2014
Caucus to Convention
Important Dates
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Precinct Caucuses: January 21, 2014
County Convention: March 8, 2014
District Convention: April 26, 2014
Primary Election: June 3, 2014
State Convention: June 14, 2014
2014 Iowa Caucuses
January 21, 2014
When
• Tuesday, January 21, 2014
• Start time 7 P.M. statewide
– Come early. The caucuses begin at 7:00, but we
recommend getting there between 6:30 and 6:45.
• Average time 1 hour, but varies at each
location
Why?
• Defend our values such as life, marriage, and
religious liberty.
– There is a movement to have both parties support gay
marriage.
– If neither party supports our values, it will make it
extremely difficult to further our issues in state and
federal governments.
• Become a delegate to elect leaders in the political
parties that share our values.
Why?
• U.S. Senate and several Congressional primaries may
end up at State Convention. Caucuses are the first step
to being a delegate at state convention.
• Be a witness.
– Matthew 28:18-20, “All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am
with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Qualifications
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Citizen of the United States
Resident of Iowa
Resident of a voting precinct
18 years old by November 4, 2014
Registered with political party for which you are
caucusing
– You can register or switch party affiliation that night at
your caucus location. Just arrive early.
Where do I go?
• Locations are determined by local county political parties. Most
locations are either a school, convention center, or church.
• Entire county may be in one caucus location, but will likely be in
multiple locations based on county voting precincts.
• Caucus sites will be posted in local newspapers.
• Caucus sites will also be posted on political party websites.
– Republicans: www.iowagop.org
– Democrats: www.iowademocrats.org
• Information is also available through your local county auditor.
What do I do when I arrive?
• Check in at registration table.
• Volunteers will be at table to help you with
this process.
• Bring a photo ID.
• Remember if you are not registered, come
early.
• Take a seat.
3 Purposes of the precinct caucus
• Elect individuals to serve on county party
central committee.
• Elect delegates to the county convention.
• Submit values and issues planks you want to
see in your party platform.
Elect Central Committee Members
• County Central Committee members are the local
governing body of the political party.
• This is different than being a delegate to the county
party.
• These positions are filled through a nomination and
election.
• Serve the county party for two years.
• Have a large say in what the local party stands for and
how it operates.
Elect Delegates to County Convention
• Must be elected to county convention to serve at district
and state conventions
– District and state conventions are crucial. Further explanation in
the presentation.
• Easiest to win a delegate space by bringing friends to
support you
• Delegates vote on county platform, which is the first step in
the process to determine what issues the state party will
stand for
– It is our goal to make sure the party continues to stand for life,
marriage, religious liberty, and other pro-family values.
Platform Planks
• The beginning of the process to build the party
platform, which is the document that states what the
political party believes.
• Our goal is to get pro-family stances in the party
platform.
• Submit pro-family planks at your caucus. The planks
will then be voted on and moved on to the county
convention if passes. Assistance will be provided at
the precinct caucus.
Platform Planks
• Examples
– We support a personhood amendment to the US Constitution that states,
“Personhood and life begins at Conception” and that no person shall be
deprived of life, liberty, and property, according to the 14th amendment without due Process of Law and shall hold all officials accountable to enforce it.
– We oppose the use of public revenues for abortion, and call for elimination of
government funding for all organizations, such as Planned Parenthood, which
advocate or support abortion.
– We support legislation requiring a parent or legal guardian’s consent before an
abortion or any reproductive surgery is performed on a minor child.
– We call for the elimination of the Federal Dept. of Education.
– We support federal and state constitutional amendments, voted on by the
citizens, which define marriage as only between one natural man and one
natural woman.
County Convention
• March 8, 2014
• Cost: Average $20
• Elect delegates to the district and state convention.
– We need pro-family Iowans to run for this position so we can ensure
we have pro-family Iowans voting on crucial votes at state and district
conventions. More on next slides.
• Vote on platform.
– Want to ensure platform is pro-family.
• Feel free to bring your kids.
– They can sign up to be Junior Delegates.
– Junior Delegates write their own platform as well as engage in an
excellent civics lesson.
District Convention
• April 26, 2014
• Cost: Average $40, which covers both district and state conventions
• Elect state central committee members.
– The governing body of the party
– We want people who share our values in these positions to ensure we
have a political party that shares these values.
– State central committee is responsible for electing party chairman. A profamily central committee will help us get a pro-family chairman.
• State of Illinois recently had a pro-gay marriage chairman.
• Vote on party platform.
– Want to ensure the platform is pro-family
• Bring your kids to be Junior Delegates.
State Convention
• June 14, 2014
• The final step in the process
• If no candidate reaches 35% in the primary they
will be voted on by the convention delegates.
– U.S. Senate, 3rd District and 1st District Congress may
all be decided at the state convention.
– Only delegates will be allowed to vote.
• Party platform is voted on and ratified.