuses are held every two years, during both the presidential and [[United States midterm election|midterm election]] seasons, but those that receive national attention are the presidential preference caucuses, held every four years. The rules of the caucus process to determine delegates to national conventions are determined by the party and differ substantially between the Democratic and Republican parties.

In addition to the voting and the presidential preference choices, caucus-goers begin the process of writing their parties' platforms by introducing resolutions.<ref name="what_happens_at_a_caucus">{{Cite web |first1=James Q.|last1=Lynch |url=http://www.iowacaucus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071119/IOWACAUCUS/71119004 |title=What happens at a caucus? |publisher=iowacaucus.com | date=November 19, 2007|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222142101/http://www.iowacaucus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20071119%2FIOWACAUCUS%2F71119004 |archive-date=December 22, 2007 }}</ref>

===Criticisms===
Public focus has been increasingly drawn to the Iowa caucus procedure. Public confidence in the integrity of the caucus system was heavily undermined after the [[2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses|2020 Iowa Democratic caucus]] in which numerous irregularities were revealed, including disputed caucus totals following the use of a new smartphone app developed for the caucus, and a failure to publish official results for nearly a week.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bilaval|first1=Saib |title=There Are Enough Irregularities in the Iowa Caucus to Warrant Scrutiny: the Problems |url=https://www.filmsforaction.org/articles/there-are-enough-irregularities-in-iowa-caucus-to-suspect-rigging-the-problems/ |website=Films For Action |access-date=February 9, 2020 |archive-date=February 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206192553/https://www.filmsforaction.org/articles/there-are-enough-irregularities-in-iowa-caucus-to-suspect-rigging-the-problems/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Many political figures have also echoed concerns. [[Dick Durbin|Sen. Dick Durbin]] (D-IL): "I think the Democratic caucus in Iowa is a quirky, quaint tradition which should come to an end. As we try to make voting easier for people across America, the Iowa caucus is the most painful situation we currently face for voting." Former presidential candidate [[Julian Castro|Julián Castro]], who has long been critical of the Iowa caucuses, blasted the process: "It's a mess. What we saw out there and heard about are, consistently, errors in the way that this process was done, whether in the initial phase or the realignment. Inconsistencies in how it was done across precinct sites, caucus sites. It is a total mess."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lopez |first1=German |title="A total mess": Critics call for an end to Iowa's first-in-the-nation status |url=https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/2/4/21122213/iowa-democratic-caucus-results-disaster |website=Vox |language=en |date=February 4, 2020 |accessdate=August 23, 2023 |archive-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824042416/https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/2/4/21122213/iowa-democratic-caucus-results-disaster |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Democratic Party===
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2024}}
{{Further|Walking subcaucus}}
Each precinct divides its delegate seats among the candidates in proportion to caucus goers' votes. Participants indicate their support for a particular candidate by standing in a designated area of the caucus site (forming a preference group). An area may also be designated for an "uncommitted" group. Participants may try to convince their neighbors to support their candidates.<ref name="what_happens_at_a_caucus" /> Each preference group might informally deputize a few members to recruit supporters from the other groups and, in particular, from among those undecided. Undecided participants might visit each preference group to ask its members about their candidate.

After some time, the electioneering is temporarily halted, and the supporters for each candidate (and for "uncommitted") are counted. At this point, the caucus officials determine which candidates or groups are viable, potentially including the "uncommitted" group.<ref name="what_happens_at_a_caucus" /> Depending on the number of county delegates to be elected, the viability threshold is no less than 15% of attendees. ''(For four or more delegates, the threshold is 15%. For three delegates, the threshold is the total number of voters, divided by 6, roughly 16.66%. For two delegates, the threshold is 25%. For one delegate, there is no threshold, and the delegate is elected by a majority vote of eligible voters in attendance, following the first round of alignment.)''<ref>{{cite web |title=Iowa Delegate Selection Plan for the 2020 Democratic National Convention |url=https://iowademocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Iowa-Delegate-Selection-Plan-9.21.19.pdf |publisher=The Iowa Democratic Party |access-date=February 11, 2020 |pages=2–3 |date=September 19, 2019 |archive-date=March 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316042303/https://iowademocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Iowa-Delegate-Selection-Plan-9.21.19.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> For a candidate (or the "uncommitted" group) to earn any delegates from a particular precinct, the candidate or group must have the support of at least the percentage of participants required by the viability threshold. Once viability is determined, participants have an opportunity to realign: although supporters of viable candidates or groups are locked into their choice, the supporters of nonviable candidates or groups may find a viable candidate or group to support, join with supporters of another nonviable candidate or group to secure a delegate for one of the two, or abstain. This realignment is a distinction of caucuses in that (unlike in most primaries) a voter's second choice can help a candidate.

