How Do the Iowa Caucuses Work?

Jan. 18, 2004 -- The Iowa caucuses are the first contest in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. The caucuses are also one of the more peculiar parts of the process.

Unlike a primary, where every voter casts a vote for one candidate, the caucuses involve meetings where people form groups supporting a particular candidate, to claim a share of delegates to the state's county conventions.

Unlike primaries in other states, where the polls are open from some time in the morning to some time in the evening, Democrats across the state of Iowa will meet in 1,993 precincts at precisely 6:30 p.m. Whereas it might take a few minutes to stop by the polls in a primary, a caucus takes a couple of hours.

Democrats will meet in schools, churches, community centers, and even their neighbors' homes on Jan. 19 to literally stand up in support of their favorite candidates. The Iowa Democratic Party expects upwards of 100,000 Democrats to participate this year.

Can Be Open to Teens, Ex-Republicans

The caucus meetings are all about participation and community discussion.

Iowa's Democratic caucuses are open to any Iowa resident who is at least 18. Seventeen-year-olds who will be 18 by Election Day in November also are allowed to participate, and those who are too young are invited to take part as observers.

Even Republicans or independents can come to a Democratic caucus and change their registrations on caucus night in order to participate.

When asked about the possibility of fraudulent participation by people who are not Iowa residents, Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Gordon Fischer told ABCNEWS' George Stephanopoulos: "What we're really talking about are neighborhood caucuses. … And so, I dare say, at most precincts everybody is going to know everybody else or nearly everybody else. So if there's somebody coming in from the outside, frankly, they'll stick out a little bit."