By Anna Walters
What is a primary?
A primary is an election via ballot. Rules for primaries vary depending on the state.
What is a caucus?
A caucus is a voting process used to determine a presidential nominee for the Democrats and the Republicans, but the terms of a caucus differ by party and by state. Caucuses in Iowa, for instance usually take place in a public building, but can also take place in a home.
At a Republican caucus, those in attendance would have to verify that they are a member of the Republican Party or sign up on the spot and then votes are collected by secret ballot. The candidate with the most votes wins. A Democratic caucus operates much differently.
According to MSNBC, participants at a Democratic caucus divide themselves into presidential preference groups, or different corners of the room, corresponding to their candidate of choice. A head count is then taken and groups that have less than 15 percent are eliminated along with that candidate.
If a candidate is eliminated, his or her supporters can either leave or switch groups and support another candidate for the presidential nomination. A final head count is taken after candidates are eliminated and the final tally is rolled into the total for the entire state.
Who determines the order of state primaries/caucuses?
According to Gary Malecha, chair of the political science department, tradition can dictate which states hold primaries and caucuses when. Iowa has always kicked off the primary season, and, as a result, the Iowa caucuses receive the most media attention. The rest of the primaries are determined by a number of factors, according to the Federal Election Commission, including state statutes, party constitutions, party rules and regulations, party bylaws and delegate selection plans.