When the voting is closed, a final headcount is conducted, and each precinct apportions delegates to the county convention. These numbers are reported to the state party, which counts the total number of delegates for each candidate (and delegates who are "uncommitted") and reports the results to the media. Most of the participants go home, leaving a few to finish the business of the caucus: each preference group elects its delegates, and then the groups reconvene to elect local party officers and discuss the platform. The delegates are chosen by the precinct then go to a later caucus, the county convention, to choose delegates to the district convention and state convention. Most of the delegates to the Democratic National Convention are selected at the district convention, with the remaining ones selected at the state convention. Delegates to each level of convention are initially bound to support their chosen candidate but can later switch in a process very similar to what occurs at the precinct level; however, as major shifts in delegate support are rare, the media declares the candidate with the most delegates on the precinct caucus night the winner and relatively little attention is paid to the later caucuses.

In 2014, the Iowa Democratic Party introduced changes to the caucus system to allow members of the military to participate in a statewide caucus and establish satellite caucuses for voters with disabilities and others who have trouble making it to the physical location of the caucuses. They will also work for the passage of a new law that requires employers to allow employees to take time off for the caucuses.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/08/01/iowa-democrats-propose-changes-to-caucus-system/?tid=hpModule_ba0d4c2a-86a2-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394&hpid=z11 |title=Iowa Democrats propose changes to caucus system |last=Wilson |first=Reid |date=August 1, 2014 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=August 2, 2014 |archive-date=October 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002063237/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2014/08/01/iowa-democrats-propose-changes-to-caucus-system/?tid=hpModule_ba0d4c2a-86a2-11e2-9d71-f0feafdd1394&hpid=z11 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2016, the Iowa Democratic Party held the first-ever tele-caucus for members of the military serving outside Iowa and their families; Iowans in the Peace Corps and Diplomatic Corps; and students and Iowans living abroad.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tompkins |first=Al |date=February 1, 2016 |title=Covering the Iowa caucuses? Here's what you need to know |work=Poynter.org |url=https://www.poynter.org/educators-students/2016/covering-the-iowa-caucuses-heres-what-you-need-to-know/ |access-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117055156/https://www.poynter.org/educators-students/2016/covering-the-iowa-caucuses-heres-what-you-need-to-know/|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Lapowsky |first=Issie |date=January 11, 2016 |title=Tech Is Finally Disrupting the Archaic Iowa Caucuses |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/01/the-low-tech-high-stakes-iowa-caucus-is-getting-disrupted/ |access-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117060716/https://www.wired.com/2016/01/the-low-tech-high-stakes-iowa-caucus-is-getting-disrupted/|url-status=live }}</ref> In addition, it held satellite caucuses in 2020, in an attempt to improve accessibility and participation in the Iowa caucuses.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stevens |first=Matt |date=February 6, 2020 |title=What Are Iowa's Satellite Caucuses? And How Did They Help Bernie Sanders? |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/us/politics/iowa-satellite-caucuses.html |access-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-date=November 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117055153/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/us/politics/iowa-satellite-caucuses.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Starting in 2020, 10% of state convention delegates will be assigned through tele-caucuses.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://iowastartingline.com/2019/02/12/how-iowas-caucus-reform-will-change-campaign-strategies/ |title=How Iowa's Caucus Reform Will Change Campaign Strategies|last=Rynard|first=Pat|date=February 12, 2019 |website=Iowa Starting Line |access-date=February 28, 2019 |archive-date=March 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301140029/https://iowastartingline.com/2019/02/12/how-iowas-caucus-reform-will-change-campaign-strategies/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Beginning with the 2020 caucus, the Iowa Democratic Party publishes not only "State Delegate Equivalents", based on a calculation of likely delegate results after the state caucus is held, but also a statewide raw vote count after the first alignment round (including results for all non-viable candidates) and a statewide raw vote count for all viable candidates after the second alignment round.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.newser.com/story/284413/for-first-time-in-iowa-3-winners-are-possible.html |title=For the First Time in the Iowa Caucuses, 3 'Winners' Are Possible |last=Johnson |first=John |date=December 16, 2019 |website=Newser |access-date=December 28, 2019 |archive-date=December 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228211138/https://www.newser.com/story/284413/for-first-time-in-iowa-3-winners-are-possible.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Republican Party===
{{Multiple issues|section=yes|
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2016}}
{{missing information|caucus rules|date=January 2016}}
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The process of selecting Iowa delegates to the Republican National Convention prior to the 2016 election cycle started with the selection of delegates to the county conventions, which in turn affected the delegates elected to district conventions who also served as delegates to the state convention where delegates were chosen for the national convention.

