DES MOINES, Iowa – Iowans are divided over the Democratic National Committee’s decision to use only mail-in voting for next year’s caucuses, with Democrats applauding the ease of the 2024 system and Republicans expressing concern about potential “cheating.” ”.
The Democratic National Committee issued a new voting schedule for the 2024 primaries and caucuses, pushing Iowa and New Hampshire further back on the schedule, the first in the country, and making South Carolina the first nominating contest.
Iowa Democrats then reached an agreement with the national party to hold in-person caucuses as planned on Jan. 15 to conduct party business, but hold mail-in voting for candidates until March 5 and retain the results so far.
Hawkeye State Democrats who spoke to The Post largely said they thought the mail-in system would not change the outcome of the election, and some disagreed about whether the process would lead to higher voter turnout.
Iowa Republicans Attend Adair County Reagan Republican Dinner.NY Post
“Personally, I think it would be great, because it’s easier for older people,” said Karen Overturf, who predicted it would “probably” lead to more voters casting their ballots rather than braving the winter cold to attend the caucus.
Meanwhile, Democrats Tom and Al Minear also said the new system would not change their chances of casting a ballot.
Currently, Democrats can choose between President Biden, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), and self-help guru Marianne Williamson.
Hawkeye State Democrats who spoke to The Post largely said they thought the mail system would not change the outcome of the election.SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Republicans will still meet in person on Jan. 15, but some Iowa Republicans expressed concerns about what the changes on the Democratic side meant for the integrity of the vote and the Hawkeye State’s future status in the nominating process.
“I don’t think there should be mail-in voting,” Terri, a likely Iowa Republican caucusgoer, told the Post in north Des Moines. (Partial anonymity was provided to allow voters to discuss their views freely.)
“I don’t think you can be that honest when you do that,” agreed Judy, another likely GOP caucusgoer. “So I think they should go to the polls and vote.”
A pedestrian walks past an Iowa Caucuses sign on an elevated walkway in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, on Feb. 4, 2020.AP
“The thing is, Democrats don’t want voter ID. I believe in voter ID, because otherwise anyone could vote… I don’t think they should vote by mail, because then they could mail in seven or eight votes,” Tim, another Iowa Republican, told The Post in Des Moines. .
Ryan Frederick, chairman of the Adair County Republican Party, said Iowa Democrats had only themselves to blame for the calendar change after days-long delays in reporting the results of their 2020 caucus.
“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 must have everything in order. The fact is, four years ago they didn’t do it,” Frederick said.
The Democratic National Committee issued a new voting schedule for the 2024 primaries and caucuses, delaying the New Hampshire and Iowa primaries.
He noted that residents of the Hawkeye State are proud of their first-in-the-nation status and their role in helping determine which candidate can move on to New Hampshire and beyond.
“I think it’s a typical Iowa thing,” Frederick said. “We all get together in a room with our neighbors… and after we’ve had that discussion, we’ll write names on little pieces of paper and decide who should be president of the United States. .”
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Source: vtt.edu.vn