The Republican caucus is set for Monday, Jan. 15. Here is what you need to know:
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Iowa Republicans will be the first Americans to select a presidential candidate during the Iowa Caucuses next Monday.
Seven candidates, including former President Donald Trump, are seeking the GOP nomination for November's presidential election.
In-person caucuses will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 15. Registration begins at 6 p.m. and the caucus will be called to order at 7 p.m. Participants are encouraged to arrive early as a high level of attendance is anticipated.
More: Story County's Democratic caucus will be held Monday at the Ames High School
What happens at Iowa’s GOP caucuses?
After everyone is checked into a precinct’s caucus, participants elect a chair and a secretary to lead the meeting. They say the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer before moving into business.
The chair will invite someone to speak on behalf of each of the presidential candidates in a final attempt to earn support from caucusgoers. Well-organized campaigns will have identified someone to speak on their behalf at each precinct — maybe an influential community member or activist. Sometimes, the candidates themselves will attend a caucus to make their own closing pitch.
Once everyone has spoken, ballots are handed out.
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How do candidates make it onto the ballot in Iowa’s caucuses?
There are no ballot requirements for presidential candidates in Iowa. Unlike in other states, there are no fees to get on the ballot, no signature requirements and no registration forms.
In fact, there’s not even a traditional ballot. Republicans typically hand out blank slips of paper, and caucusgoers write down the name of whomever they want to be president.
That means that any person who comes to Iowa and makes a convincing argument to caucusgoers can get support to become president.
GOP chair: No plan B for weather, but still expecting 'robust' turnout
Despite the frigid temps predicted Monday, Republican Party of Iowa chair Jeff Kaufmann said he expects large numbers of Iowans to show up to caucus at 7 p.m. Central.
"I think we're going to have a robust turnout," Kaufmann said. "Weather could prevent a record-breaking turnout, into a great turnout. But you know, it remains to be seen. We don't really have any metrics to guide that."
Kaufmann told reporters Monday morning the party does not have any contingencies in place for severe weather on caucus night, with the current schedule and caucus sites set to continue regardless.
"It's one of those things, kind of like a football game, that's going to go on no matter what," said Kaufmann, adding the party is putting "faith in people's patience to get there."
The turnout record for the Republican caucuses was set in 2016, with 186,000 Iowans who showed up.
Where are the Republican caucus locations in Ames and Story County?
Story County GOP has 45 locations for the 2024 caucuses. The Ames precinct assignments for Republican voters are as follows:
Ames 1: Memorial Union Campanile Room 2
Ames 2: Fellows School Media Center
Ames 3: Meeker School Gym
Ames 4: Mitchell School Commons
Ames 5: Oakwood City Church Sanctuary
Ames 6: Mitchell School Gym
Ames 7: Stonebrook Church
Ames 8: Meeker School Commons
Ames 9: Fellows School Gym
Ames 10: Fellows School Commons
Ames 11: Ames High School 1001 Commons
Ames 12: Sawyer School Gym
Ames 13: Memorial Union Room 3560
Ames 14: Ames Middle School Gym
Ames 15: Edwards School Media Center
Ames 16: Edwards School Commons
Ames 17: Ames Middle School Media Center
Ames 18: Ames Middle School Auditorium
Ames 19: Memorial Union Room 2630
Ames 20: Memorial Union Room 3580
Ames 21: Edwards School Gym
Ames 22: Sawyer School Media Center
Ames 23: Sawyer School Commons
Ames 24: St. Andrews Lutheran Church Sanctuary
Other Story County caucus sites, including the towns of Gilbert, Nevada, Huxley and Slater can be found at https://www.storycountygop.com/2024_caucus.
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Who can participate in the Republican caucus?
You must be a registered Republican eligible to vote in the Nov. 5 election to participate in the Iowa Republican caucus. Participants can update their party affiliation as well as addresses and register to vote at the caucus site.
Those wishing to vote must in the caucus must be 18 years of age by Nov. 5. This means 17-year-olds who turn 18 between the date of the caucuses and the general election are eligible.
What is needed to caucus?
You should bring a valid ID like a driver's license, passport, Iowa Voter Identification Card or a tribal ID to your caucus location.
If you plan to register on caucus night, bring a valid ID and proof of residency like a signed lease, utility bill or paycheck. If you recently registered, bring these items with you in case the caucus site doesn't have your updated information.
Celia Brocker is a government, crime, political and education reporter for the Ames Tribune. She can be reached at CBrocker@gannett.com.
The Des Moines Register's Brianne Pfannenstiel contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: What to know about Monday's Republican caucus in Story County
