Thread by @ajplus

Iowa is always the 1st state to vote in presidential primaries.

It does so via the #IowaCaucuses, which involve:
▪️complicated rules
▪️candidate switching
▪️even coin tosses

It's also designed in ways that make it difficult for voters of color to participate. THREAD 👇

Iowa's Dem. caucuses can lock people out of the nomination process.

To participate, you must:
▪️show up at a specific time + location
▪️vote in multiple rounds (which takes hours)

This can be a huge barrier to people who need to work or pick up kids, or who have disabilities.

Ex-2020 candidate Julián Castro called the Iowa caucuses "not reflective of the United States."

He's not wrong: Iowa is 85% white.

Compared to the U.S. overall:
▪️Black, Asian, Latino people = about 3x underrepresented
▪️Native Americans = over 2x underrepresented

Latino Americans make up 18% of the U.S. population.

2/3 swing Democrat, according to @pewresearch.

But they make up only 6% of Iowa's population, meaning they'll barely be represented in the Iowa caucuses — a major litmus test for the 2020 Democratic primaries.

In 2008, Black American voters were underrepresented 1.5x in states with caucuses.

They weren't underrepresented in states with primaries.

That may be because primaries give more flexibility on when/how people can vote (e.g. mail-in ballots).

(Source: @FordhamNYC researchers)

How do #IowaCaucuses discriminate against Black voters?

Black voters are:
▪️underrepresented over 3x vs. national average
▪️more likely to work in service or retail, so could face more challenges getting off work for the hours-long voting process

Voters with disabilities can face challenges at #IowaCaucuses that they wouldn't if virtual or mail-in voting were options:

▪️caucuses take hours
▪️crowds and noise can block access
▪️caucus sites often don't have enough seating areas or handicapped parking spots

There is no secret ballot at the Democratic Iowa caucuses.

Voting is done in front of others. Studies show that can leave voters open to:
▪️intimidation
▪️threats
▪️the silencing effect

The DNC rejected a virtual caucus for 2020, but let people set up "satellite" polls in response to complaints about access.

But critics say those could also bring problems, like:
▪️volunteer confusion over complicated rules
▪️some voters still being left out

In 2016, voter turnout at the #IowaCaucuses was just 16%.

Turnout for the general election? 73%.

But the state has so far rejected calls to switch to more potentially representative processes for primaries.