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 candidate to run for office in the general election
• work for the election of its candidates
• take stands on issues or write a platform
• educate citizens in civic and political matters

What are the political parties in Iowa?

To qualify for official, full party status, a party must win more than 2% or the vote for President or governor in each general election. The Democratic and Republican parties have long had full party status.

The Libertarian Party gained full party status based on the 2016 presidential election results, but lost full party status when their 2018 candidate for governor failed to win 2% of the statewide vote.

Parties that do not meet 2% requirement may petition for a status called "political organization." These parties are listed on voter registration forms, but do not hold primary elections. The Libertarians have now returned to political organization status. The Green Party also has organization status.

Can I register with another party?

Not now, but other groups may qualify for party or organization status in the future.

Can I register with more than one party?

No, if you check more than one box you will be registered as No Party until and unless you re-register or make a correction.

Can a third party candidate run for office in Iowa?

Anyone who meets the legal requirements may run for office. Candidates for partisan office 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 party on the ballot.

Do I have to choose a party in order to register and to vote?

No. You may leave the party boxes blank when you register or check the box "No Party." However, only voters who register with a fully qualified party may vote in a partisan primary election (June, even numbered years) or participate in a party caucus (January or February, even numbered years).

How do I declare or change my party?

Any Iowa voter may re-register and change party at any time, including at the polls. Just fill out a voter registration form. Check the box for the party or organization of your choice. If you leave the space blank or mark "No Party", you will be registered with no party.

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 party at that time. If you wish to make any changes or corrections, fill out a new registration form or, if you have an Iowa driver's license or non-driver ID, update your registration on line.

Why can't I register as an Independent? Why does it say "NP" on my voter card?

The term 'No Party" and abbreviation "NP" are specified by law and used consistently statewide.

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. Voters may choose whichever candidates they wish in secrecy without regard to party 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.

The most recent primary was on June 5, 2018 and the next will be on June 2, 2020.

Only voters who register with a party may vote in a primary, and only the full-status parties hold primaries.

If you are registered to vote as a Republican, for example, your vote in the primary election 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 get ballots listing all of the candidates.

Can an independent vote in a primary?

Yes and no. You can walk IN with no party (that's the official term), but you can't walk OUT with no party. You have to declare a party before you vote.

NOTE: A city primary (October, odd numbered years, if needed) is not a partisan primary election, and eligible voters may participate regardless of party.

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 vote in the Democratic primary and write in Abe Lincoln, that counts as a Democratic primary vote for Lincoln, but it will not be added to Lincoln's Republican primary total.

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. A candidate can only be on one party's primary ballot, and anyone who won the nomination of a second party as a write-in would have to choose which nomination to accept.

Can a candidate who loses a primary run as an independent or with another party in the general election?

In a recent change, Iowa's filing period for independent and other party candidates has been moved to March, at the same time as filing for the June Democratic and Republican primary. Because of these deadlines, a candidate who lost a major party primary could NOT petition to be on the November ballot as an independent or third party candidate. However, if a full-status party has a vacancy on the ballot (either because a candidate dropped out or because no one filed for the June primary), they could choose to nominate a candidate who lost the other major party's primary. This could be done at a party convention, with an August deadline.

Do political organizations have primaries?

No. but they may qualify candidates for the ballot through the nomination by petition process.

How do I contact the political parties in Johnson County? Where are the headquarters?

The county political parties are volunteer organizations and only open headquarters in the last few months before a general election. No party offices are currently open. If you call, you will likely need to leave a message at the numbers listed below.

The state Democratic and Republican parties have permanent offices in Des Moines.

Full Party Status

 

Johnson County Democrats

PO Box 1773
Iowa City, IA 52244
Phone: 319-337-8683
Chair: Ed Cranston

• Johnson County Democrats
• Iowa Democratic Party
• Democratic National Committee

Johnson County Republicans

PO Box 1384
Iowa City, IA 52244
Phone: 319-333-2920
Chair: Teresa Bumgarner

• Johnson County Republicans
• Republican Party of Iowa
• Republican National Committee

Political Organization Status

 

Johnson County Libertarians

PO Box 440
Hills, IA 52235
Phone: 319-9330-1561
Chair: Daniel Zwick

• Johnson County Libertarians
• Libertarians Party of Iowa
• Libertarian Party national site

Johnson County Green Party

PO Box 2448
Iowa City, IA 52244
Secretary/Facilitator: Holly Hart

• Johnson County Green Party
• Iowa Green Party
• Green Party USA

How can I find out about the candidates before I vote? Can I get information from your office?

Iowa voters are more or less on their own for researching candidates. State law does not require or allow our office to send out "voter guides" like some states have. We also do not provide campaign literature or answer specific questions such as how a candidate stands on a given issue.

We provide contact information for campaigns, candidates, and parties. Before each election we post a list of candidates and ballot issues that includes addresses and (if provided by candidates) phone numbers and e-mail addresses so that you may contact the campaigns yourself.

Campaign Finance

The state Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board (IECDB) took over local campaign finance reporting in 2003. (Before that date, local committees filed reports with our office.)

Candidates for statewide or legislative office also file with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.

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. Candidates cannot keep leftover funds for themselves, and typically donate the ramining balance to their party or a charity.

For more information, please contact the Iowa Ethics & Campaign Disclosure Board 515-281-4028

Candidates for federal office file financial reports with the Federal Election Commission.

Campaign Signs

We get a lot of calls about campaign signs - but we really don't have much to do with them.

The number one thing we hear about is location. Signs may not be placed in the right of way. In most residential areas this means between the sidewalk and the curb.

Signs may not be within 300 feet of a polling place on election day. An exception is allowed for signs at people's homes, so if you happen to live near a polling place you can leave your sign up.

Campaign signs larger that 32 square feet must carry a disclaimer ("paid for by").

Sign Enforcement

Our office is only responsible for the enforcement of sign laws in the polling place and immediate area. If the complaint concerns a sign in the right of way, you may contact the appropriate road department (city streets department, Johnson County Secondary Roads, or the Iowa Department of Transportation). These departments are authorized to remove signs if they are in violation of right of way, as staff time allows. However, sign law enforcement is not their primary responsibility and they may consider their other duties a higher priority. You should not risk a confrontation by removing signs yourself!

If you have other concerns about signs, document the possible violation and contact the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board. They do not have staff to go out and immediately enforce the law, but may reprimand a campaign after the fact.

• Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board (IECDB) - Contact and phone numbers
• Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board: Formal Advisory Opinion on Sign Placement

When can signs go up? When do they have to be taken down?

The Supreme Court (City of Ladue v. Gilleo, 1994) has determined that law restricting the time a campaign sign may be displayed are an unconstitutional restriction on free speech. Signs may go up in a lawful location at any time before an election, and do not have to be taken down after an election. Some cities still have sign ordinances on the books, but these ordinances are no longer enforced.

Signs on Corporate Property: Campaigns for Candidates

In Iowa, corporations are not allowed to make contributions to campaigns for candidates, and a sign is considered a form of campaign contribution. However, campaigns for candidates 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 corporations:

• 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

Since corporate contributions to ballot issue campaigns are legal in Iowa, these campaigns may place signs on corporate property. Other sign regulations (size, disclaimers, and right-of-way) still apply.