Northwest Iowa — COVID-19 continues to force people to come up with contingency plans. Those who run the Iowa Democratic County Conventions have also had to make other arrangements.
The Iowa Democratic Party has announced an updated County Convention process to be conducted remotely over the month of April. They say the updated, non-present County Convention process gives County Party leaders options on how to conduct their convention, including online or by mail.
Party officials tell us that elections for District/State Delegates and County Affirmative Chairs will be conducted remotely from April 22-30. County chairs have the option to use a template plan or develop their own within the rules outlined in the updated DSP and convention process.
Karen Sterk, the Chair of the O’Brien County Democrats says that District/State Convention Delegates will be elected electronically. According to Sterk, at the same time as delegates registered, they were also able to self-nominate themselves to be delegates to the District and State Conventions.
Osceola County Democratic Chair Kathy Winter says their process will be much the same as O’Brien County’s. She says it will be done mostly online but for those without access, they will be able to participate via phone or US Mail. She says that if the delegate’s candidate was viable at the caucus, they are locked in at this point. However, they will later be able to switch. She says that’s important because the only candidate left — Joe Biden — was not a viable candidate in Osceola County. She clarifies that the conventions will not be live events, but will take place somewhat asynchronously.
Lyon County Democratic Co-Chair Holly Master says the process will be much the same in Lyon County.
Sioux County Democrats Vice Chair Anita Cirulis explains that convention participants will elect delegates to the district and state conventions, vote on the platform, and complete other county business.
Sioux County convention chair Becky Drissell approves of this revised process. She says, “Our preference would be to meet face-to-face, but that method would not be responsible at this time. Absentee balloting still provides a way for precinct representatives to have their opinions heard.”
More information about the county convention process can be found at TheConventions.org.
