Hunter
04/18/23
Iowa Democrats are asking the Democratic National Committee to give them another 30 days to submit their delegate selection plan ahead of the 2024 election season.
KWWL TV reports that state Democratic Chair Rita Hart said in the letter last week that the extension would allow Iowa to align their submission with those of New Hampshire and Georgia.
Democrats want to employ a mail-in option to the state caucus in 2024, but a Republican bill at the Iowa state house up for consideration would require in-person participation in the caucuses. The bill would also require voters to register for the party they want to caucus for 70 days before the election. Current law allows voters to register on the night of the caucus.
Iowa Democrats were informed in February that they would lose their “first in the nation” status next year, with South Carolina, New Hampshire, Nevada, Georgia and Michigan named the first five states to hold their primaries or caucuses.
Hart and state Democrats want Iowans who work third shift, people with disabilities, and parents of young children to have a voice in Iowa’s presidential nominating process, allowing them to send “Presidential Preference Cards” in by mail.
Since New Hampshire state law requires the state to hold the first primary in the nation, Iowa must hold a caucus to stay first in line. New Hampshire officials say the proposed mail-in option moves the caucus more towards a primary, and said they will schedule their primary ahead of Iowa if that plan is approved.