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Political
Parties and Campaigns
What is a political party?
A political party is an organization through which individual citizens work
with others of similar ideas to elect candidates and influence the policies
and conduct of government.
The functions of a party are to:
- choose candidates to run for office in the general election
- work for the nomination and election of its candidates
- formulate the party platform or stand on issues
- carry out party policies
- educate citizens in civic and political matters.
What are the political parties in Iowa?
To qualify for official party status, a party must win more than 2% or the
vote for President or governor in each general election. Iowa currently has two official political parties: Democratic and
Republican.
Parties that do not meet the legal requirements are formally known as non-party
political organizations. Beginning January 1, 2008, voters may
register with two non-party organizations that have completed a petition
process, the Green Party and the Libertarian Party.
Can I register with another party?
No, but it is possible that other parties may qualify for the ballot or
that other non-party organizations may complete the petition procedure
More information on ballot access and political party
status
Can a third party candidate run for office in Iowa?
Anyone who meets the legal requirements may run for
office. Candidates who are not the nominees of the Democratic or
Republican parties qualify for the ballot through a process called nomination
by petition and may choose whether or not to list the name of a
non-party political organization on the ballot.
Do I have to choose a party in order to register and to vote?
No. If you do not wish to belong to a political party or non-party
organization, you may leave the
party boxes blank when you register or check the box marked
"No Party." However, only voters who register with a fully
qualified party may
vote in a partisan primary election.
(June, even numbered years).
I thought I was registered with one party but my card says I'm registered
with another one.
You may have voted in a primary election
or attended a caucus and changed your party affiliation at that
time. If you wish to make any changes or corrections, you can use the
back of your voter card.
How do I declare or change a party affiliation on my voter registration
record?
Just check the box for the party or non-party organization of your choice on the registration form.
There are no other requirements. If you leave the space blank or mark
"No Party," you will be registered with no party.
Why can't I register as an Independent? Why does it say
"NON" on my voter card?
The abbreviation "NON" stands for No Party, which means that you are registered
without any party affiliation. The term "No Party" is specified by the Secretary of State and used
consistently statewide.
I registered as a Green, why does my card says NON?
The Greens had full party status from 2000 to 2002, but lost party status
after the 2002 election. At that time, county auditors
were required by law to change the registration of all Greens to no party.
Details If you wish to change your status
back to Green, you need to re-register.
Am I required to work or give money to the party?
No. You have no obligations when you register with a party.
If I choose a party, do I have to vote for all their candidates?
No. A voter's statement of party preference is in no way binding. Voters
may choose whichever candidates they wish in secrecy without regard to party
preference in the general election.
Primary Elections
A primary is an election that takes place within each official
political party. No one is elected in a primary election.
Instead, voters affiliated with political parties select their party's
candidates for the November general election. Only voters who register
with a party may vote in a primary election, and only the official parties
hold primaries.
June 3, 2008 Primary Election
If you are registered to vote as a Republican, for example, in the primary
election, your vote will help choose the Republican Party's nominees for
various offices. Since you, as a registered Republican, are selecting your
party's candidate to run against candidates from other parties in the general
election, you will be given a ballot with only Republican candidates to choose
from. You will not see the names of any Democratic or other candidates on your
primary election ballot.
In the general election, which decides who will actually fill the offices,
all voters in your precinct get the same ballot, regardless of party
affiliation. The general election ballot may also include candidates of
non-party political organizations, which do not hold primary elections.
NOTE: A city primary (October, odd
numbered years) is not a partisan primary election and eligible voters may
participate regardless of party affiliation.
So can I vote for a Republican for one office and a Democrat for another?
In a general election, yes. In a primary election, no.
Can I write in a candidate of one party in the other party's primary?
Yes, but the party primaries are separate contests. If
you write in the name of a candidate running in a primary, what you are saying
is that you want that person to be your party's candidate. A write in
vote on a Republican ballot does not count as a vote in a Democratic
primary contest, and a write in vote on a Democratic ballot does not
count as a vote in a Republican primary contest.
Can a candidate be nominated as a write in?
A candidate must win 35% of the total primary vote in order to be nominated
as a write in.
Can a candidate be the nominee of more than one party?
Some states allow candidates to appear on the ballot as the nominee of more
than one party, a practice called "fusion." However, Iowa law
does not allow fusion.
Do non-party organizations have primaries?
No, but they may qualify candidates for the ballot through the nomination
by petition process. Only the two fully qualified parties, the
Democrats and Republicans, hold primaries.
If I choose a party when I register, can I change later?
Yes, you just have to re-register. Any Iowa
voter may re-register and change party affiliation at any time, including at
the polls.
How do
I contact the political parties in Johnson County?
Johnson County
Democrats
PO Box 1773
Iowa City IA 52244
Phone: 337-8683
Chair: Brian Flaherty
Headquarters: 625 S. Dubuque St. |
Johnson County Republicans
PO Box 1384
Iowa City IA 52244
Phone: 339-8381
Chair: Bill Keettel
Headquarters: 920 Maiden Ln.
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Links to
nonpartisan election resources | Disclaimer |
How can I find out about the candidates before I vote? Can I get
information from your office?
The Auditor's Office provides contact information for campaigns,
candidates, and parties.
Before each election we post a list of candidates and ballot issues that includes addresses and
(if available) phone numbers, e-mail addresses and web sites so that you may contact the
campaigns yourself.
We do not provide campaign literature or answer specific questions such as
how a candidate stands on a given issue.
Campaign Finance
Committees no longer file with Auditor: Due to changes in state law,
all local campaign committees file with the Iowa
Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board (IECDB) as of January 1, 2003. Candidates for statewide or legislative office also file with
the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. Candidates for federal
office file with the Federal Election Commission.
Committees do not automatically close once an election ends. The
candidate or officers must close the account with a zero balance and account
for all funds raised and spent.
For more information, please contact the Iowa
Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board.
Memo from IECDB Director Charlie Smithson
to county auditors, May 30, 2008
Campaign Signs
Campaign signs larger that 32 square feet must carry a disclaimer
("paid for by").
Some cities have ordinances regulating when yard signs may be
displayed. However, courts have determined that such laws are an
unconstitutional restriction on free speech, and these ordinances are no
longer enforced.
Signs may not be placed in the right of way. In most residential
areas this means between the sidewalk and curb.
Signs on Corporate Property: Campaigns for Candidates
Campaigns may place signs on corporate property under certain conditions.
In all cases, other sign regulations (size and
right-of-way) still apply.
Corporate property occupied by corporation:
- Candidate sign placement prohibited.
Corporate property occupied by individual tenants:
- Campaigns may place signs in common areas with written permission from
all occupants.
- Signs may not be placed in the corporate office.
- Individual tenants may place signs in the area they are leasing.
Individual property leased to a corporate tenant:
- Campaigns may place signs with written permission from the corporate
tenant.
Property owned by a family farm corporation:
- Campaigns may place signs.
Property rented as a campaign headquarters:
- Campaigns may place signs.
Copies of written permission should be available from the campaign
committee upon demand.
Signs on Corporate Property: Ballot Issue Campaigns
Ballot issue campaigns may place signs on corporate property. Other sign regulations (size and
right-of-way) still apply.
Sign Enforcement
Our office is not responsible for the enforcement of sign laws.
Complaints about signs should be directed to the Iowa Ethics and Campaign
Disclosure Board.
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