In Iowa, there will be no ballots.

[calteacherguy]

Should there be?

[MaineDem]

1. No, then it would be a primary. n/t

[SoxFan]

3. Not necesaarily

In 1992, I worked on Paul Tsongas' field staff. In february, I was assigned to work the Minnesota caucuses, specifically the Minneapolis suburbs of St. Louis Park, Brooklyn Park, Hopkins, and the towns around Lake Minnetonka.

On caucus night, there were two major orders of business. Delegates to the next level convention (can't recall if it was county or congressional district) were selected, and a presidential preference poll was taken using paper ballots.

In an Iowa-style system, Tom Harkin probably would have been the clear winner, since he had more institutional support (party officials, unions, electeds, etc), but under the preference ballot system, Tsongas won a moral victory by finishing only a point behind the heavily favored Harkin, thanks to a strong showing in the Twin Cities suburbs.

[Infinite Hope]

4. Minnesota...

I'm not sure when before we've had a presidential preference poll. This year is the first that I'm aware of in my lifetime (though I'm young). Usually Minnesota is decided by a primary. This year, the caucuses will determine our delegates and we will have paper ballots. Though clearly paper ballots aren't essential.

[question everything]

6. We had preferrence vote in 2004

my first Minnesota caucus. And it was secret. People wrote the name on a piece of paper.

In my caucus there were some people who came early just to provide their preferences and then left.

At the end the votes were tallied.

[Infinite Hope]

7. In 2004, it didn't determine the delegates to the national convention. n/t

[no name no slogan]

8. No, but it did determine delegates to the state convention

who, in turn, elected delegates to the national convention

[Infinite Hope]

9. This year the caucus determines the delegation where the primary did in the past.

Therefore, the caucuses are far more significant in Minnesota this year.

[no name no slogan]

10. Minnesota has NEVER chosen its national delegates via the primary

Minnesota chooses its convention delegates via the caucuses, and has done so for many decades. In 2004, the DFL used a straw poll at the caucuses to determine the proportion of presidential delegates, but still used the caucus/convention system to choose its delegation.

Minnesota's primary is typically in September-- well after the state and national conventions. No convention delegates are selected via the primary.

[Debi]

2. Iowa is a caucus, not a primary

It is a public gathering that helps the atendees reach an overall concensus of who they believe the nominee should be.

It is not a one person one vote activity and was not designed for that purpose.

[question everything]

5. Not necessarily ballots. Pieces of papers are OK

where the name of the preferred candidate is written.

As long as it is secret.