http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008804200328The Iowa caucuses were not invaded by large numbers of ineligible voters eager to risk fraud charges to support their presidential candidate, a Des Moines Register review of registration voter data shows. The findings may mute one criticism of Iowa's presidential nominating process as state leaders again face the task of defending the caucuses' first-in-the-nation status.
The Register review of voter registration data from all 99 counties reveals a low rate of new voter applications filled out on caucus night by people whose addresses later could not be verified. Only 1.5 percent of the new voter identification cards mailed to voters who registered on caucus night were returned to county auditors as undeliverable. That's an indication that the vast majority of new caucus-night voters had a bona fide address in Iowa.
State officials say the low error rate is impressive, especially since caucus-night turnout vastly exceeded expectations and overwhelmed local party officials around the state.
The caucus process has long been subject to criticism, particularly from officials in states that would like to wrestle away the national spotlight that Iowa and New Hampshire have dominated at the start of each presidential campaign season. Iowa leaders will continue to hear that the state lacks the racial diversity to warrant its traditional leadoff status and that some people cannot attend these political meetings, normally held on weeknights.
However, the lack of significant participation by unverified new voters can be used to counter the oft-stated criticism that the caucuses are ripe for infiltration by non-Iowans, including suspicion voiced by Democrat Hillary Clinton's campaign in the weeks leading up to the caucuses that Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois lined up participants from out of state.
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