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CAUCUS QUAD-CITY TIMES ● XXXXXDAY, DECEMBER XX, 2011 ● XX HOW TO CAUCUS First-in-the-nation means that the eyes of this nation, and even some others, CANDIDATE VISITS TO IOWA SINCE 2008 will be on Iowa Jan. 3 as the first official voting of the 2012 presidential campaign season takes place. 30 visits 27 visits Republicans will have the opportunity to vote at precinct caucuses around the state from a slate of presidential candidates. Candidates include Rep. Michele 83 Days in Iowa 37 Days in Iowa Bachmann, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Utah Gov.Jon Hunts- Santorum Paul man, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Gov.Rick Perry,former Massachusetts Gov.Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. Former candidate Herman 29 visits 10 visits Cain also is on the ballot, but he has suspended his campaign. The winner in Iowa doesn’t always end up with the party’s nomination.Four years 46 Days in Iowa 18 Days in Iowa ago,Republican voters gave Mike Huckabee the victory in Iowa,but he couldn’t over- Gingrich Perry come John McCain in other states.Rather,the often serve to narrow the field; generally,political observers say three people can punch a ticket out of the state 28 visits 9 visits and remain competition in New Hampshire’s primary and beyond. On the Democratic side this year, there’s no suspense. President 60 Days in Iowa 12 Days in Iowa will be the nominee, but some Democratic caucus-goers will get a chance to hear Bachmann Romney from their candidate, who will be calling in and appearing via video-conference. Source: Democracy in Action, visits through Wednesday. HOW IT WORKS Republicans ■ Caucuses start at 7 p.m. Because it is already 8 p.m. on the East Coast, party leaders have opted to conduct the presidential prefer- ence polling early in the caucuses to accommodate the national radio and TV networks, which are trying to get results on the air during primetime. ■ Activists at each meeting elect a leader, then backers of each candidate deliver speeches on their behalf. ■ Presidential preference selection on the Republican side is done with a straw vote of those attending the caucuses. ■ After the results are sent to a central reporting system, people turn to party business, such as beginning to write a party platform, electing precinct officers and picking delegates to county conven- tions in March. ■ For information, go to the Iowa Republican Party website at iowagop.org.You can also download an app for your iPhone or android-based smart phone. Democrats ■ The Democratic caucus process is more complicated, but because President Barack Obama faces no opposition, there will be less attention paid to the presidential selection process. Democrats still will hold caucuses across the state as an orga- nizing effort to get ready for the 2012 general election. Registra- tion begins at 6:30 p.m., and the caucuses begin at 7 p.m. Obama is scheduled to talk with caucus-goers via video-confer- encing and calls to selected sites on caucus nights. Details of that have not yet been released. ■ For information, go to the Iowa Democratic Party website at iowademocrats.org and click on “The Caucuses.” IOWA CAUCUS WINNERS/PARTY NOMINEES Caucus winner is pictured REPUBLICANS DEMOCRATS 2008 2008 WINNER: WINNER: Mike Huckabee Barack Obama John Schultz /QUAD-CITY TIMES NOMINEE: NOMINEE: John McCain Obama Sign here to caucus 2004 2004 WINNER: WINNER: Caucus goers sign in to vote in the 2008 Iowa caucus in the cafeteria at Davenport West High School. George W. Bush (unopposed) NOMINEE: Kerry

2000 2000 QUESTIONS ANSWERED WINNER: WINNER: George W. Bush NOMINEE: Gore Q: What is a caucus? Q: Who runs the caucuses? Q: Do you have to be registered NOMINEE: Bush A: The word caucus is a North Amer- A: The caucuses are run by the par- as a Democrat or a Republican? ican Indian word, thought to be of ties, not state election officials. What about independents? 1996 1996 Algonquin origin, meaning a gather- Q: Where do you go? A: Voters can show up and register or WINNER: WINNER: ing of the ruling tribal chiefs. The A: To find your caucus location, switch party registration at the cau- Bob Dole (unopposed) modern definition describes cau- check your voter registration card for cus site. You must register Democrat NOMINEE: Dole cuses as a process of political party your voting precinct and call the Iowa to participate in the Democratic cau- members gathering to make policy cus and Republican to go to the GOP Democratic Party at 515-244-7292 or decisions and to select candidates. caucus. To register at the Republican 1992 1992 go to www.iowademocrats.org or the WINNER: George WINNER: sites, you need a valid photo ID. Q: How did the caucuses begin? at 515-282- H.W. Bush A: Some form of caucus has existed 8105 or go to www.iowagop.org. The Q: Is there any penalty for (unopposed) NOMINEE: since the early 1800s, even before 1,784 precinct caucuses statewide are sneaking into a caucus? NOMINEE: Bush Bill Clinton Iowa became a state in 1846. Devel- A: If a caucus-goer is found to have held in church basements, fire sta- 1988 1988 oping from the congressional and tions, schools and libraries. lied about identity or residency,that WINNER: WINNER: legislative caucuses, the pioneers of person can be fined up to $7,500, but Q: How did the Iowa caucus gain Bob Dole the Iowa Constitution chose cau- that rarely happens. its first-in-the nation status? NOMINEE: NOMINEE: cuses rather than a primary election George H.W. A: In the early 1970s, the Iowa Q: How do you vote in the cau- to nominate candidates, preferring Bush Democratic Party made several cuses? the grassroots democracy-in-action A: Unlike what most Americans are 1984 1984 approach. reforms to their delegate selection process. These reforms included accustomed to, there’s no voting WINNER: WINNER: Q: When are the caucuses? booth in the very public process. The Ronald Reagan requiring a minimum of 30 days (unopposed) A: Democrats and Republicans will between the precinct caucuses and methods differ between the Democ- NOMINEE: gather Tuesday,Jan. 3, at precincts the county,district and state conven- rats and Republicans. NOMINEE: Reagan Mondale across Iowa to choose presidential tions, and publicizing the events to Q: How many people are 1980 1980 candidates and discuss party issues. allow more people to take part in the expected to participate in the WINNER: George WINNER: Both parties begin their caucuses at 7 process. When the 1972 Democratic Iowa caucuses? H.W. Bush p.m. The parties actually hold cau- State Convention was set for May 20, NOMINEE: Ronald NOMINEE: Carter A: There are 613,521 registered Reagan cuses every two years, but usually get the new rules dictated that the Republicans and 645,475 registered attention, a lot of it, only during precinct caucus would be Jan. 24, Democrats in the state; total voter 1976 1976 presidential years. thereby making it the first statewide registration is 2,111,548. The parties WINNERS: WINNER: Q: Who can participate? test for presidential candidates in the don’t predict turnout, but in 2008, Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter* A: Any voter who is a registered nation. In 1976, recognizing the 239,000 Democrats took part, and NOMINEE: NOMINEE: Carter Ford Republican or Democrat, and can increased exposure, the Republican 120,000 Republicans caucused. It prove residency in Iowa, can partici- Party of Iowa moved its caucus to the was a big year for caucus turnout. In 1972 pate in the caucus of their party. same date as the Democrats. The 2004, 124,000 Democrats took NOTE: Iowa GOP caucuses WINNER: Edmund Those who will be 18 years old in time candidates and national media have part, and 87,000 Republicans cau- weren’t on same date in 1972. Muskie* for the general election in November observed the Iowa caucuses as the cused in 2000 in a contested GOP *Uncommitted received the NOMINEE: George also can participate. “First in the Nation” ever since. event. highest amount of votes. McGovern

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