First-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses scheduled to be held February 3 at local venues for Democrats and Republicans

Voter registration opportunity available at all caucus sites that evening

Registered Republican and Democrat voters across the state have the opportunity to participate in Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses Monday, February 3, providing local residents a critical voice in the nomination process for this country's next president by casting their vote for their preferred candidate.

Those who choose to participate in the caucuses will not only choose presidential candidates for this year's election, but will make their voices heard as both political parties formulate their campaign platforms. Nomination petitions for other state and national elected offices will also be considered by caucus goers.

To attend a caucus, voters must be registered as either Democrat or Republican, but registration will be allowed at each of the caucus sites. Caucus locations for both political parties for the February 3 event are featured below in the bordered boxes.

ALLAMAKEE DEMOCRATS
Democratic Presidential Candidates for 2020 are Michael Bennet, Joe Biden, Mike Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg, John Delaney, Tulsi Gabbard, Amy Klobuchar, Deval Patrick, Bernie Sanders, Tom Steyer, Elizabeth Warren and Andrew Yang.

Democratic caucus goers must be registered Democrats, but registration will be allowed at each of the caucus sites. Voters must reside in the precinct where they are caucusing. Voters can verify their precinct by contacting the Allamakee County Auditor at 563-568-3522. They can verify their caucus location by visiting the website www.iwillvote.com.

According to the Allamakee Democratic Party, the purpose of a Presidential Year Precinct Caucus is to:

1) Form Presidential Preference Groups: Each viable Preference Group (achieved 15% or more of the total caucus attendees) elects delegates and alternates to the Allamakee County Convention being held March 21;
2) Discuss and vote on platform planks;
3) Elect Precinct Committee Persons to serve on the Allamakee Democratic Central Committee, which is the governing board of the county’s Democratic Party;
4) Sign Nomination Petitions for candidates seeking local, state and national offices.

The Iowa Democratic Party has instituted new rules in 2020 pertaining to realignment  and establishing a paper trail. If a Presidential Preference Group is viable, the members of that group may not move to another group.  Only caucus goers in a nonviable group (under 15%) are allowed to “realign,” which means move to a viable Presidential Preference Group or persuade members in other nonviable groups to join them to form a viable group.

Presidential Preference Cards will be used for the first time. Caucus goers will write the name of the candidate they support on this card and sign their own names.  Presidential Preference Cards will be used in the event of a recount.

For more information on the Democratic caucuses, visit  www.thecaucuses.org.

ALLAMAKEE REPUBLICANS
Republican candidates for the 2020 presidential nomination include Donald Trump, Joe Walsh and Bill Weld. According to the Allamakee County Republicans, in addition to voting for a presidential candidate, Presidential Year Precinct Caucuses perform the following functions:

1) Elect two persons, Republican residents of the precinct, to serve on the County Central Committee.
2) Elect delegates and alternate delegates to the Allamakee County Republican Convention which is scheduled to be held Saturday, March 14.
3) Propose and vote on platform planks to send to County Convention.

For more information on the Republican caucuses, visit https://www.iowagop.org/caucuses.