Local Democratic caucus process explained

Local Democrats will be holding their caucuses Monday evening, Feb. 3. Whether you have caucused before or not, you are encouraged to participate in this important democratic process. Although it can seem intimidating, a caucus is not all that complicated. Here are answers to a few questions you may have.

What is a Democratic Caucus?
A Democratic caucus is a meeting of Democrats from a specific geographic area (precinct) who come together to organize the local party for the upcoming election, propose resolutions for the party platform and, most famously, to declare their preference for presidential candidates.
Because Iowa has the distinction of holding the first in the nation caucuses, we have a great opportunity at the grass roots level to have an impact on the national political scene and to help shape our party’s platform. Taking part in the caucus, and planning to vote in November, are important ways we can have a voice in the governance of our nation.

How Do I Prepare for the Caucus?
• Plan to arrive early. Doors will open at 6:30  p.m., and caucusgoers must be registered, or in line, by 7 p.m. to participate. You will be asked to check-in and, depending on turnout, this may or may not take time. If you are not registered or in the check-in line by 7 p.m., you cannot be admitted to the caucus. The caucus will begin once everyone who was in line at 7 p.m. is admitted and registered. So, the sooner everyone arrives and gets checked in, the sooner the caucus can begin.
• It is helpful to have a good idea of which Presidential candidate you plan to caucus for. It is also a good idea to have a second choice candidate in the event your first choice candidate is not viable.
• You must be a registered voter and a registered Democrat. If you are not, you can register to vote and/or switch party affiliation at the caucus. Please bring a government-issued photo ID with you.
• Any youth who are 17 years old now, but who will be 18 years old by the Nov. 3, 2020 general election, are eligible to participate in the caucus.

What Happens at a Democratic Caucus?
There are three parts to a Democratic caucus. First, a predetermined temporary chairperson calls the caucus to order and party business is taken care of. This will include electing a permanent caucus chair and secretary, hearing brief messages read from candidates, and hearing how the caucus process works.
The second and most interesting part of the caucus is when caucusgoers are invited to divide into presidential preference groups. Once they are in their preference groups, a count is taken to determine whether each preference group is “viable.” Generally, a preference group must have at least 15 percent of the total number of caucusgoers present to be considered viable. (Smaller precincts have a larger threshold for viability.) In the event a preference group is not viable, the caucusgoers in that group are given time to visit with other people and select another preference group to join that is already viable. After that second alignment, a formula is used (based on how many people are in each group) to determine how many delegates will be apportioned to each preference group.
The third part of the caucus involves the selection of delegates to represent their candidate at the county convention. Members will also be elected for county Democratic committees and people will propose, discuss, and vote on platform resolutions to be submitted to the county convention. After those items of business are completed, the caucus will be adjourned.
The nation will be anxiously awaiting the results of our Iowa caucuses and those results may make or break the campaigns of various candidates. Be sure to take part in this exciting and important process so that your voice can be heard throughout the country.
For more information about the Winnebago County Democratic Caucuses, people can contact Winnebago County Democratic Chair Lisa Ralls at 641-562-2993.