Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price. | Joshua Lott/AFP/Getty Images 2020 Elections Iowa Democrats propose major 2020 change: ‘Virtual caucuses’

The Iowa Democratic Party laid out a proposal Monday that would add a major change to its presidential caucuses, allowing for absentee voting by phone on six different days through “virtual caucuses.”

The proposed change, set out on a call by Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price on Monday, would allow Democrats to phone in absentee votes, rating their presidential preferences in a ranked choice style. The virtual results will be tabulated and apportioned according to congressional district and eventually will be added into the final results of the live precinct caucuses.


Previously, only those who physically attended the Iowa caucuses could register their votes.

Price called the proposed changes in the plan the “most significant changes to the Iowa Democratic Party Caucuses since its inception in 1972.”

“These changes will make the 2020 caucuses the most accessible, transparent, and secure caucuses ever, and give more Iowans a chance to have their say in our presidential selection process,” he said.

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The proposed changes must still go before the state central committee and back to the Democratic National Committee and is part of a larger mandate to make caucuses more accessible.

The Iowa Democratic precinct caucuses are scheduled for Feb. 3, 2020.

