Citizens will gather tonight at their local precincts to elect delegates who will represent their parties at later conventions when the statewide caucus for Iowa’s political parties begins.

Iowa is one of the 16 states that use the caucus system to break politics down to the most basic level, said Jim Hutter, associate professor of political science.

“Caucuses are a good way to participate at the grassroots level, where people will listen to you and you can make an impact,” said Steffen Schmidt, university professor of political science. “It’s what makes democracy work, when average, normal people can show up at the meeting of the party and have their voices heard.”

In both presidential and off-year caucuses, the political parties elect people to represent the party for precincts at the county level, said Jim Kurtenbach, chair of the Story County Republicans.

“What we try to focus on is building a strong central committee,” he said. “Every precinct elects two representatives, and they serve on the central committee and work year-round to give us a strong government presence in the Republican party. The same is true for the Democrats.”

Along with electing delegates, participants also discuss issues the party would like to make a part of the county platform, said Jan Bauer, chair of Story County Democrats.

Candidates who are seeking office will be present at the caucuses, meeting precinct members and collecting signatures for their nomination papers, Bauer said.

“If you’re not participating in a caucus, you don’t have a say in who the candidates will be,” she said.

The Green Party will conduct their first caucus after gaining 2 percent of the popular vote in 2000, said Jeff Hall, Green party secretary for Story County.

Across the state of Iowa there will be 19 caucus sights for the Green Party, which combines counties into one central caucus site, Hall said.

Statewide, more than 2000 precincts will hold caucuses, Kurtenbach said.

Regardless of the party, the caucuses all share a common rationale.

Hutter said people at the caucuses will be running the elections this year and in 2004.

“The main focus will be party building,” Hutter said.

“This process of self-renewal is what makes the two national parties continue to exist and be effective decade after decade and century after century.”

Citizens can call the county auditor or visit www.storycounty.com to ascertain the meeting place and time of their precinct.