SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — Iowa Caucuses are right around the corner, here’s everything you need to know!

The caucuses are a series of local meetings held throughout the state where people share their interests, goals, or preferences for a presidential nominee. The precinct locations usually are held in schools, churches, or community centers. Caucuses are also the first step in the process of selecting people to serve as delegates to the national party conventions in the summer.

The winner of the Iowa caucus usually receives more media attention and a potential fundraising boost.

This year both Republicans and Democrats will be holding caucuses in Iowa. At every Republican caucus site, the two main goals will be holding a binding vote for the party’s presidential nominee and electing delegates to attend county conventions. Only registered Republicans may participate in Republican caucuses and only in their designated home precincts. Iowa Democrats will also hold their caucus, however, caucus-goers will not vote or indicate their pick to represent the party on the November presidential ballot. They will instead vote for the party nominee through a mail-in voting process. National convention delegates will be required to vote for a presidential nominee under the results of the mail-in voting process.

There is no walking around the caucus room to form candidate preference groups. Both parties are no longer using this method in 2024.

The main candidates for this year’s Republican caucuses are former President Donald Trump, Texas pastor and chief executive officer Ryan Binkley, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Other candidates are entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. 

The main candidates for this year’s Democratic Caucus are President Joe Biden, the Minnesota congressman Dean Phillips, and Self-help author Marianne Williamson.

For either event, you will need to know your precinct. You can find your precinct with a tool on the Iowa Secretary of State’s website.

Republican Caucus

The Republican Iowa Caucuses will take place on Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. There will be individual precinct locations in all 99 counties in Iowa.

To take part in the Republican Iowa Caucus:

1. Make sure to be a legal resident of Iowa a registered Republican voter in the state of Iowa. Click here to find out.
2. Find your precinct at the Iowa Secretary of State’s website. Click here.
3. Find the caucus location for your precinct. Click here.

Woodbury County Precincts for the Republican Caucuses are as follows:

Remember to bring a valid form of ID with you on Caucus night, that includes:

• An Iowa Voter Identification Card
• Iowa Driver’s License
• Iowa Non-Operate ID
• U.S. Military ID to Veteran ID
• U.S. Passport
• Tribal ID Card/ Document

If you plan to register to vote at your precinct location on caucus night, bring a vaild form of ID, as listed above and a proof of address (e.g. residential lease, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, property tax statement, government document, etc.)

Democrats caucus

Democrats are meeting in person on January 15, but the party will not conduct a presidential primary preference vote on that date. Rather, Iowa Democrats will be able to mail in their votes until March 5. The Democratic party will hold its first official primary in South Carolina on Feb 3.

Iowa Democrats can cast their Presidential Preference by mail. To request a Presidential Preference Card, fill out the online form here, or download a printable form and email it or return it in the mail. To find your in-person precinct caucus location click here.

Only registered Democrats in the state of Iowa are who will eligible to vote on the November 5 election may participate in the caucus. Iowans must be registered as a Democrat by February 19.

Woodbury County Precincts for the Democrats Caucuses are as follows:

The last day to request a presidential preference card is Feb. 19 and preference cards will be mailed out starting on Jan. 12.

Join the in-person Democratic caucuses if you’re interested in becoming a delegate, volunteering, or getting more involved in the Iowa Democratic Party.

To learn more information, visit the Iowa Democratic Party website, here.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.