Printable Version Tell a friend

Iowa Democratic Party Clarifies College Student Participation in the Democratic Caucuses

Des Moines – In response to numerous inquiries from both the media and the public, the Iowa Democratic Party issued a statement from Chairman Scott Brennan clarifying the eligibility of college students to attend their caucus and declare their presidential preference:

“In running the First in the Nation Caucuses, the Iowa Democratic Party follows the Iowa Code in determining the eligibility of potential caucus goers. According to the Iowa Code, all college students who are at least 18 years old are eligible to vote and, therefore, eligible to caucus.

Any student who attends an Iowa college or university may participate in the Iowa caucuses provided they are 18 by November 4, 2008, and are a registered Democrat in the precinct in which they wish to caucus.

The Iowa Democratic Party encourages all eligible caucus goers to attend their precinct caucuses on January 3rd to strengthen the Democratic Party and declare their presidential preference.”


Iowa Code

The Iowa Code, 48A.5A (2007):
http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?category=billinfo&service=IowaCode&ga=82&input=48A.5A

Iowa Secretary of State

Information on Iowa’s Secretary of State’s website:
http://www.sos.state.ia.us/elections/VoterInformation/CollegeStudents.html#3

Iowa Residents Attending College in Iowa

If you are an Iowa resident attending college at an Iowa school (i.e. University of Iowa-Johnson County) that is in a different county than your hometown (Des Moines-Polk County), you may register to vote in:

Your hometown or
your college town
(You cannot register to vote in both locations)
 
Iowa Resident Attending College Outside Iowa

If you are an Iowa resident (i.e. Council Bluffs) attending college in another state (i.e. University of Nebraska), you may register to vote in:

your Iowa hometown or
your college town - subject to the laws of the state you go to college in
(You cannot register to vote in both locations)

Non-Iowa Resident Attending College in Iowa

If you are from another state (i.e. Missouri) and are attending college in Iowa (i.e. Iowa State University), you may register to vote in:

your Iowa college town or
your home state (hometown) and vote absentee - subject to the laws of your home state
(You cannot register to vote in both locations)

###