GOP Iowa Caucuses: Photo ID-Free Registration and Voting on Publicly Hand-Counted Paper Ballots

[L. Coyote]

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=9035

.... all of the rules for the Republican Caucuses in the Hawekeye State --- who can vote and how those votes will be counted --- are not set by the state, but by the Republican Party itself.

The Iowa GOP has, therefore, determined that...

No Photo ID is necessary for any voter in the Republican Iowa caucuses.
No Photo ID is necessary to register as a Republican at the caucus site, even if you're not already a registered voter. You may then cast your vote at the caucus on the same day you've registered (without a Photo ID).
All caucus votes will be cast on hand-marked paper ballots.
All of those paper ballots will be counted, by hand, in public, with the results announced at each of the 1,774 caucus sites before the results are called in to a central GOP headquarters (where the results will subsequently be compiled and announced to the public and media.)

If it seems that all of the items mentioned above are ones that Republicans --- even Republicans in the Iowa statehouse and the Iowa Secretary of State's office within the past year --- have fought virulently against allowing .....

[Melissa G]

1. Little need to chase non whites away in Iowa caucuses

http://www.newsmax.com/US/Iowa-Caucuses-Republicans-Democrats/2011/12/29/id/422463

...The caucus process seems arcane and mysterious, even to people in Iowa. That is in part because most people don't even participate. About 359,000 people — 17 percent of registered voters in Iowa — showed up for Democratic and Republican caucuses in 2008. Turnout will certainly be lower this year, since Obama is unopposed. And the GOP turnout may not exceed the record-setting 120,000 attendees that the party's contest saw four years ago.

Caucuses take place in all of the state's 1,774 voting precincts, some in remote spots where only a handful of voters gather, others in big community centers or schools that host several precincts under one roof. In all, Republicans will gather in about 800 locations.

This relatively small number of voters and their overwhelmingly white makeup routinely bring Iowa's caucuses under the attack of outsiders who want more clout for their own states. Only 5 percent of Iowa's electorate is Hispanic, and only 3 percent is black, compared with a national electorate that is 16 percent Hispanic and 12 percent black.

Read more on Newsmax.com: Iowa Voters Hold Sway Over How President Is Chosen
http://www.newsmax.com/US/Iowa-Caucuses-Republicans-Democrats/2011/12/29/id/422463

[endcorporatecontrol]

3. strange

It is strange(scary) that such a small amount of people pick the nominee. There are all kinds of possible problems with the Iowa caucuses, it would be really easy to rig. The votes are hand tallied and phone called in to republican headqourters. I read an article today saying that the primary was pretty much over after Iowa. scary.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Do as I say, not as I do. nt

[steve720]

4. spread the word

These voter restriction laws are goin to make it possible for Grover Norquist and the Koch brothers to steal the senate. If you think the last congress was hard for the white house to deal with, eait till they controle: house, senate, and suprem court! Someone has to make the country aware of whats going on

[L. Coyote]

5. the House will change parties in the Fall

A lot of Rs will be saying "Welcome back Speaker Pelosi"