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Iowa Democratic Party
2008 Precinct Caucus Guide
 
The following is a step by step guide outlining what happens on caucus night. Anadditional guide will be printed for Caucus Chairs which will provide further in-depthdiscussion of all procedures and reporting of caucus activities. If you have questionsconcerning the procedures contained in this caucus guide, please contact the IowaDemocratic Party at 515-244-7292.
 
 
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Thursday, January 3, 2008 – 6:30PMCaucus Night Procedures
Who Can Participate at the Caucuses?
In order to participate in the Iowa Democratic Party’s First-in-the-Nation Caucuses youmust meet the following qualifications:
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Be a resident of Iowa and of the precinct in which you wish to participate.
 
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Be a U.S. citizen and otherwise eligible voter (18 by November 4, 2008).
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Be a registered voter, registered as a Democrat (you can register at the caucus).
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Be in the registration line or signed in by 7:00pm.Those who do not meet one of more of the above qualifications are allowed to remainat the caucus as an observer.
Observers at the Caucus
Iowa’s First-In-The-Nation caucuses bring with them a tremendous responsibility toprovide information and access to the entire world. Like all meetings in the DemocraticParty, the precinct caucuses are open meetings. Which means many people mayattend a caucus to observe the proceedings. The Iowa Democratic Party welcomesthese guests. Observers may include the following:Members of the MediaEach Democratic precinct caucus in the state should be prepared to have at least onerepresentative from a news organization. Some precinct caucuses will be visited bycamera crews during the caucus, a few will be carried live in their entirety by anational/international news organization. Our nations news organizations serve as theeyes and ears for the nation and we have a responsibility to help them do their jobs butto also promote the caucuses.YouthSome precinct caucuses will be visited by other non-media guests. Young people whowill not be 18 years of age by Tuesday, November 4, 2008, have been invited to attendthe precinct caucus in their precinct as youth attendees and sign up as youth delegatesto the county convention.Campaign Staff and VolunteersIn many, if not most precincts, presidential campaign staff and out-of-state volunteerswill attend precinct caucuses to observe.
 
 
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Rules for ObserversThere are certain rules that must be followed by guests at the precinct caucus and thecaucus chair is obligated to inform them of these rules:
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Only eligible, registered caucus participants may vote on caucus matters orelections.
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Guests must remain quiet and not become involved in caucus discussions oncethe caucus is called to order.
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The caucus chair may ask that all guests be seated in an area other than thearea reserved for the eligible caucus participants.
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Eligible caucus participants are to be considered actively participating in thecaucus from the time it is convened until it is adjourned. It is not appropriate for areporter to interview a caucus participant while the caucus is in session unlessthe caucus participant agrees to leave the caucus for that purpose.
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All facilities at the caucus have been reserved for the caucus attendees and theDemocratic Party. The caucus chair, as an officer of the Democratic Party, hasfirst right to these facilities. The phone at a caucus site must be available to thecaucus chair whenever he or she requests it.
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Broadcast equipment at a caucus must be set up and used in a way that will nothinder or obstruct the participation of any caucus attendee.In the event of persistent violations of these rules, the caucus chair may ask thedisruptive person(s) to leave.
Calling the Caucus to Order
1) At 6:30 p.m. or as soon as registration is complete, the temporary caucus chair,will call the caucus to order.2) The Chair will briefly read through the caucus agenda.3) The Chair will explain that the primary purpose of the caucus is to:
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Elect delegates, alternates and convention committee members to the countyconvention.
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Discuss and adopt resolutions to be recommended to the county platformcommittee.
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Elect new leadership for the precinct - the precinct committee persons whowill serve as voting members on the county central committee.
The Iowa Democratic Party Presentation
4) The Chair will read a welcome letter from Iowa Democratic Party Chair, ScottBrennan.5) The Chair will then read a message on early voting. Attendees will beencouraged to fill out an absentee ballot request form for the 2008 generalelection.
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