This process rewarded candidate organizers who not only got supporters to the caucus sites but also got supporters willing to serve as delegates to county conventions and willing to vote for other delegates who supported a specific candidate. In 2012, this process resulted in Ron Paul supporters dominating the Iowa delegation to the Republican National Convention, having 22 of the 28 Iowa delegates, with Mitt Romney getting the other six delegates.

Because the delegates elected at the caucuses are not required to declare a candidate preference, the media does not always have a purely objective way to determine the success of individual candidates at the caucuses. The media focused on the secret ballot polling conducted at the caucus sites and have generally referred to this non-binding poll as the caucus. There were irregularities in the 2012 caucus site polling results, including the fact that eight precinct results went missing and were never counted.

Because of the irregularities in the process and the fact that the totals reported to the media were unrelated to the delegate selection process, there have been changes in both how the caucus site secret ballot polling is sent to state party headquarters and in how Iowa delegates to the national convention are required to vote.

Beginning with the [[2012 United States presidential election|2012 presidential election]], Iowa switched from the old winner-take-all allocation to proportional allocation. The change was made to prolong the race, giving lesser-known candidates a chance and making it harder for a frontrunner to secure the majority early. It was also hoped that this change in the election system would energize the base of the party.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2012-03-06/gop-primary-proportional-delegates-campaign/53373510/1 |title=GOP, be careful what you wish for |last=Goldberg, Jonah |date=March 5, 2012 |work=[[USA Today]] |access-date=September 1, 2017 |archive-date=May 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504192558/http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2012-03-06/gop-primary-proportional-delegates-campaign/53373510/1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-presidential-primary/106923-long-damaging-presidential-primary-has-gop-considering-changes-to-its-rules/ |title=Long, damaging presidential... |last=George, Cameron |date=February 24, 2012|work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |access-date=February 1, 2016 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304141036/http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-presidential-primary/212491-long-gop-primary-process-has-party-considering-changes-to-calendar |url-status=live }}</ref>

Starting in 2016, caucus results have become binding when selecting delegates.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/06/26/iowa-gop-binding-delegates-republican-convention/29362839/ |title=Iowa GOP's tricky task: Set convention voting rules |website=Des Moines Register |access-date=November 30, 2015}}</ref> Acting in accordance with a mandate from the Republican National Committee, the delegates are bound on the first ballot to vote for candidates in proportion to the votes cast for each candidate at the caucus sites.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P16/IA-R |title=The Green Papers Republican Detailed Delegate Allocation – 2016 |date=February 1, 2016 |publisher=Green Papers |access-date=February 2, 2016 |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020035443/http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P16/IA-R |url-status=live }}</ref>