AMES, Iowa -- With the Iowa caucuses being moved up to Thursday, Jan. 3, many college students may feel left out of the process, since they'll still be on semester break and away from the campus communities where many have registered to vote. But the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University will show students and others how they can be active caucus participants when it hosts an educational workshop on the Iowa caucuses on Tuesday, Nov. 13.
The workshop will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union's Sun Room. Refreshments will be served.
Catt Center Director Dianne Bystrom says there's no need for students to return to their college communities early to caucus. They can participate in their hometown caucuses as long as they register or re-register to vote there. Students can do so in their home precincts the night of the caucus.
"Our challenge is getting students out to the caucuses," Bystrom said. "When classes are in session, campus and campaign organizations are quite active in get-out-the -vote caucus efforts, and caucuses held on campus in 2004 were among the largest in Ames. If the students will be in their home communities on Jan. 3, we'll need to rely more on their parents to get them out."
The Catt Center will do its part through next week's workshop, which will feature Gordon Fischer, former state chair of the Iowa Democratic Party; and Mary Ann Spicer, president of the Polk County Republican Women, providing an overview of the Iowa caucus process. Representatives from both political parties will lead interactive training sessions for their caucuses following the speakers. The workshop will end with a resource fair with representatives from most of the presidential campaigns attending.
Campaign representatives will no doubt try to turn out caucus participants on Jan. 3, particularly since the earlier date could have a significant impact on the outcome.
"Among the Democrats, Sen. Obama could be hurt the most by the earlier caucus, as he has been targeting young people," Bystrom said. "John Edwards is probably helped the most. The earlier caucus date may have no effect on Sen. Clinton."
The workshop is co-sponsored by the ISU Democrats, ISU College Republicans and the Committee on Lectures. Additional information is available by contacting Greta Johnson or Chris Fowler at the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at ISU at (515) 294-3181, or cattcntr@iastate.edu.