Only1choice____Freedom wrote:No, that's the procedure for a primary election or general election.
First you visit the cemetary.Then you scan the obit's for recent deaths.
Then register them with a strip club for an address....
Seriously, though, to answer the original poster's question. Check out The Iowa Democrat Caucus 2004 Facts Sheet for the full information.
Basically, each precinct meets at a home, meeting hall, or whatever. Each precinct can elect one or more delegates to the convention. The number of delegates a precinct elects depends on population.
After the meeting is called to order, the attendees break up into "preference groups". If the precinct only elects one delegate, then the "preference group" with the largest support wins and elects a delegate to support their candidate. There is still some politicing that goes on, as supporters of other candidates might want a delegate that will support their guy for VP or some other concession.
If there is more than one delegate to be chosen, then each "viable" preference group gets to elect one delegate. Basically, the smaller "preference groups" are enticed to throw their support in with one of the other groups to elect a delegate. So, for example, the one guy who supports Kucinich will have to find some common ground with one of the other candidates supporters and join with them to select a delegate.
The big difference between this and a primary is that voting is not by secret ballot. Supporters who participate make it known publicly who they are supporting and what they want to get if another candidate wants their support.
Also, I'm not really clear on whether the "delegates" chosen at the caucuses are the delegates to the national convention, or delegates to a state convention where the national delegates are selected. Based on the number of precincts, I suspect the "delegates" chosen by the caucuses go to a state convention and have some similar procedure for selecting a smaller number of national delegates.
I admit it.... I am an Iowan.
The caucus process is really interesting and actually rather fun to participate in... as long as you enjoy politics!!
Delegates from each precinct attend the state convention. National delagates are selected at the state convention. Besides voting for candidates, the caucus is also where voters can submit and select what they want included in their party planks. This is the really boring part. The party plank discussion is supposed to come before voting on candidates, but our precinct always defers it to later.