Iowans split over DNC mail-in voting caucus compromise

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowans are divided over the Democratic National Committee’s decision to use only mail-in voting for next year’s party caucuses — with Democrats applauding the ease of the 2024 system and Republicans expressing concern over potential “cheating.”

The DNC issued a new voting calendar for the 2024 primaries and caucuses, pushing first-in-the-nation stalwarts Iowa and New Hampshire further back in the schedule and making South Carolina the first nominating contest.

Iowa Democrats then reached an agreement with the national party to hold in-person caucuses as planned on Jan. 15 to conduct party business — but conduct mail-in voting for candidates through March 5 and hold the results back until then.

Hawkeye State Democrats who spoke with The Post largely said they thought the mail-in system would not change the outcome of the election, with some disagreeing on whether the process would lead to greater voter turnout.

“Personally, I think it would be great, because it’s easier for older people,” said Karen Overturf, who predicted it would “probably” lead to more voters casting their ballot rather than braving the winter cold to caucus.

Meanwhile, Democrats Tom and Al Minear also said the new system would not change their likelihood of casting their vote.

Democrats currently have a choice between President Biden, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN), and self-help guru Marianne Williamson.

Republicans will still caucus in-person on Jan. 15, but some Iowa GOPers expressed concern about what the changes on the Democrat side meant for voting integrity and the future status of the Hawkeye State in the nominating process.

“I don’t think there should be mail-in voting,” Terri, a likely Republican Iowa caucus-goer, told The Post in northern Des Moines. (Partial anonymity was provided to allow voters to discuss their views freely.)

“I don’t think you can be as honest when you do that,” agreed a fellow likely GOP caucus-goer, Judy. “So I think they should have to come to the polls and vote.”

“The issue is, the Democrats don’t want voter ID. I believe in voter ID, because otherwise, anyone could vote … I don’t think they should have mail-in voting, because then they could mail in seven-eight votes,” Tim, another Iowa Republican, told The Post in Des Moines.

Ryan Frederick, chairman of the Adair County Republican Party, said Iowa Democrats had only themselves to blame for the calendar change after days-long delays reporting their caucus results in 2020.

“There’s something to be said for consistency. There’s something to be said for when you’re entrusted with the first procedure in the nominating process, you gotta have it together. The fact of the matter is, four years ago, they didn’t,” said Frederick.

He noted that Hawkeye State residents are proud of their first-in-the-nation status and their role in helping determine which candidate gets to proceed to New Hampshire and beyond.

“I think it’s a quintessential Iowa thing,” Frederick said. “We all get in a room together and with our neighbors … and after we’ve had that discussion, we’re going to write names on little pieces of paper and we’re going to decide who ought to be president of the United States.”