Iowa Democrats Will Not Change Voting Rules That May Aid Harkin

Iowa Democrats decided Saturday against rules changes that would have given native son Sen. Tom Harkin stiffer competition from rival Democrats in the state’s Feb. 10 presidential preference contest.

Under the rules, Iowa Democrats must express their preferences in the open, a requirement that might intimidate supporters of other candidates because they would have to vote in the presence of party officials who often double as Harkin campaign workers.

Rules also require that if any candidate wins less than 15% in initial voting, supporters must disband and realign themselves with a stronger contender, and the initial tally is never recorded.

Central committee members had discussed switching to a secret ballot or allowing reports on initial votes. But proposals to change the rules “never came up” at Saturday’s central committee meeting, Iowa Democratic Chairman John Roehrick said.

Some Democratic activists had complained that Harkin’s candidacy threatens to turn the voting into a meaningless exercise. His popularity in his home state makes him a heavy favorite, with interest focused mainly on who would finish second in the balloting.