CBS News Coverage of the Iowa Caucuses
CBS News will be covering the Iowa caucuses throughout the night across platforms. Coverage is streaming above, as well as at cbsnews.com/live.
What time do the caucuses start?
The 2024 Iowa caucuses begin at 8 p.m. ET or 7 p.m. local.
What time will the caucuses end?
There is no set end time for the Iowa Republican caucuses. The timing can vary significantly by precinct. Results may trickle in as early as 8:45 p.m. ET or 7:45 p.m. CT. A full picture of the results will likely take much longer.
How do the Iowa caucuses work?
Caucuses are run by the Iowa GOP across more than 1,600 precincts. When they begin, representatives of each campaign give short speeches in support of their candidate. Caucusgoers are then handed ballots and vote by secret ballot. Those ballots are collected and counted. Once the results are tabulated, the caucus secretary records them on a form and the precinct chair announces them. Those results then go to the Iowa Republican Party, which releases results on its website.
Tonight, there are forty Republican delegates up for grabs. In order to secure the nomination, candidates need to win at least 1,215 out of the 2,429 delegates available throughout the primary season. However, the Iowa caucuses, which can be a springboard for nominees, have not always been a reliable predictor of ultimate success in winning the nomination.
Who is eligible to vote in the Iowa caucuses?
Only registered Republicans are allowed to vote in the Iowa Republican caucuses. However, Iowans have the option to register as Republicans on caucus night. The demographics of caucusgoers tend to skew older compared to the general population, and the number of attendees varies by precinct.
