Iowa Democrats presented dramatic changes for the 2024 Iowa Caucuses to national party leaders today (Thursday). Iowa is one of 16 states and Puerto Rico applying to be among the five states that will vote first in the next presidential election cycle. Iowa Democrats propose using mail-in voting in the weeks ahead of Caucus Night, with the winner announced that evening. Iowa Democratic Party chairman Ross Wilburn says that means precinct leaders will no longer have to count heads in the room and use complex mathematical formulas to determine which candidates get how many delegates.

Former Iowa Democratic Party chairman Scott Brennan, a member of the Democratic National Committee, says a mail-in process to indicate presidential preferences was used in Nevada, North Dakota and Hawaii in 2020.

Democratic National Committee member Mo Elleithee (eh-LAY-thee) in January suggested Iowa’s Caucuses didn’t meet the list of standards party leaders are looking for in a state that kicks-off the presidential campaign, but he’s praising these proposed revisions.

Frank Leone (lee-OWN), another member of the Democratic National Committee, was in Iowa to observe the 2020 caucuses.

Other members of the committee suggested if New Hampshire retains the first primary, it would consider the new Iowa Caucus process very similar to their primary. New Hampshire also has a state law requiring it to hold the nation’s first presidential primary. Brennan, the former Iowa Democratic Party chairman, pointed out Iowa law requires both major parties to hold Caucuses eight days before any other state votes.

A final decision from the national Democratic Party is expected in August. Republicans have already set their 2024 calendar and the Iowa G-O-P’s Caucuses remain first.