Some of Bernie's Iowa staff, caucusing at a satellite caucus location in Des Moines

[Donkees]

Link to tweet

[Donkees]

1. The satellite caucus goers in Des Moines are chanting ''Bernie Sanders''

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[Donkees]

3. Sanders with a clear lead after the first alignment in the Drake University satellite caucus.

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[Skidmore]

2. How is that possible?

Caucus sites don't start until 7 pm?

[Donkees]

4. Satellite caucuses start earlier.

Many of the early sites include universities, hospitals, retirement homes and union halls in and outside of the state. They’re aimed at allowing the elderly, students, patients and shift workers to still participate in the caucus if they can’t get out to their local precinct caucus at the specific 7 .p.m. start time.

The satellite caucuses are the party’s effort to expand the accessibility of the caucus process. After the DNC nixed the IDP’s efforts to include a virtual caucus option, the state party looked to expand the satellite option they tried out in a limited fashion in 2016.

“The goal of these changes to the 2020 caucuses is really to expand participation in the process, expand accessibility for people to get to the caucuses and to make them more transparent and efficient. And all of those things really work hand-in-hand,” said IDP spokesperson, Mandy McClure.

https://iowastartingline.com/2020/01/16/iowas-satellite-caucuses-could-provide-early-result-clues/