Iowa voters have a problem: They can’t make up their minds.

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What is happening here? It’s simple: The Democrats have FOBO, or Fear of a Better Option.

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The upcoming Iowa caucuses tell the story. With the large field of candidates and a voter pool that is feeling the FOBO, indecision might emerge victorious on February 3. Seriously, indecision could actually win the caucuses. It might be unlikely, but here’s how it would work. Under the rules for the Iowa caucuses, upon arriving to their caucus site voters will declare a first-choice candidate. They may also choose to remain “uncommitted.” At that point, any candidate (including uncommitted) that surpasses 15 percent support in the initial “alignment” will move on to the next round while the rest will be eliminated. If enough voters declare themselves uncommitted early on, the winner of the Iowa caucuses may end up being … no candidate at all. In such a scenario, Iowa would be represented by a slate of FOBO delegates that could further muddle a close race later on. If you think that sounds crazy, think again. Uncommitted won the caucuses twice back in the 1970s.

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The problem with FOBO is that it cultivates a sense of ambiguity and dissatisfaction among voters who are otherwise laser-focused on choosing a candidate who can beat President Trump. For 40 percent of Democrats, the most important trait in a candidate is that person’s ability to win in the general election. In fact, beating Trump polls ahead of kitchen table issues like healthcare (12 percent), the economy (14 percent), and the environment (8 percent) taken together. Despite this shared aspiration, the lack of consensus means that the race has the potential to drag on for months, consuming financial support that could be directed toward the general election and cultivating damaging internecine feuds. Rather than celebrating the diverse and talented set of candidates vying for their support, voters will risk looking for the “perfect” candidate (hint: there’s no such thing) and many will end up disappointed and filled with regret regardless of who prevails at the convention.