Iowans go to caucuses Tuesday

The Republicans and Democrats will select their favorite candidates for president at the Iowa caucuses Tuesday night. Washington County is divided into 11 precincts, each of which will hold a caucus. In addition to voting for their preferred presidential candidate, caucus-goers will also discuss and adopt resolutions to be added to the respective party?s platform.

The caucuses begin at 7 p.m. Patricia Lipski, co-chair of the Washington County Republican Central Committee, said potential voters do not need to be registered to vote because they may register at the polling place. She said anyone who wishes to vote should bring a photo ID. This may be a driver?s license, military-issued ID, passport, or high school or college ID.

If an eligible voter wishes to vote but is not registered or is registered in a different address from the one in which they reside, they must bring in documentation to prove their current address. This may be a phone bill, lease agreement, bank statement, utility bill, a check from the government or any other government documentation. The proof of address must contain both the person?s name and his or her address.

If a person wants to vote but does not have the necessary documentation, an eligible voter may attest for that person by signing an oath that they are the person they claim to be.

To vote in a caucus, residents do not need to be 18 but must be 18 by the time of the November 2012 election.

Lipski said the first thing the attendees will do is elect a permanent chair for the precinct and a secretary. Attendees will be given an opportunity to speak in support of a candidate. After that, the eligible voters will vote on the candidate of their choice by secret ballot. Once the votes are tabulated they will be sent to the Republican Party of Iowa (RPI). The RPI will announce the results of the caucus later that night.

Once the voting is done the attendees will suggest and vote on planks to the party platform.

Those ineligible to vote in the caucus may still observe the proceedings.

The Democrats and Republicans will meet in different buildings. The list of the Republican precincts is as follows:

Ainsworth/Crawfordsville: Conservation Education Center at Marr Park; Kalona and English River: Kalona Elementary School gym; Riverside: The Ice House basement; Wellman: Parkside Activities Center banquet room; Washington Ward 1: Washington County Courthouse second floor courtroom; Washington Ward 2: WSB/Stoufer-Nicola meeting room of the Washington Public Library; Washington Ward 3: Former public library; Washington Ward 4: Halcyon House, Morrison Center; Brighton: Former school gym.

The list of the Democratic precincts is as follows:

Ainsworth/Crawfordsville: 2989 Spruce Ave., Crawfordsville; Brighton: To be announced; English River: Kalona Library; Riverside: 2810 Highway 22; Washington Ward 1: Washington Public Library break room; Washington Ward 2: Washington Public Library break room; Washington Ward 3: Washington Public Library second floor; Washington Ward 4: Halcyon House game room; Wellman: Wellman Municipal Building city council chambers.