Call me naive but i need info on Iowa 7 NH.

[crasster]

Is a caucus the same as a primary?

Will results be live or just counted later?

Thanks, just need 1 good answer and let it die :o)

 

[aravoth]

I also would like to know if the results will be released immeadiatly

 

[tiznow]

the caucus starts at 7 pm

there are 1784 separate meetings going on state wide at the same time

prior to the vote a supporter of the various candidates can give a 2-3 minute short pitch

than you vote

the vote is tallied in the open everybody can observe if they want, the vote count at their precinct

than the vote is called into the state GOP

that is relayed to media

and that's it as far as what media reports, the results should be blasting away on the MSM by 9 pm CST

its popular vote state wide, non-binding vote, but this is what is reported to media

its kinda ridiculous when you think about it

after the vote the delegate things, as well as precinct works, party planks, etc go on but the vote will be leaked prior to all that stuff as it is done first

 

[Flirple]

No a caucus is different than a primary. In the Iowa caucus the rules are different for the democrats and repuublicans. The democrat's caucus rules are much more complicated than the republicans. Basically the caucuses start at 7pm sharp and are located in church basements, gymnasiums, social halls, etc. Here is wikipedia:

Republican Party process
For the Republicans, the Iowa caucus follows (and should not be confused with) the Iowa Straw Poll in August of the preceding year. Out of the five Iowa Straw Poll iterations, 1987 is the only year in which the winner of the Iowa Straw Poll has not gone on to win the Iowa caucus.
In the Republican caucuses, each voter casts his or her vote by secret ballot. Voters are presented blank sheets of paper with no candidate names on them. After listening to some campaigning for each candidate by caucus participants, they write their choices down and the Republican Party of Iowa tabulates the results at each precinct and transmits them to the media. [1] The non-binding results are tabulated and reported to the state party which releases the results to the media. Delegates from the precinct caucuses go on to the County Convention, which chooses delegates to the District Convention, which in turn selects delegates to the State Convention. Thus it is the Republican State Convention, not the precinct caucuses, which select the ultimate delegates to the Republican National Convention in Iowa. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_caucuses#Republican_Party_process

A primary (like NH for example) is a normal election where you go fill out a ballot anytime during the day and submit it and leave without having to listen to speeches etc.

I suspect that we should hear the results of the caucuses perhapse sometime around midnight or later but I am not sure about that.