WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |Government at the Ground Level

LANSING, Iowa (WXOW) - They didn't go into booths to cast a vote, and it's unlikely they cast a vote without at least some information. Both Lansing Democrats at the community center and Republicans at the library met Tuesday night to share their voice concerning presidential politics.

Mary Manning said, "You're voting on issues, and the way a person feels or doesn't feel is then easily expressed through these issues. So, I think it's the fairest way to get the issues that are a concern to the people actually into consideration for the offices after they're elected."

While any voice that wants to be heard will be heard, each of the major party's electoral process differs slightly from the other.

"The Democratic caucus, they do a maneuver with each other to try and get one person that they want to pass on," said Doug Sharp, the Republican Caucus Chair. "We just say, 'No, we're just taking numbers here, and we'll pass those numbers along. The state will add them all up, and whatever the state declares is the winner and the second, third and the fourth, that's the way it will be.'"

However, both Republicans and Democrats agree the caucuses give their electorate a more engaged approach to government.

"I think it's good for the candidates," said Sharp. "If you don't get out there and shake the hands and actually see them eyeball to eyeball, and let them even say some critical things about you, you've got a problem."

Manning added, "Politics in our country is such an open process, that we can only be proud of it, and we've got to keep it that way."

The process continues when those delegates selected to represent Lansing next go to caucus at the Allamakee County conventions on March 10th. That involves a similar process, as it will all the way up to the national conventions.