Iowa Caucuses Signal Start Of 2024 Election Process

Iowa Democrats and Republicans will be caucusing across the state on Monday night, but only one party will go through the traditional process of casting ballots to select a presidential nominee.

While Democrats will caucus for the purpose of carrying out business related to adoption of a party platform and the party’s upcoming county convention, Republicans will begin the national process of selecting the party’s nominee for the November general election. Republicans will also conduct central committee business leading up to its county convention.

Mills County Republican Party Chair Sandi Winton said a large turnout is expected at all GOP caucus sites in the county.

“We are expecting a really good turnout,” Winton said. “The weather will determine that ultimately, but I really think we’re going to see a lot of people.”

Iowa Democrats and Republicans have both claimed first-in-the-nation status for a half-century. However, after major technical issues created chaos and delays in determining the winner of the 2020 Democratic caucuses, the Democratic National Committee announced it would be making changes to its presidential nomination calendar.

Under the new calendar, announced in 2022, the 2024 Democratic presidential primary season begins Feb. 3 in South Carolina, a state party leaders said can promote “diversity and a fair process.”  The South Carolina primary will be followed by Nevada and New Hampshire on Feb. 6, Georgia on Feb. 13 and Michigan on Feb. 27.

In Iowa, Democrats will be casting their presidential preference by mail for the first time. Presidential preference cards will start getting mailed out starting Jan. 12. The deadline for requesting a card from the Iowa Democratic Party website is Feb. 19.
Preference cards must be postmarked by March 5 in order to be counted. Results will be announced by party officials later that same day, which is Super Tuesday, when several other states will hold presidential primaries.
 
January 15 Mills County Caucus Sites:

Democratic Party

Democratic caucucses for all Mills County precincts will be held at the Glenwood Middle School, 400 Sivers Rd., beginning at 6 p.m.

Republican Party

All Republican Party caucuses begin at 7 p.m.

Deer Creek, White Cloud, townships- Strahan Methodist Church, Hastings.

Emerson, Hastings, Indian Creek Townships - East Mills Middle School, Hastings.

Glenwood Ward 1 - Glenwood Community High School.

Glenwood Ward 2 - Glenwood Community High School.

Glenwood Ward 3 - Glenwood Community High School.

Glenwood Township - Glenwood Community High School.

Henderson, Anderson Townships - Henderson Community Building 310 Maple St., Henderson.

Malvern, Tabor Silver Creek, Center, Rawles Townships - Malvern Community Center.

Oak, Saint Mary townships - Mineola Community Center.

Pacific Junction, Lyons, Plattville Townships - Glenwood Community High School.

Silver City, Ingraham Township - Home of Gary and Sharon McNutt, 611 Main St., Silver City.