Democrat and Republican caucuses differ in approach

We’re a state with two-point-eight million residents, but just two-hundred thousand are expected to attend the much-balleyhooed Iowa Caucuses. About one-hundred-thousand are expected at the Republican precinct meetings, and the same amount are expected at the Democrat Caucuses. One reason for such low turn-out is the nature of the precinct caucus itself, as it’s NOT like entering a voting booth and pulling a lever. While republicans cast a strawpoll ballot for their presidential pick at the beginning of the night before they start talking about platform issues, democrats have to publicly declare to their neighbors which candidate they back — and if that candidate doesn’t have 15 percent support in the meeting, they must join the other side. Other reasons for low Caucus turn-out are high school sporting events which draw parents away — and the weather. State Climatologist Harry Hillacker says the average high temperature on January 24th is 28 degrees — but the night-time low is 11.Donn Stanley, an assistant to the Secretary of State, says there are one-point-eight million registered voters in Iowa — but you can register to vote at the Caucus — and some younger voters who aren’t eligible yet to register can participate, too.As of January 3rd, there were five-hundred-82 thousand Republicans, five-hundred-63 thousand Democrats and six-hundred-58 thousand “independents” registered to vote in Iowa.