DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowans are divided over the Democratic National Committee’s decision to use only mail-in voting for next year’s party caucuses — with Democrats praising the convenience of the 2024 system and Republicans expressing concern over potential “fraud.”
The DNC released a new voting calendar for the 2024 primaries and caucuses, pushing national leaders Iowa and New Hampshire further back in the table and making South Carolina the first nominating contest.
Iowa Democrats then reached an agreement with the national party to hold an in-person caucus as planned on Jan. 15 to conduct party business — but conduct mail-in voting for candidates until March 5 and hold off on the decision until then.
Hawkeye State Democrats who spoke to The Post largely said they thought the mail-in system wouldn’t change election results, with some disagreeing on whether the process would lead to greater voter turnout.
Iowan Republicans attend Adair County GOP Reagan Dinner.NY Post
“Personally, I think it’s going to be great, because it’s easier for older people,” said Karen Overturf, who predicted it would “probably” lead to more voters casting their ballots than facing the winter caucuses.
Meanwhile, Democrats Tom and Al Minear also said the new system would not change their chances of casting a ballot.
Democrats currently have a choice between President Biden, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN), and self-help guru Marianne Williamson.
Hawkeye State Democrats who spoke to The Post largely said they think the mail-in system won’t change the outcome of the election.SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Republicans will still caucus in person on Jan. 15, but some Iowa GOPers expressed concern about what the change on the Democratic side means for voting integrity and the Hawkeye State’s future status in the nominating process.
“I don’t think there should be a vote by mail,” Terri, a likely member of the Iowa caucus from the Republicans, told The Post in north Des Moines. (Partial ignorance was given to allow voters to discuss their views freely.)
“I don’t think you can be honest when you do that,” agreed one GOP caucus member, Judy. “So I think they should come to the polls and vote.”
A pedestrian walks past a sign for the Iowa Caucuses on the downtown skywalk, in Des Moines, Iowa, on February 4, 2020.AP
“The issue is, Democrats don’t want voter ID. I believe in voter ID, because otherwise, anybody can vote … I don’t think they should have mail-in ballots, because then they can send out seven or eight ballots,” Tim, another Iowa Republican, told The Post in Des Moines .
Ryan Frederick, chairman of the Adair County Republican Party, said Iowa Democrats have only themselves to blame for the calendar change after a several-day delay in reporting their 2020 caucus results.
“There is something to be said for consistency. There is something to be said when you are entrusted with the first procedure in the nomination process, you have to do it together. The fact is, four years ago, they didn’t do it,” said Frederick.
DNC releases new voting calendar for 2024 primaries and caucuses, pushing New Hampshire and Iowa primaries back.AP
He noted that Hawkeye State residents are proud of their first-in-nation status and their role in helping determine which candidates will continue on to New Hampshire and beyond.
“I think it’s a very important thing in Iowa,” Frederick said. “We all go into a room together and with our neighbors … and after we have that discussion, we’ll write names on a little piece of paper and we’ll decide who should be president of the United States. .”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
