Explainer: How the Iowa caucuses work

Iowa caucuses will take place in more than 1,600 precincts across 99 counties. Hallie Jackson details how the confusing rules around the high-stakes caucuses work.
» Subscribe to NBC News: / nbcnews
NBC News Digital is a collection of innovative and powerful news brands that deliver compelling, diverse and engaging news stories. NBC News Digital features NBCNews.com, MSNBC.com, TODAY.com, Nightly News, Meet the Press, Dateline, and the existing apps and digital extensions of these respective properties. We deliver the best in breaking news, live video coverage, original journalism and segments from your favorite NBC News Shows.
Connect with NBC News Online!
Breaking News Alerts: link.nbcnews.c...
Visit NBCNews.Com: www.nbcnews.com/
Find NBC News on Facebook: / nbcnews
Follow NBC News on Twitter: / nbcnews
Get more of NBC News delivered to your inbox: nbcnews.com/newsletters
#Iowa #Caucus #Explained

[@PrisonMike-]

They’re gonna be measuring their caucuses against each others.

[@markeasley6149]

I'll be honest. In no way should we let Iowa go first. Fair primary would be same day primary in all states.

[@PremierCCGuyMMXVI]

I 100% ageee

[@90skool]

Ya but it’s not a primary

[@foxmolder363]

Did you even watch the video?

[@MrFanatic33]

Yeah there's a reason South Carolina is the new first state for the Democratic presidential primaries. Much more representative of the nation as a whole.

[@mewtwomotherfuka]

Primary is a federal voting. Cacucs is voting done by by the party to let everyone know why they support a certain canadite. Its to sway anyway vote for the primary so majority of the state can possibly vote 1 way.

[@AlexKaehler-qc8kd]

I’m gonna caucus only to vote against Haley. She has to be stopped.

[@anily2570]

Thank you 🙏

[@paulmeissner66]

Where at? Thinking about going for the first time!

[@MS-ns2pj]

Why does Nikki Haley need to be stopped?

[@ajaltairy]

It’s our 1776 moment, Vote Vivek!

[@hjkjccdggjhvb]

🤮🤮

[@JamesEhler]

Vivek is the best candidate, truest to what our founders would want in a candidate, that we may have seen in the last 100 years, maybe ever. He doesn't care about what the polls say about the issues. Like his idea that all people who vote should have to pass a civics test, just like immigrants who become US citizens have to pass in order to become citizens. He was told that internal polling showed that more people disliked it than liked it and you know what he said? He said, "I don't care what the polling says. It's the right thing to do and we're gonna stick with it." People have become too accustomed to politicians being wishy-washy and changing thier opinions more than the wind changes direction, that they have forgotten that our leaders are suppose to be..... LEADERS!!! When you have a position that you believe in to be the right thing, you don't just forget about it or change your position to agree with whatever side has more people supporting it, you hold that position and as Vivek said, "If more people disagree with me on something that I believe is the right thing to do, then instead of just changing my position its my responsibility to explain why I believe its the right thing to do and convince them that it is the right thing." How can anyone not at least respect a candidate like that? How could anyone actually prefer to have a candidate that would be willing to change thier positions solely based on polling data rather than a candidate who sticks to thier guns and believes that its thier responsibility to tell you the truth and win you over to thier side? People have become so used to wishy-washy politicians that they have trouble realizing what a great candidate should look like.

[@NoNameToYou]

😂😂😂😂

[@fkp1692]

Vivek will win. Too much momentum. Vivek 2024.

[@debrajohnson9728]

Blacks for trump 2024❤lets go!!

[@susanlussier36]

Trump 2024 the majority has already spoken and been, speaking

[@battles423]

The most ridiculous way of voting. It isn’t one man one vote. It’s one man 10-15 votes

[@mukunda33]

im indian and have no idea what's going on here. you guys don't use EVMs? you know those electronic voting machines?

[@RepublicansAreDeplorable]

Who voted more than once?

[@battles423]

@@RepublicansAreDeplorable you obviously don’t understand how CAUCUSES work. You vote more than once

[@RepublicansAreDeplorable]

@@battles423 sorry, I misunderstood your post.

[@HughButler-lb6zs]

I plan on voting 10 or 15 times for Trump in the 2024 general election. The democrats do it.

[@NoNameToYou]

It’s lost its luster and is no longer representative of most swing states

[@T123gn]

Let's go, Iowa. Get it started. Nobody but DT. Donald Trump 2024. Everyone all aboard. We don't need debates. Do it the Kaye Ivy way. Me, I'm black. Tuscaloosa AL No more barack and Joe mess. ",Let's go Iowa"!!

[@NoNameToYou]

Go back to huffing

[@debrajohnson9728]

❤

[@rambofan1]

Trump2024 baby!!!

[@lolalashy6522]

The haters are always going to give favoritism to their demon-cracy

[@90skool]

Of course you had to gaslight with the diversity bs lol

[@kentuckydan]

I am curious how many have gone to a Caucus? How many have ran a Caucus?

[@iloveTRUMP]

Vote by mail....again??!!!

[@rhondabenedict5284]

It's criminal..

