The Iowa caucuses yielded surprising results: former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg took the lead while former Vice President Joe Biden placed fourth. However, the process was also riddled with errors, as a New York Times analysis showed irregularities in data from more than 100 precincts. The app used to report vote totals was largely to blame for these inconsistencies, as many volunteers complained about being unable to download the app and inundated the phone center with calls. Despite the Iowa Democratic Party’s statement that the app’s malfunction did not hinder its ability to accurately report results, the public has lost their trust in the Iowa caucuses, which has historically been important in setting the tone for the election. President Donald J. Trump has already taken to criticizing the caucuses’ failures, calling the breakdown “sad” and “embarrassing.” The attempt to transition to an app was an ill-informed and unprepared action that has severely hurt the the Democratic Party’s image, and it has already given Trump ammunition against the Democrats ahead of the 2020 election. Clearly, future caucuses must be run without the use of an app to avoid future mishaps.
Brammhi Balarajan (23C) is from Las Vegas.
