Election 101: How an Iowa GOP caucus works

Confused about what the Iowa caucuses are, exactly? Here is a step-by-step explanation about what will happen in Iowa on the evening of Jan. 3 – the first presidential nominating contest of the 2012 season.

3. How the results are tabulated

Charlie Neibergall/AP
Texas Governor Rick Perry signs autographs for supporters after a campaign stop in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Thursday.

Officials from the Republican Party of Iowa aggregate results from around the state and report them to the media via a website that has yet to be announced. The Iowa GOP says it will report the votes for Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, businessman Herman Cain (though he is no longer a candidate), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, “No Preference,” and “Other.”

UPDATE: The Iowa GOP has announced that the public can access results as they become available here and here.

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