Iowa Democratic Party - How Delegates are Awarded on Caucus Night

On the night of the Iowa Caucuses, Iowa Democrats will gather at nearly 1,700 precincts to make their preferences for the Democratic nomination for President. These preferences are represented by the awarding of delegates to the county convention to the Presidential candidates at each of the precinct locations. Below is a brief description of how delegates are awarded on caucus night:

Step 1: Precinct chairs count the number of eligible caucus goers.

Step 2: Determine viability. In order to be eligible to elect delegates, candidates must have a minimum number of caucus attendees in his or her group. Precinct chairs will determine the viability threshold using the following formulas:
• If the caucus elects ONE delegate: The caucus shall not divide into preference groups. The delegate is elected by a simple majority.
• If the caucus elects TWO delegates: Total eligible caucus attendees x 0.25 = viability
• If the caucus elects THREE delegates: Total eligible caucus attendees ÷ 6 = viability
• If the caucus elects FOUR or more delegates: Total eligible caucus attendees x 0.15 = viability
*Note: For viability, always round up to the nearest whole number.

Step 3: Caucus goers will form preference groups. Precinct chairs ensure all preference groups are viable, and there are not more preference groups than delegates to elect.
*Note: If preference group(s) are not viable, realignment occurs. If more viable preference group(s) are formed than delegates to elect, the smallest preference group(s) must realign.

Step 4: Realignment process occurs. Caucus goers in groups deemed non-viable can join with a viable group, join together, or pull people from other groups to become viable themselves.

Step 5: Award Delegates. After realignment occurs, precinct chairs award each viable preference group with the appropriate number of delegates using the following formula (round up at 0.5, round down below 0.5):
(Attendees in preference group × Total delegates the caucus elects) ÷ Total number of eligible attendees = Delegates for group to elect

Step 6: After rounding, total up the delegates awarded to each preference group and compare that number to the total number of delegates assigned to be elected at the precinct.
• If the numbers match, move on to election of delegates.
• If the total number of delegates is FEWER than the number to be elected, an additional delegate will be awarded to the group(s) with the highest decimal below 0.5.
• If the total number of delegates is GREATER than the number to be elected, a delegate will be subtracted from the preference group(s) with the lowest decimal above 0.5. Note: a group cannot lose its only delegate.

Example: Precinct Alpha is to elect a total of 7 delegates. There are 100 eligible caucus attendees at the precinct. Five viable preference groups form. Group A has 20 members; group B has 18 members; group C has 27 members; group D has 19 members and Group E has 16 members. Here is how the delegates would be awarded:
Original Adjusted
• Group A: (20 x 7) ÷ 100 = 1.40 round to 1
• Group B: (18 x 7) ÷ 100 = 1.26 round to 1
• Group C: (27 x 7) ÷ 100 = 1.89 round to 2
• Group D: (19 x 7) ÷ 100 = 1.33 round to 1
• Group E: (16 x 7) ÷ 100 = 1.12 round to 1
• TOTAL = 6*
• Group A: (20 x 7) ÷ 100 = 1.40 round to 2*
• Group B: (18 x 7) ÷ 100 = 1.26 round to 1
• Group C: (27 x 7) ÷ 100 = 1.89 round to 2
• Group D: (19 x 7) ÷ 100 = 1.33 round to 1
• Group E: (16 x 7) ÷ 100 = 1.12 round to 1
• TOTAL = 7
*Since there are 7 delegates to award in Precinct Alpha, the group that rounded down with the decimal closest to 0.5 gets to round UP instead. Therefore, Group A, at 1.40, gets the extra delegate.

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