In February, the state party unveiled the most substantial changes to the Iowa caucuses since their inception, proposing a series of "Virtual" caucuses that would allow registered Democrats to participate over the phone.
For years, critics have complained that the Iowa process makes it impossible for people who cannot show up on caucus night at a precinct location to make their voices heard.
The virtual caucus plan also was intended to work with New Hampshire, which follows Iowa in the presidential nominating process and has long balked at any changes that make Iowa's caucuses look too much like its primary.
As long as Iowa holds a caucus and doesn't veer too far into primary territory, it can maintain its coveted position as "First in the nation" ahead of New Hampshire and other early-voting states.
The DNC has said it will act on each state's plan by Sept. 13.If Iowa can't come up with a plan for people to participate without being physically present that differs substantially from a primary, the future of Iowa's first-in-the-nation status could be thrown into question.
A February Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll suggested the virtual caucuses could expand participation by nearly a third.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Caucus: Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucus status in jeopardy.
https://news.yahoo.com/dnc-reject-iowa-democrats-virtual-033344592.html
For years, critics have complained that the Iowa process makes it impossible for people who cannot show up on caucus night at a precinct location to make their voices heard.
The virtual caucus plan also was intended to work with New Hampshire, which follows Iowa in the presidential nominating process and has long balked at any changes that make Iowa's caucuses look too much like its primary.
As long as Iowa holds a caucus and doesn't veer too far into primary territory, it can maintain its coveted position as "First in the nation" ahead of New Hampshire and other early-voting states.
The DNC has said it will act on each state's plan by Sept. 13.If Iowa can't come up with a plan for people to participate without being physically present that differs substantially from a primary, the future of Iowa's first-in-the-nation status could be thrown into question.
A February Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll suggested the virtual caucuses could expand participation by nearly a third.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Caucus: Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucus status in jeopardy.
https://news.yahoo.com/dnc-reject-iowa-democrats-virtual-033344592.html
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