Can a DUer in the know explain how the Iowa Caucuses work? Or link to a good

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

site explaining this?

I'm interested in the exact mechanics of how the outcome is produced.

[Skink]

1. Include the part about people from out of state being allowed to participate

Dean was accused beforehand of a plan to truck in his supporters. Kerry did get a huge number of out of state veteran groups to show up. Not sure if they voted, but according to a NYT reporter all he had to do was get a hotel room and show up in order to take part in the caucus.

[displacedtexan]

2. Here you go...

LINK

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

4. Thank you, very thorough and informative.

[zulchzulu]

3. As a witness to the Iowa caucus in 2004, here's my take

Iowa's precinct caucuses are scheduled to take place on the evening of January 14, 2008.

I can give you an impression of what it was like in 2004 in Des Moines.

First and foremost, it's all about the "ground game". What that means is that you need to contact and make sure people who support your candidate will get out and caucus on Caucus Night. You can drive people to the caucus location if they can't make it on their own. Saying you support a candidate is not enough. You need reliable supporters who will caucus.

The caucus locations are set up in a local neighborhood precinct, usually in a library or school auditorium or gymnasium. The caucus times start at 6:30 and continue to around 9:00 at the latest. Caucus goers need to be at that location and there is a cut-off time to show up, usually 7:00pm. If you're late, too bad.

You can switch parties that day at the caucus location as well as can register to vote that day. You show up at the site and sign in. You are going to caucus with your neighbors out in the open.

You then go into the caucus room and see that there are places in the room for all the candidates. The Obama people would be in one corner, the Clinton and Edwards and Kucinich and others in their defined location, usually a sign or campaign rally sign to mark the location. You gather with other supporters for your candidate.

Then people for each supporter have a designated speaker to represent their candidate speak about why they support their candidate. Once that is done, people can ask questions or raise concerns, etc.

Each candidate that is represented gets to make their case. This can be very interesting as people try to sell their candidate over others.

Then it's time to vote.

People go back to their candidate sections and the votes are counted. Those people with numbers that are not viable then have to join other candidate sections or leave.

This is a chance for people to speak again about their candidate.

Then another tally is counted. Here's the initial formula:
Delegates = (Number in candidate group) X (Number of delegates in precinct) / (Total of caucus goers at that location)

The caucus numbers for each candidate are tabulated and sent to party headquarters, which are then tabulated into 3,000 statewide delegates.

On the whole, it is an exciting way to watch democracy. The big thing is that it's all about showing up. I think 160,000 caucus goers participated in 2004, which is perhaps 20% of the voting population in Iowa.

I'll be there again in 2008.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. Thanks for the "first person perspective."