Video of Iowa Caucus Voting Raises Eyebrows

A video circulating on social media of Iowa voters returning their ballots has caused a stir online.

In a clip that has gone viral, people can be seen placing their caucus ballots in a Hy-Vee paper bag being carried around a sports hall by a voting official. Posted on X, formerly Twitter, by WISN 12 reporter Matt Smith, the exact location where the video was taken is unclear at this time.

The clip has led to questions being asked about the voting process in the Iowa caucuses, which took place yesterday, with numerous social media users commenting on how unofficial and antiquated the process appears to be. According to X, the video has been viewed 811,000 times.

Some viewers were baffled by the video. X user Elle Whyt wrote: “This is how the greatest country on earth elects the most powerful person in the world? High school student government elections are more sophisticated than this.”

Another, Judi Stern Levine, remarked: “This is what the Republicans consider a safe and secure election?”

“So modern and up-to-date! Did the participants arrive by horse-drawn buggies?” Joan Strong posted.

Others took no issue with how votes were cast yesterday. Ray Templeton said it was the same system that will be used in the presidential election in November, writing: “This is how it should be done in November. Paper ballots and voter ID.”

Another user, posting under the name Riley, also agreed with the voting process. “Love it! This is real voting,” they posted. “Voter qualification checked at the door for entry. Handwritten, hand counted in the open. Same night results. Thank you to everyone who came out to vote and all the volunteers!! Amazing.”

Caucuses and primaries are held in different states to determine how many delegates each candidate has at the party national convention in July. This is when the winner, and therefore the presidential candidate, is chosen.

Caucuses, unlike general elections, are run by the GOP and aren’t beholden to regular voting rules. In a general election, there are numerous measures to ensure ballots are not tampered with or intercepted in anyway. Caucuses are much more casual than this, as can be seen in the clip, with voters simply handing in a folded ballot.

However, this doesn’t mean that a GOP caucus is a process that goes unchecked. Prior to being allowed to vote, officials will check the ID and party registration of those wishing to cast a ballot. In Republican caucuses, you can sign up to become a member of the party on the day of the poll.

Trump’s status as the frontrunner for the Republican nomination was strengthened after he won a landslide yesterday with more than 50 percent of the vote. His rivals, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, were projected to come in second and third place, respectively, with almost all of the votes counted.

Newsweek has contacted the Iowa Republican Party for comment via the contact form on its website.