[@kentuckydan]

I have news for you the Republican Caucuses are also about Party Business, the Precincts will elect Committee people to represent them for the next 2 years in their county central committee they will also gather prospective platform planks will take names for committees to set up their County Conventions and also start taking names for the District and State Conventions

[@DrSlick]

Trump 2024! B

[@hjkjccdggjhvb]

i still don't get it , why is so important

[@voiceofreason1829]

To pick who is gonna represent dems or rwpublicans

[@hjkjccdggjhvb]

@@voiceofreason1829 we all know that but why, what so important , don't all states aready have a system to vote for both dems or republican's ..

[@user-zk2tl4fv7z]

So the guy who counts the votes is actually the one who decides who won...

[@scottydont2549]

And the weather man controls the weather

[@kentuckydan]

NO because the vote counting is by 2 people the tabulating on bubble sheets is by 2 people all coming from supporters of different candidates and when I entered the numbers into my cell phone I had candidate reps on each side witnessing it was a REPUBLICAN Caucus, Democrats have always run things differently so your supposition might be accurate for them

[@agentskeet]

VIVEK THATS ALL I GOTTA SAY

[@JanMichaelGuzman]

It’s wild how untruthful this is without saying anything of substance 😅

[@meathook2448]

CNN looks like they’re gonna cry…lol!

[@galemartin9155]

This looks nothing like America!!! This is some old ish😂😂 who are they trying to kid with this😂😂😂

[@Mike20878]

So how long does it take to caucus? Do these people have to stand around all day vs. just casting a vote and leaving?

[@NoNameToYou]

All night

[@kentuckydan]

Most times it takes about 2 hours I ran 3 this year, two years ago an off election I ran 19 everyone had left I had everything put up the money counted and everything turned into the County office by 10P

[@efraincitodejesus4489]

I president Dejesus Wants, the gorgeous, people from Iowa to stay home 🏡 and be safe, it’s called prevention, from your future president Dejesus! President Dejesus USA 🇺🇸.❤

[@BlueJazzBoyNZ]

We shall see how many Bullies will try to dominate... ketchup on the walls ? !

[@kentuckydan]

That is what used to happen at Democrat Caucuses where you had to stand in a corner where everyone could see you and be subjected to intimidation, the GOP uses the Secret Ballot

[@anonymoushuman8443]

Iowa has too much power.

[@NoNameToYou]

And is not representative of swing states anymore

[@gloriawilson4691]

Ridiculous...😒😒😒

[@RobtSteele-c3p]

Davis Nancy Garcia Helen Smith Ruth

[@jonburrows2684]

Make no mistake folks, Haley is a RINO! Iowans, take NOTHING for granted, GO VOTE TRUMP! He came out for you, now go out for him no matter how cold and don't assume he's a shoe in until he is a shoe in. Go VOTE

[@vernpursley]

He’s going to rot in jail.

[@JJ-zd5ld]

Trump is the real RINO

[@talldavid30]

Traitors go to prison.

[@NoNameToYou]

What a joke 😂

[@jonburrows2684]

@@NoNameToYou yeah, Beijing Biden and kameltoe Harris really are 😁😁😁😂😂😂😂

[@MaudKelly-u9i]

Wilson Carol Thomas Elizabeth Thompson Betty

[@johnhancocklll8919]

I'm confused about Trump. You dismiss to American women them marry a foreigner and take her to the white house. How is that make America great.

[@Setio_KSD]

#IowaCaucuses Stay at home, keep warm, watch a movie, and spend quality time with your loved ones. I recommend against wasting your time voting, especially for Trump. If you are feeling unwell, please take good care of yourself. Your health is of utmost importance."

[@haroldsmith6640]

i do this every election i don't vote. and none of them are worth my time.

[@flyingchimp12]

@@haroldsmith6640seems like they were worth your time to watch this video and comment?

[@tedjones-ho2zk]

Stay at home, keep warm, watch a movie, that's what happened in the 2020 election and that's how we got stuck with biden

[@MS-ns2pj]

A vote for Trump is never a waste of time.

[@JeyC_]

People refusing to exercise their right to vote on 2020 is the reason why the world, not just the US is effed up Trump2024

[@Lionking26800]

Threshold, takes us to the threshold! Nikki will win and become president 🎉🎉 and will take us all to th threshold. Nikki 2024.

[@k-teezy6423]

You’re high if you actually think that will happen

[@rowcolynh]

This comment has aged well.

[@user-qu8lt3hf7e]

Take trump name and Republicans off the ballot in all states

[@markeasley6149]

Certified one party communist comment

[@georgemalley6414]

Sorry, I know it bothers you but you do not get to decide who The American People can and can not vote for. You do not have that Right!!

[@paulmeissner66]

Fascist commie

[@johnsonmcsandwhich6576]

That sounds very undemocratic of you

[@user-qu8lt3hf7e]

@@johnsonmcsandwhich6576 nope wrong answer

[@beniamintrif358]

So it's kind of like groundhog Day but only for people running for president

[@user-oo9dj1qz3h]

The haters are always going to give favoritism to their demon-cracy