Iowa, Nevada to allow caucusgoers to phone it in

DES MOINES, Iowa — Democrats in the early presidential contest states of Iowa and Nevada will be able to cast their votes over the telephone instead of showing up at their states’ traditional neighborhood caucus meetings next February, according to plans unveiled by the state parties.

The telecaucus systems, the result of a mandate from the Democratic National Committee, are aimed at opening the locallevel political gatherings to more people, especially eveningshift workers and people with disabilities, whom critics of the caucuses have long said are blocked from the process.

The changes are expected to boost voter participation, presenting a new opportunity for the Democratic Party’s 2020 candidates to drive up support in the crucial earlyvoting states.

“This is a noexcuse option” for participation, said Shelby Wiltz, the Nevada Democrats’ caucus director.

While rolling out a new voting system holds the promise of more voter participation, it also comes with potential risk for confusion or technical troubles. But the party is moving forward to try and address longstanding criticism that the caucuses are exclusionary and favor some candidates.

The Iowa caucuses, a series of partyrun, locallevel organizing meetings, have come under increasing criticism in the past decade for their fixed evening time and place. Such rules effectively barred participation in the firstinthecountry nominating contest, for instance, for parents unable to find child care or older voters hesitant to venture out in winter.

Nevada has faced some of the same participation challenges, especially among Las Vegas casino workers who have shifts during the caucus meetings.