T-R FILE PHOTO
From this Feb. 2, 2016 photo, Sue Cahill, left, Grant Gale and Jeannine Grady, all of Marshalltown, compare delegate counts at the ward 1, precinct 2 Democratic caucus at the Marshalltown Public Library.

Where do the voters of Marshall County go to participate in the Feb. 3 caucus?

Well, if someone is a Democrat, that has not been determined yet. Precinct caucus locations are in the process of being finalized.

However, Republican caucus locations are set. (See accompanying list.)

Having set locations is not the only difference between the two major political parties in the country’s first caucus.

While the Democrats in Marshall County are caucusing with their bodies, the Republicans take the more traditional approach and place a check next to a name on a ballot. For Republicans, every precinct in Marshalltown will vote at the high school auditorium. Other precincts throughout the county will meet elsewhere.

Not determining set locations, or having designated spots is not the only difference in the party caucuses.

During the event, Republicans use ballots to vote while the Democrats take a less conventional approach and use themselves as ballots instead. They gather in a designated caucus location and disperse into groups.

Each group is made up of supporters of one specific candidate. When a candidate has at least 15 percent of the voters, he or she becomes viable, and those in the group must fill out a presidential preference card.

When a group becomes viable, those in it must stay with that candidate for the rest of the night. That, as well as the presidential preference cards, are new to the caucuses this year.

Since Iowa is the first to hold a caucus or primary the Hawkeye State gets the ball rolling for the November elections.

In the months before the caucus, candidates flock to the state in order to gain support for their campaigns. The constant flow of candidates throughout the state makes for a unique experience during election cycles. Iowans, more than those in any other state, have the chance on running into a candidate just about any day.

“It’s important because it’s first,” Marshall County Democrats Chair Jeannine Grady said. “The first indication of anything is important. It gives the country a sense of what the people in Iowa think.”

This year, voters will choose between 13 Democratic candidates and three Republican candidates.

The Democratic candidates are:

• Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet

• Former vice president and Delaware Sen. Joe Biden

• Former New York City mayor and billionaire media executive Michael Bloomberg

• Former Newark mayor and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker

• South Bend, Ind. mayor Pete Buttigieg

• Former Maryland Rep. John Delaney

• Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard

• Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar

• Former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick

• Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders

• Climate change activist and former hedge fund executive Tom Steyer

• Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren

• Former tech executive Andrew Yang.

The much smaller Republican field is made of:

• Incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump

• Former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh

• Former Massachusetts governor William Weld.

Republican precinct caucus locations:

Marshalltown High School Auditorium, 1602 S. Second Ave., Marshalltown, 1-1, 1-2, 2-1, 2-2, 3-1, 3-2, 4-1, 4-2, LeGrand, Timber Creek

Liscomb Community Center, 114 Main St., Liscomb, Bangor, Liscomb

Melbourne Recreational Center, 613 Main St., Melbourne, Eden, Logan

East Marshall Middle School Band Room, 225 S. Elm St., Gilman, Greencastle

Laurel Elementary School, 201 E. Weissenburger, Laurel, Jefferson

Orphan Grain Train Cafeteria, 302 Bevin St., Clemons, Liberty Minerva

Green Mountain Community Park, 111 Woolston St., Green Mountain, Marion, Vienna

Consumers Energy Community Room, 2074 242nd St., Marshalltown, Marietta, Washington

West Marshall High School Library, 601 Third St. NW, State Center, State Center

Albion Fire Station, 100 S. Main St., Albion, Taylor